Preparing a Bill of Sale for a Used Car

Preparing a bill of sale for a used car is a professional, organized way to sell a vehicle. Mike Meredith of MSN autos even believes by using one it will help to "maximize the dollars that you put into your pocket".

When most people think of ways to help their car sell easier using an auto bill of sale usually doesn't come to mind. Their preparation usually consists of taking the vehicle to a full-service car wash, fixing obvious damage, repairing body damage, touching up the paint, replacing a cracked windshield, and figuring out how to ask for only cash, cashier's check, or money order. Although these are all good ideas, documenting the item, terms, and sale of the transaction will create trust between the two parties, which will probably do more than anything else to help sell the vehicle.

Creating a bill of sale helps to establish exactly what the terms of the agreement are. Not only that, but you also put it on public record when you notarize it, making it impossible to refute the terms of the sale later on. This document has played a crucial role in civil court before as protection against disgruntled buyers or sellers. That's why using one is such a common practice now.

Car dealers usually don't sell their cars "as is", most likely a dealer will provide a warranty. If your a not a car dealer just sell your car "as is", your not required to provide any kind of warranty on it. A bill of sale will also include the date of the sale, price, detailed information about the vehicle, and it will protect you against liabilities.

If you want to create your own bill of sale without hiring a lawyer then you can find your state's form by searching for it online. The car dealerships can just pay a lawyer to create a template that they then mass-produce. You can take advantage of that same kind of mass production by using a legal products provider that has this form. Look for providers with good reputations because that shows they know how to keep their forms up-to-date. A good reputation is a clear signal that no one has had any problems filing their forms.

Disclaimer: This article has been written for information and interest purposes only. The information contained within this article is the opinion of the author only, and should not be construed as legal advice or used to make legal decisions. Consult an attorney in your area if you’re seeking legal advice.