Michigan Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Michigan — the signed-over title transfers ownership. For a private sale of a titled vehicle the original title, filled out and signed by seller and purchaser with the price and odometer reading recorded, is the transfer document; the official bill of sale form (TR-207) is used only for non-titled trailers, non-titled watercraft, and snowmobiles.
Verified against official Michigan sources · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Not required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
TR-207 Bill of Sale
Official form: TR-207 Bill of Sale (non-titled trailers, non-titled watercraft, and snowmobiles only) · Free printable Michigan template →
What a Michigan car bill of sale must include
- Seller printed name and signature
- Vehicle year, make, and serial/VIN number
- Registration number and year of last decal (non-titled items)
- Date of sale
- Selling price
- Buyer name and address
- Seller address
The odometer reading must be accurately recorded on the title at transfer, and if the title has no space for it the parties must complete and submit a separate Odometer Mileage Statement (federal baseline: 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 Michigan?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. For a private sale of a titled vehicle the original title, filled out and signed by seller and purchaser with the price and odometer reading recorded, is the transfer document; the official bill of sale form (TR-207) is used only for non-titled trailers, non-titled watercraft, and snowmobiles.
Does a Michigan car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Michigan does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Michigan bill of sale form?
Yes — TR-207 Bill of Sale (non-titled trailers, non-titled watercraft, and snowmobiles only) (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a Michigan car bill of sale include?
At minimum: seller printed name and signature; vehicle year, make, and serial/vin number; registration number and year of last decal (non-titled items); date of sale; selling price; buyer name and address. The odometer reading must be accurately recorded on the title at transfer, and if the title has no space for it the parties must complete and submit a separate Odometer Mileage Statement (federal baseline: vehicles under 20 model years old).
What should I check before signing the Michigan 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 Michigan DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Michigan Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/michigan, verified 2026-07-08.