Kentucky Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Kentucky — the signed-over title transfers ownership. Kentucky transfers ownership through the notarized assignment on the back of the Kentucky title (with the buyer applying at the county clerk), and no bill of sale is required for a private sale.
Verified against official Kentucky sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Not required
Bill of sale notary
No — title only
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: drive.ky.gov · Free printable Kentucky template →
What a Kentucky car bill of sale must include
Federal law requires the seller to state the mileage upon transfer of ownership (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old), disclosed on the title/application at transfer or on the standalone Odometer Disclosure Statement TC 96-5, which itself includes a notary certification section (KRS 190.300).
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 Kentucky?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. Kentucky transfers ownership through the notarized assignment on the back of the Kentucky title (with the buyer applying at the county clerk), and no bill of sale is required for a private sale.
Does a Kentucky car bill of sale have to be notarized?
Yes. Notarization applies to the title itself, not a bill of sale: the seller must sign the back of the Kentucky title in the presence of a notary to transfer ownership.
Is there an official Kentucky bill of sale form?
Kentucky 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 Kentucky car bill of sale include?
At minimum: . Federal law requires the seller to state the mileage upon transfer of ownership (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old), disclosed on the title/application at transfer or on the standalone Odometer Disclosure Statement TC 96-5, which itself includes a notary certification section (KRS 190.300).
What should I check before signing the Kentucky 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 Kentucky DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Kentucky Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/kentucky, verified 2026-07-07.