California Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in California, depending on the situation. A bill of sale is not required when the properly endorsed title establishes ownership; it is required to complete the chain of ownership, and is acceptable in lieu of the registered owner's release signature on the title or an in-between buyer's signature on multiple transfers.
Verified against official California sources · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
REG 135
Official form: REG 135, Bill of Sale · Free printable California template →
What a California car bill of sale must include
- vehicle/vessel identification number
- year, model, make
- license plate/CF number
- motorcycle engine number if applicable
- seller printed name(s) and signature(s) under penalty of perjury
- buyer printed name(s)
- date of sale
- selling price (or gift value and relationship)
- seller DL/ID or dealer number
- seller and buyer mailing addresses
For transfers on or after January 1, 2021, vehicles fewer than 20 model years old require odometer disclosure on the complying title or the Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262); REG 135 has no odometer section.
Before you sign: run the VIN
Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours. The $9.99 Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model, and the original window sticker where available, in about a minute. One-time, no subscription. Run the report →
FAQ
Do you need a bill of sale to sell a car privately in California?
Sometimes. A bill of sale is not required when the properly endorsed title establishes ownership; it is required to complete the chain of ownership, and is acceptable in lieu of the registered owner's release signature on the title or an in-between buyer's signature on multiple transfers.
Does a California car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. California does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official California bill of sale form?
Yes — REG 135, Bill of Sale (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a California car bill of sale include?
At minimum: vehicle/vessel identification number; year, model, make; license plate/cf number; motorcycle engine number if applicable; seller printed name(s) and signature(s) under penalty of perjury; buyer printed name(s). For transfers on or after January 1, 2021, vehicles fewer than 20 model years old require odometer disclosure on the complying title or the Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262); REG 135 has no odometer section.
What should I check before signing the California bill of sale?
Confirm the VIN on the document matches the dashboard and door-jamb VIN character-for-character, and check the vehicle's history first: the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report shows open recalls for that VIN, plus complaints and service bulletins for the model and the original window sticker where available. Once you sign, the car — and its problems — are yours, so they're cheaper to find before you sign.
Sources: bill-of-sale, notarization, and odometer requirements from California DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "California Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/california, verified 2026-07-08.