New York Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale is required to title or register a privately purchased car in New York. In every private sale the seller must both complete the transfer section of the title and sign a bill of sale (form MV-912), even if the vehicle is a gift.
Verified against official New York sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
MV-912
Official form: MV-912, Vehicle Bill of Sale · Free printable New York template →
What a New York car bill of sale must include
- Year and make of the vehicle
- VIN (or hull identification number)
- Date of the sale
- Purchase price
- Names and signatures of the buyer and the seller
For vehicles of model year 2011 or newer that are 20 model years old or newer, the seller must complete the odometer disclosure statement on the back of the title certificate; 2010-and-older vehicles are exempt (damage disclosure, via the title or form MV-103, applies regardless of age).
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 York?
Yes. In every private sale the seller must both complete the transfer section of the title and sign a bill of sale (form MV-912), even if the vehicle is a gift.
Does a New York car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. New York does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official New York bill of sale form?
Yes — MV-912, Vehicle Bill of Sale (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a New York car bill of sale include?
At minimum: year and make of the vehicle; vin (or hull identification number); date of the sale; purchase price; names and signatures of the buyer and the seller. For vehicles of model year 2011 or newer that are 20 model years old or newer, the seller must complete the odometer disclosure statement on the back of the title certificate; 2010-and-older vehicles are exempt (damage disclosure, via the title or form MV-103, applies regardless of age).
What should I check before signing the New York 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 York DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "New York Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/new-york, verified 2026-07-07.