District of Columbia Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in District of Columbia, depending on the situation. DC DMV says buyers in a private sale 'should also obtain a bill of sale' (with all owners listed if there are multiple), but the signed-over title with odometer reading is the required transfer document rather than the bill of sale itself.
Compiled from District of Columbia DMV guidance — verify current rules with the state · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: dmv.dc.gov · Free printable District of Columbia template →
What a District of Columbia car bill of sale must include
- All owners of the vehicle listed on the bill of sale
- Buyer and seller names
- Sale price
- Date of sale
- Vehicle description and VIN
- Odometer reading (recorded on back of title)
DC DMV instructs that the odometer reading be recorded on the back of the title at sale, and its buyer guidance references odometer disclosure statements for vehicles less than 10 years old (the federal baseline is now under 20 model years for MY2011+).
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 District of Columbia?
Sometimes. DC DMV says buyers in a private sale 'should also obtain a bill of sale' (with all owners listed if there are multiple), but the signed-over title with odometer reading is the required transfer document rather than the bill of sale itself.
Does a District of Columbia car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. District of Columbia does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official District of Columbia bill of sale form?
District of Columbia does not publish a single official statewide car bill of sale form. Any document containing the required details — VIN, price, date, and both parties' names and signatures — is acceptable. Avoid third-party "form fee" services; the details, not the template, are what the state needs.
What should a District of Columbia car bill of sale include?
At minimum: all owners of the vehicle listed on the bill of sale; buyer and seller names; sale price; date of sale; vehicle description and vin; odometer reading (recorded on back of title). DC DMV instructs that the odometer reading be recorded on the back of the title at sale, and its buyer guidance references odometer disclosure statements for vehicles less than 10 years old (the federal baseline is now under 20 model years for MY2011+).
What should I check before signing the District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above), with some details confirmed via official-domain search where the state site blocked direct access. Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "District of Columbia Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/district-of-columbia, verified 2026-07-08.