Minnesota Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Minnesota — the signed-over title transfers ownership. Transfer of a titled vehicle must take place on the certificate of title within ten days of sale, with the seller entering the sales price in the sales tax declaration area; a bill of sale is an acceptable ownership-assignment document only for vehicles not subject to titling (e.g., trailers 4,000 lbs gross weight or less).
Verified against official Minnesota sources · 2026-07-08 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Not required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: assets.dps.mn.gov · Free printable Minnesota template →
What a Minnesota car bill of sale must include
- Identification of the vehicle being sold
- Date of sale
- Name of the buyer
- Sales price
- Seller handprinted name and signature
- Odometer disclosure (if applicable)
- Damage disclosure
Minnesota requires odometer disclosure at transfer for 20 years for all vehicles model year 2011 or newer, except vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR or not self-propelled (plus a damage disclosure required for all vehicles).
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 Minnesota?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. Transfer of a titled vehicle must take place on the certificate of title within ten days of sale, with the seller entering the sales price in the sales tax declaration area; a bill of sale is an acceptable ownership-assignment document only for vehicles not subject to titling (e.g., trailers 4,000 lbs gross weight or less).
Does a Minnesota car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Minnesota does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Minnesota bill of sale form?
Minnesota 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 Minnesota car bill of sale include?
At minimum: identification of the vehicle being sold; date of sale; name of the buyer; sales price; seller handprinted name and signature; odometer disclosure (if applicable). Minnesota requires odometer disclosure at transfer for 20 years for all vehicles model year 2011 or newer, except vehicles over 16,000 lbs GVWR or not self-propelled (plus a damage disclosure required for all vehicles).
What should I check before signing the Minnesota 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 Minnesota DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Minnesota Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/minnesota, verified 2026-07-08.