Connecticut Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale is required to title or register a privately purchased car in Connecticut. Connecticut DMV instructs the seller in a private sale to complete and sign a bill of sale (Form H-31 or a self-drafted equivalent) and give it to the buyer along with the signed-over title.
Verified against official Connecticut sources · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
H-31
Official form: H-31, Bill of Sale · Free printable Connecticut template →
What a Connecticut car bill of sale must include
- Name and address of buyer (with signature)
- Name and address of seller (with signature)
- Vehicle make, model, year, color
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Odometer reading
- Sale price
- Date of sale
CT DMV's bill-of-sale guidance says the document must include an odometer reading, in addition to the federal odometer disclosure on the title assignment for vehicles under 20 model years old.
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 Connecticut?
Yes. Connecticut DMV instructs the seller in a private sale to complete and sign a bill of sale (Form H-31 or a self-drafted equivalent) and give it to the buyer along with the signed-over title.
Does a Connecticut car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Connecticut does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Connecticut bill of sale form?
Yes — H-31, Bill of Sale (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a Connecticut car bill of sale include?
At minimum: name and address of buyer (with signature); name and address of seller (with signature); vehicle make, model, year, color; vehicle identification number (vin); odometer reading; sale price. CT DMV's bill-of-sale guidance says the document must include an odometer reading, in addition to the federal odometer disclosure on the title assignment for vehicles under 20 model years old.
What should I check before signing the Connecticut 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 Connecticut DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Connecticut Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/connecticut, verified 2026-07-08.