These absolutely free California bill of sale templates are legal documents that are normally utilized to formally document the transfer of ownership of personal effects from the current owner to the buyer. It is very important that you list any many identifying specifications as possible about the personal effects being transferred to ensure that no legal problems arise at a later time. Be sure to include it in the bill of sale if the item has a serial number or any other type of ID number.
Some states necessitate that a bill of sale template be notarized if it involves the sale of a motorized vehicle, boat, or other items that are obligated to be registered or titled with the state. Consult the local office where you will be registering the belongings to see if the California bill of sale template needs to be notarized. If you are not familiar with the buyer or seller, you should probably have the legal document notarized.
Example of California Bill of Sale
California Bill of Sale Templates
California Camper Bill of Sale
California Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
California Four Wheeler Bill of Sale
California Golf Cart Bill of Sale
California Horse Trailer Bill of Sale
California Mobile Home Bill of Sale
California Motorcycle Bill of Sale
California Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale For Truck or Car
California Semi Truck Bill of Sale
California Simple Bill of Sale
California Snowmobile Bill of Sale
California Trailer Bill of Sale
California Travel Trailer Bill of Sale
California Utility Trailer Bill of Sale
Free Bill of Sale For California
California Bill of Sale Frequently Asked Questions
While a bill of sale is not required in California, you should obtain one to prove that you bought the property. It’s always a good idea to obtain a bill of sale even if one isn’t legally required.
A notarized bill of sale is not a type of document. In order for the form to be notarized, it must be signed and dated by a notary public. The notary should also stamp the document with his or her notary seal. Most notaries charge under $10 for this service, although we’ve heard that in some cities the fees can be insanely expensive. Notary publics are self-employed and can charge whatever they want for the service.
While the bill of sale does not need to be notarized in California, doing so would be a good idea. This will protect you in the case of legal disputes over ownership and against scams later attempted by the buyer.
Of course you can. Be sure to include your name, the buyer’s name, the date, sales price, and a detailed description of the item being sold. If the item being sold is a motor vehicle, boat, or other item that must be registered with the state, you must include all information such as the make, manufacturer, model, ID number, and year of manufacture. For motor vehicles you must also include the mileage on the odometer.
In most cases the only way to obtain a duplicate copy of the original bill of sale is to contact the person from whom you purchased the item. Sellers are not required to keep a copy of the bill of sale, but many do. Bills of sale are not considered court documents so it’s doubtful any government agency will have a copy on file. Your best bet is to contact the seller. Even if the seller didn’t keep a copy of the original bill of sale, he or she may be willing to create a new one for you both to sign.
Do not sign the bill of sale until both parties are ready to transfer ownership of the item. Normally this is when the buyer forwards payment to the seller. Sellers should not sign the bill of sale until they have payment in hand. Buyers should not sign the bill of sale until they receive the property being purchased.
The best option is to create two bills of sale. Give one original bill of sale to the buyer, and keep the other original for yourself. You could sign one form and make a copy but the best option is to prepare and sign two separate originals.
As the seller, it is imperative that you verify the buyer’s identity and retain a copy of the bill of sale. Let’s say you sell a car. Two hours later the police knock on your door and inform you that the car hit a pedestrian and left the scene of the accident. You’d better hope you have a copy of the bill of sale to prove you sold that vehicle!
Most Popular California Bill of Sale Templates
California ATV Bill of Sale – This document is specifically worded for the sale of a used ATV. We also offer a similar bill of sale for a UTV. To complete the document, enter the seller information, buyer information, and the requested information for the all-terrain vehicle.
California Boat Bill of Sale – This document is used to record the transfer of ownership of a used boat from one party to another. You will also need to give the boat title (if available) to the buyer.
California Horse Bill of Sale – This bill of sale template can be used to record the transfer of ownership of a horse from one party to another. If the horse is registered, be sure to include the registration number in the appropriate section.
California Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale For Truck or Car – A car bill of sale must include specific information such as the VIN, manufacturer, model, and year. Federal law also requires that the seller state the mileage on the vehicle and certify that the odometer has not been altered.
California Motorcycle Bill of Sale – This bill of sale can be used to record the transfer of ownership of a used motorcycle from one party to another. If you have the title you should give it to the buyer after completing the seller’s section.
California RV Bill of Sale – An RV bill of sale must include specific information such as the VIN, RV manufacturer, model, and year. Since an RV is a motor vehicle, the seller should also list the exact mileage. Federal law requires that the seller state the mileage on the RV and certify that the odometer has not been altered.
California Simple Bill of Sale – The simple bill of sale requires very little information to complete. Enter the name, address, and phone number of the seller as well as the buyer. List the property being sold, the price, and the date of the sale. The document includes the “as is” clause indicating that the seller takes no responsibility for the condition of the property.
California Snowmobile Bill of Sale – There are over 1.1 million registered snowmobiles in the U.S. With the exception of a few states in the deep south, in the winter snowmobiles are quite popular. The bill of sale is very easy to complete and is self-explanatory.
California Trailer Bill of Sale – This bill of sale can be used to acknowledge the transfer of ownership of most types of trailers. It can be used for horse trailers, utility trailers, and boat trailers. In some areas, mobile homes are also called trailers. If you’re selling a mobile home, use our mobile home bill of sale template.
Free Bill of Sale For California – This is our most popular bill of sale template for California. It can be used for most personal property. It should not be used for motor vehicles, boats, trailers, or any property that has an identification number. We have forms specifically worded for those types of property.