West Virginia Bill of Sale for a Car
A bill of sale may be required for a private car sale in West Virginia, depending on the situation. A bill of sale is not required for a typical private sale where the price is entered on the title, but a notarized bill of sale must accompany the title application when the purchase price is below 50% of the vehicle's current NADA Clean Loan Book value (gifts instead use the DMV-5-TR Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration, and older ATVs/UTVs without titles also need a notarized bill of sale).
Verified against official West Virginia sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Conditional
Bill of sale notary
Required
Official form
DMV-7-TR Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle
Official form: DMV-7-TR Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat · Free printable West Virginia template →
What a West Virginia car bill of sale must include
- Vehicle year, make/manufacturer, body type, model, and color
- Title number
- Vehicle identification number (VIN/hull/serial number)
- Seller printed name(s) and street address
- Buyer printed name(s) and street address
- Date of sale
- Selling price (must match the price listed on the title)
- Odometer disclosure statement (for motor vehicles)
- Signatures of seller(s) and buyer(s) with dates
- Notary public certification
- Copies of both buyer's and seller's driver's licenses attached
Mileage must be recorded on the title (or on Odometer Disclosure Statement form DMV-TM-1) at transfer per the federal rule (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old, MY 2011+), and the DMV-7-TR bill of sale itself contains a built-in odometer disclosure statement section.
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 West Virginia?
Sometimes. A bill of sale is not required for a typical private sale where the price is entered on the title, but a notarized bill of sale must accompany the title application when the purchase price is below 50% of the vehicle's current NADA Clean Loan Book value (gifts instead use the DMV-5-TR Affidavit of Transfer of Ownership Without Consideration, and older ATVs/UTVs without titles also need a notarized bill of sale).
Does a West Virginia car bill of sale have to be notarized?
Yes. Whenever a bill of sale is used, WV DMV requires it to be notarized — the official form DMV-7-TR is captioned 'NOTARY IS REQUIRED' with a notary certification block — and it must be accompanied by copies of both the buyer's and seller's driver's licenses; this is separate from any title notarization.
Is there an official West Virginia bill of sale form?
Yes — DMV-7-TR Bill of Sale for a Motor Vehicle, Trailer, or Boat (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a West Virginia car bill of sale include?
At minimum: vehicle year, make/manufacturer, body type, model, and color; title number; vehicle identification number (vin/hull/serial number); seller printed name(s) and street address; buyer printed name(s) and street address; date of sale. Mileage must be recorded on the title (or on Odometer Disclosure Statement form DMV-TM-1) at transfer per the federal rule (vehicles fewer than 20 model years old, MY 2011+), and the DMV-7-TR bill of sale itself contains a built-in odometer disclosure statement section.
What should I check before signing the West Virginia 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 West Virginia DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "West Virginia Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/west-virginia, verified 2026-07-07.