An Insightful Look into What a Bill of Sale is – with Examples

8 min read

Marinda K.

Masterful Salesforce Scribe with an eye for detail

Updated: Jan 13th, 2025

What is a Bill of Sale?

If you’ve ever bought or sold a car, a boat, or any other type of personal property, you’ve probably come across a bill of sale. But what exactly is a bill of sale, and why is it important?

Let’s start with the basics. The definition of a bill of sale is that it is a detailed legal document that serves as proof of ownership and voluntary transfer of ownership of property from one party or entity to another in exchange for money or something else of value. It’s a written agreement between the seller and the buyer that outlines the terms of the sale, including the purchase price, the date of sale, and any warranties or guarantees. The shortest definition is possibly that it is a written document that records a buyer’s purchase of property from a seller.

Transfer of Ownership

The purpose of a bill of sales is to be a record of the transfer of ownership. It clearly states who the owner of the item is after the sale. This will prevent future disputes. It also protects both parties by providing the buyer with a legal document and relieving the seller of liability after the transfer.

Bill of sales examples include the following:

A vehicle bill of sale is used when selling a vehicle. It includes details such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, year, and odometer reading.

Similar to a vehicle bill of sale, a boat bill of sale is used for the sale of a boat and includes details such as the hull identification number (HIN), make, model, year, and any equipment included in the sale.

An equipment bill of sale is used when machinery or other equipment is sold. It includes the description of the equipment, serial number, and condition.

A personal property bill of sale is used when personal belongings such as furniture, electronics, or appliances are sold.

A livestock bill of sale is used for the sale of livestock and includes details such as the type of animal, breed, age, and any registration or identification numbers.

Documents for Selling Goods

What Does a Bill of Sale Look Like?

When you create a bill of sales, it is advised that you include the following essential elements:

1. The bill of sale must record the date of the transaction. This is important for establishing the timeline of the transaction.

2. The full names and addresses and any other necessary contact details of both the seller and the buyer must be clearly visible.

3. Make sure that the bill includes a detailed description of the item/s sold. Include the make, model, VIN, or serial number if applicable.

4. Show the agreed-upon price for the transfer of ownership.

5. Include fields for both parties’ signatures. This indicates their acknowledgment and agreement to the terms and conditions.

Essential Elements for Bill of Sales

The following are optional but recommended elements:

1. Include the payment terms, for instance, whether the buyer will pay in cash or installments. List any deadlines.

2. The seller’s statements with regard to the condition of the property, along with any warranties, guarantees, or disclaimers. Although a bill of sale typically indicates that the item/s are being sold ‘as is’ (meaning that the seller makes no warranties regarding the quality or performance of the item/s), you may need to add additional clauses to address specific concerns.

3. In some situations, you can add an extra layer of verification by asking witnesses to sign the bill of sale.

4. Including the transaction location in a bill of sale is also important. This is where the transfer of ownership took place, and it can be used to verify the location of the sale if there are any disputes later on.

5. Depending on the jurisdiction and the type of property being sold, you may need to have the bill of sale notarized by a public notary to make it legally binding.

*Make sure that you check the requirements of your local jurisdiction, as different states may have different requirements. You may need to consult with a lawyer for complex transactions.

Bill of Sale Requirements

Use the following checklist to make sure that you have included all the required elements in your bill of sales template:

Bill of Sale Example Checklist		Yes/No
Item Description and Identification	Does your bill of sale include a detailed description of the item(s) being sold, including any unique identifiers (such as serial numbers or VINs), make, model, year, size, color, and condition?
Ownership and Health Guarantees	Did you add a statement that you legally own the item and that you have the right to sell it? Do you need a free and clear guarantee stating that you own the item outright with no attached liens, debts, or claims? Or, are you giving a rightful title guarantee that you have the legal authority to sell the item, even if you don’t own it outright? If you are selling live animals (or plants), did you add a health guarantee stating that the animals or plants are in good health at the time of the sale? Are the animals’ vaccinations up to date? If necessary, did you add any specific aspects like breed, age, genetic traits, or specific health tests performed?
Seller Information	Does your template include fields for the seller’s full names, addresses, and contact information (such as phone numbers)?
Buyer Information	Does your template include fields for the buyer’s full names, addresses, and contact information (such as phone numbers)?
Date of Sale	Does your bill of sale template have a date field to indicate when the transfer of ownership occurs?
Transaction Location	If required by your state or jurisdiction, does your template have a field to indicate the location?
Sale Price and Taxes	Does the template of the bill of sale clearly indicate the agreed-upon price and any taxes applicable per item?
Official Verification	Does your bill of sales agreement need to have any official verification?
Signatures	Does your template include signature fields where both parties can acknowledge their agreement to the terms outlined in the document?

Description of Items Sold

Bill of Sale Template

A general bill of sale is simple and generic, suited for basic personal property sales with minimal details, and has limited focus. It seldom delves into warranties, disclaimers, or complex legal clauses.

Here is a general bill of sale template that you can check out as a reference:

This document is provided as a general template, and you should customize it to fit the specific details of your transaction and comply with local laws and regulations.

Please note that the specifics may vary based on the item being sold and local regulations, so it’s essential to consult with a legal professional to ensure that the template for the bill of sale meets all necessary requirements.

Bill of Sale for Equipment

A bill of sale for equipment template is more specific and requires detailed equipment descriptions (model, serial number, condition). It may include warranties and disclaimers on functionality, age, or specific limitations. When it involves intellectual property such as software licenses, that should be specified in the bill of sale.

Bill of Sale for Equipment

Bill of Sale for Business

A business bill of sale is highly complex and requires comprehensive details about the business itself and its assets. A template should include the following: Legal name, structure, location, detailed asset lists (tangible and intangible), and financial statements (optional). Extensive clauses for warranties and disclaimers, representations and covenants, transition provisions, confidentiality agreements, and non-compete clauses (if applicable) should also be included. The legal considerations are extensive.

Why Should You Use a Simple Bill of Sale Form?

Now that you know what a bill of sale is and what it includes, let’s talk about why you should use one. There are a few key reasons why a bill of sale is important:

Providing evidence

A bill of sale provides evidence that the item belongs to the seller and that they may sell it. It also provides evidence that the buyer bought the item legally.

Staying compliant

Using a bill of sale ensures compliance with local and state/country regulations, preventing potential legal issues and fines.

Aligning expectations

Documenting the sale with as many details as possible in a bill of sale can help prevent future disagreements between the buyer and the seller. It adds formality and clarity to the transaction, reducing the likelihood of disputes after the sale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a bill of sale protect the seller?

Yes, it protects the seller in several ways:

1. A bill of sale proves that the seller transferred ownership of the item/s to the buyer.
2. The liability is, therefore, transferred from the seller to the buyer. This can be important in case the item(s) are damaged or cause harm to someone after the sale.
3. The bill of sale provides legal protection to the seller in case the buyer fails to pay for the item or tries to claim that the sale is not valid.

What is a bill of sale used for?

A bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of an asset or property from one party to another in exchange for money or other valuable consideration. It serves as evidence of a transaction and provides a record of the sale, including the specific details of the item being sold, the agreed-upon price, and the terms of the sale. It protects both the buyer and the seller in case of future disputes or disagreements.

What is the purpose of a bill of sale?

The purpose of a bill of sale is to serve as a legal document that details in writing the sale of goods or transfer of property from one party to another. It provides evidence that full consideration has been provided in a transaction and that the seller has transferred the rights to the assets described in the bill of sale to the buyer.

What is on a bill of sale?

A basic bill of sale includes the following information:

1. Date of the sale
2. Seller’s and buyer’s information
3. Description of the item(s) being sold
4. Sale price
5. Payment method and terms
6. Signatures of both parties

Use Titan Docs for Simple Bill of Sale Contracts

Do you need a simple and legally binding bill of sale? Create your templates with Titan’s documentation generation software.

With Titan Docs, you can generate professional-looking and customizable templates quickly and easily. It integrates seamlessly with Salesforce, making it easy to manage and track bill-of-sale contracts alongside other customer relationship management activities.

Titan Docs offers robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data during the generation and storage processes. Titan support resources, such as knowledge bases, webinars, and tutorial videos, to assist users in navigating the platform and generating customized bill-of-sale templates.

As a cloud-based solution, Titan Docs enables users to scale their operations without worrying about hardware limitations or IT infrastructure investments. Your documents are securely stored in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.

Compared to hiring attorneys or purchasing expensive software solutions, Titan Docs offers cost-effective options for generating bills of sale.

Titan has established a strong reputation in the industry, offering reliable products and services backed by years of experience. Don’t risk a legal dispute or misunderstanding – use Titan Docs for your simple bill of sale needs today!

We hope to see you soon!

Titan Website

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An Insightful Look into What a Bill of Sale is – with Examples

What is a Bill of Sale?

What Does a Bill of Sale Look Like?

Bill of Sale Template

Bill of Sale for Equipment

Bill of Sale for Business

Why Should You Use a Simple Bill of Sale Form?

Providing evidence

Staying compliant

Aligning expectations

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a bill of sale protect the seller?

What is a bill of sale used for?

What is the purpose of a bill of sale?

What is on a bill of sale?

Use Titan Docs for Simple Bill of Sale Contracts

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