Wisconsin Bill of Sale for a Car
A separate bill of sale is not required for a private car sale in Wisconsin — the signed-over title transfers ownership. Wisconsin DMV states the bill of sale 'is provided for your convenience, it is not a required form' for private sales; instead, the seller must complete the online seller notification (wisconsindmv.gov/sellernotify) within 30 days of a private-party sale.
Verified against official Wisconsin sources · 2026-07-07 · Reviewed by the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team
Bill of sale
Not required
Bill of sale notary
No
Official form
MV2928 Instructions for Selling a Vehicle
Official form: MV2928 Instructions for Selling a Vehicle (includes an optional sample Bill of Sale) · Free printable Wisconsin template →
What a Wisconsin car bill of sale must include
- Vehicle make, year, and model
- Vehicle identification number (VIN)
- Odometer reading
- Purchase price
- Sale date and vehicle delivery date
- Buyer and seller names, addresses, and phone numbers
- Signatures of both parties
For vehicles model year 2011 or newer (the federal fewer-than-20-model-years rule), the seller must record the odometer reading on the back of the title and indicate whether the mileage is actual, not actual, or in excess of mechanical limits; no separate state odometer form is used 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 Wisconsin?
No — ownership transfers on the certificate of title. Wisconsin DMV states the bill of sale 'is provided for your convenience, it is not a required form' for private sales; instead, the seller must complete the online seller notification (wisconsindmv.gov/sellernotify) within 30 days of a private-party sale.
Does a Wisconsin car bill of sale have to be notarized?
No. Wisconsin does not require a car bill of sale to be notarized for a standard private sale.
Is there an official Wisconsin bill of sale form?
Yes — MV2928 Instructions for Selling a Vehicle (includes an optional sample Bill of Sale) (linked above). You can also use any document that contains the same information.
What should a Wisconsin car bill of sale include?
At minimum: vehicle make, year, and model; vehicle identification number (vin); odometer reading; purchase price; sale date and vehicle delivery date; buyer and seller names, addresses, and phone numbers. For vehicles model year 2011 or newer (the federal fewer-than-20-model-years rule), the seller must record the odometer reading on the back of the title and indicate whether the mileage is actual, not actual, or in excess of mechanical limits; no separate state odometer form is used for private sales.
What should I check before signing the Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin DMV/DOR/DOT guidance (linked above). Requirements change by statute — confirm with the state before you sign. Cite this page: CarWhere, "Wisconsin Bill of Sale for a Car," carwhere.com/titles/bill-of-sale/wisconsin, verified 2026-07-07.