Illinois Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Illinois — the signed-over title transfers ownership. Ownership transfers via the Assignment of Title section on the certificate of title, and no bill of sale is required, but the Illinois Department of Revenue says attaching a bill of sale or proof of purchase to tax Form RUT-50 may prevent future notices (Form RUT-49 may be used in lieu of a bill of sale).
Compiled from Illinois DMV guidance — verify current rules with the state · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Not required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: tax.illinois.gov · Free printable Illinois template →
What a Illinois car bill of sale must include
- buyer and seller names
- vehicle description (year, make, model)
- VIN
- sale price
- date of sale
The seller discloses mileage in the Assignment of Title section on the title for model year 2011 or newer self-propelled vehicles with registered weight of 16,000 lbs or less (the federal sub-20-year rule); separate ILSOS Form VSD 333 (Odometer Disclosure Statement for Title Transfers) is used if disclosure cannot be completed on the title.
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 Illinois?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. Ownership transfers via the Assignment of Title section on the certificate of title, and no bill of sale is required, but the Illinois Department of Revenue says attaching a bill of sale or proof of purchase to tax Form RUT-50 may prevent future notices (Form RUT-49 may be used in lieu of a bill of sale).
Does a Illinois car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Illinois does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Illinois bill of sale form?
Illinois 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 Illinois car bill of sale include?
At minimum: buyer and seller names; vehicle description (year, make, model); vin; sale price; date of sale. The seller discloses mileage in the Assignment of Title section on the title for model year 2011 or newer self-propelled vehicles with registered weight of 16,000 lbs or less (the federal sub-20-year rule); separate ILSOS Form VSD 333 (Odometer Disclosure Statement for Title Transfers) is used if disclosure cannot be completed on the title.
What should I check before signing the Illinois 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 Illinois 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, "Illinois Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/illinois, verified 2026-07-07.