New Jersey Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale is required to title or register a privately purchased car in New Jersey. NJ MVC instructs sellers to give the buyer a bill of sale with every private sale, in addition to the signed-over title (which itself must show sale price and buyer's driver license number).
Verified against official New Jersey sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Required
Bill of sale notary
Conditional
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: www.nj.gov · Free printable New Jersey template →
What a New Jersey car bill of sale must include
- Buyer's name and address
- Date of sale
- Odometer (mileage) reading
- Sale price
The seller must provide an accurate odometer reading at the time of sale (with an estimate if the reading is inaccurate), recorded on the bill of sale and title assignment; the federal under-20-model-years rule applies.
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 New Jersey?
Yes. NJ MVC instructs sellers to give the buyer a bill of sale with every private sale, in addition to the signed-over title (which itself must show sale price and buyer's driver license number).
Does a New Jersey car bill of sale have to be notarized?
In some cases. No notarization for a normal NJ sale; a notarized statement of ownership from the seller is required only when the vehicle comes from a state that does not issue titles.
Is there an official New Jersey bill of sale form?
New Jersey 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 New Jersey car bill of sale include?
At minimum: buyer's name and address; date of sale; odometer (mileage) reading; sale price. The seller must provide an accurate odometer reading at the time of sale (with an estimate if the reading is inaccurate), recorded on the bill of sale and title assignment; the federal under-20-model-years rule applies.
What should I check before signing the New Jersey 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 New Jersey DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "New Jersey Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/new-jersey, verified 2026-07-07.