- Licensed online notary
- ~15 min average
- Notarized PDF emailed
- Available 24/7
What it is
A bill of sale records the transfer of ownership of personal property — most often a car or other vehicle, a boat, a trailer or equipment — from a seller to a buyer. It documents the price, date, parties and (for vehicles) the VIN, and serves as proof of the transaction. For a car sale it is the document that fixes what was sold, for how much, and on what date, which matters for registration, sales tax and liability after the keys change hands.
Who needs it
Private-party buyers and sellers of cars, motorcycles, boats or trailers, and anyone whose DMV, title office or county has asked for a notarized bill of sale to register the vehicle. It is also worth having when nobody has required it — a dated, notarized record of the sale is what protects a seller from tickets and tolls incurred after the sale.
Why it needs a notary
Two different reasons, and it is worth knowing which applies to you. Sometimes a state or title office requires it, in which case you have no choice. More often nobody requires it, and notarizing is a decision you make anyway — it confirms both parties' identities and that they signed voluntarily, which is what makes the document hard to dispute later.
How to notarize a Bill of Sale online
- 1
Upload your document
Drag in your PDF — no printing or scanning. Add your email so we can send the finished file.
- 2
Verify your identity
Answer a few knowledge-based questions and scan your government-issued photo ID. It takes about a minute.
- 3
Meet your notary on video
A licensed online notary joins you on a secure video call, confirms your ID, and witnesses your signature.
- 4
Download the notarized PDF
The notary applies their electronic seal and tamper-evident certificate. Your notarized document is emailed to you instantly.
You’ll need ID and a webcam.
A licensed online notary joins you on a secure video call, verifies your government-issued ID, witnesses your signature, and applies their electronic seal. You’ll receive the notarized PDF by email when the session ends.
Frequently asked questions
- Can both the buyer and seller sign online?
- Yes. Both parties can join the same secure video session — even from different locations — to sign and have their signatures notarized together, or each can complete their own session.
- Does a car bill of sale need to be notarized?
- There is no national rule, and the answer depends on your state. Some states require nothing. A few require notarization only in specific circumstances — West Virginia, for example, asks for a notarized bill of sale signed by both parties when a vehicle is bought from an individual for less than 50% of its NADA Clean Loan Book value, and will not accept one to lower the taxable value of a vehicle two years old or newer. Your state's DMV or title office is the only authority on this, so check there before assuming either way.
- Is it the bill of sale that gets notarized, or the title?
- This trips up more people than the first question. In some states the notarization attaches to the title assignment rather than to a bill of sale at all. Oklahoma requires a properly assigned and notarized certificate of title to transfer an Oklahoma-titled vehicle — and since the state moved to electronic titles, a private sale of an e-titled vehicle uses Form 718, Bill of Sale of an Electronic Title, which is the document that gets notarized instead. Confirm which document your DMV wants notarized before the appointment; notarizing the wrong one is a wasted trip.
- Should I notarize a bill of sale even if my state does not require it?
- Often worth it, and it is a different question from whether you must. Notarization does not make the sale more legal — it makes it more provable. For a private car sale where you will never see the other party again, a notarized record of who sold what, for how much, and when is cheap insurance against a dispute over the odometer reading, the sale date, or who owed the tolls. It does not substitute for filing the transfer with your DMV.
- What information should the bill of sale include?
- The parties' names, a description of the item (for vehicles, the VIN), the sale price and date, and signature lines. Bring your completed PDF and we'll notarize it.
Other documents you can notarize online
Power of Attorney
Make a financial, medical, or durable POA legally binding.
Affidavit
Sworn statements for court, business, or personal matters.
Affidavit of Residency
Sworn proof of address for schools, the DMV and agencies.
Both parties have to be identified
A bill of sale usually needs buyer and seller. Which walk-in options can handle two signers, and which cannot.
Where to get a document notarized →Not sure which notarial act your form needs? The glossary explains the terms on it, the notary guides compare where you can get a document notarized, and the FAQs cover how a session runs. Which documents may be notarized online, and the identity rules that apply, are set by each state — see the requirements page.