Pennsylvania Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in Pennsylvania, depending on the situation. Pennsylvania transfers ownership on the certificate of title itself (Section A, completed with Form MV-4ST before an authorized PennDOT agent), so a bill of sale is normally not required; one is needed to verify purchase price when the vehicle sells for well below fair market value (Form MV-3 is required at 80% or more below fair market value) or under the Revenue Department's Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program.
Verified against official Pennsylvania sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
None (any document)
Official source: www.pa.gov · Free printable Pennsylvania template →
What a Pennsylvania car bill of sale must include
- seller's name, address, and phone number
- purchaser's name, address, and phone number
- purchase price
- date of sale
- vehicle make and model
- VIN
- verification of sales tax paid if applicable
- appraised fair market value plus actual purchase price when sold below fair market value
The seller discloses the odometer reading in Section A on the back of the Pennsylvania title (or the space on an out-of-state title) in the presence of an authorized PennDOT agent, per the federal rule for vehicles fewer than 20 model years old; there is no separate state odometer form for private sales.
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 Pennsylvania?
Sometimes. Pennsylvania transfers ownership on the certificate of title itself (Section A, completed with Form MV-4ST before an authorized PennDOT agent), so a bill of sale is normally not required; one is needed to verify purchase price when the vehicle sells for well below fair market value (Form MV-3 is required at 80% or more below fair market value) or under the Revenue Department's Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program.
Does a Pennsylvania car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Pennsylvania does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Pennsylvania bill of sale form?
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania car bill of sale include?
At minimum: seller's name, address, and phone number; purchaser's name, address, and phone number; purchase price; date of sale; vehicle make and model; vin. The seller discloses the odometer reading in Section A on the back of the Pennsylvania title (or the space on an out-of-state title) in the presence of an authorized PennDOT agent, per the federal rule for vehicles fewer than 20 model years old; there is no separate state odometer form for private sales.
What should I check before signing the Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Pennsylvania Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/pennsylvania, verified 2026-07-07.