Ohio Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Ohio — the signed-over title transfers ownership. Ohio does not require a bill of sale for in-state private (casual) sales — ownership transfers via the notarized title assignment (or form BMV 3770 for electronic titles); the BMV asks for a bill of sale only when buying from an out-of-state dealer.
Verified against official Ohio 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: www.bmv.ohio.gov · Free printable Ohio template →
What a Ohio car bill of sale must include
- Notarized seller signature on the title assignment (or BMV 3770)
- Buyer's name and address
- Sale price
- Date of sale
- Odometer reading verified by both parties
Both seller and buyer must verify the odometer reading recorded on the certificate of title at transfer, with a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (form BMV 3724) used if applicable; the federal under-20-model-years rule governs exemptions.
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 Ohio?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. Ohio does not require a bill of sale for in-state private (casual) sales — ownership transfers via the notarized title assignment (or form BMV 3770 for electronic titles); the BMV asks for a bill of sale only when buying from an out-of-state dealer.
Does a Ohio car bill of sale have to be notarized?
Yes. The seller's signature on the title's assignment of ownership must be notarized (and both seller and buyer signatures on the BMV 3770 casual-sale form for electronic titles must be notarized) — this applies to the title assignment, not a bill of sale.
Is there an official Ohio bill of sale form?
Ohio 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 Ohio car bill of sale include?
At minimum: notarized seller signature on the title assignment (or bmv 3770); buyer's name and address; sale price; date of sale; odometer reading verified by both parties. Both seller and buyer must verify the odometer reading recorded on the certificate of title at transfer, with a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (form BMV 3724) used if applicable; the federal under-20-model-years rule governs exemptions.
What should I check before signing the Ohio 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 Ohio DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Ohio Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/ohio, verified 2026-07-07.