MD motor vehicle
Maryland Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale
Sold or bought a used vehicle in Maryland? Create a complete Maryland motor vehicle bill of sale, preview it as you type, and download a print-ready PDF - free, no signup, no watermark.
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Overview
Maryland at a glance
Reviewed July 2026
- Bill of sale
- Sometimes required
- Notarization
- Sometimes
- Transfer title within
- 30 days
- Excise tax
- 6.5%
- File at
- MVA
The odometer disclosure is federal law (49 CFR Part 580). Confirm current fees and deadlines with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Selling or buying a used vehicle in Maryland? A bill of sale is your proof of the deal - it records who sold what, for how much, and on what date. Maryland transfers ownership through the assigned title and the Application for Certificate of Title, Form VR-005, and a notarized MVA bill of sale (Form VR-181) is what lets the buyer base the excise tax on the actual price paid. It also protects both sides by locking in the price, the handover date, and the fact that the seller is no longer responsible for tickets or accidents once the keys change hands.
State rules
Maryland requirements
The rules people ask about most, answered for Maryland.
Is a bill of sale required in Maryland?
Sometimes. A notarized MVA bill of sale (Form VR-181) is required if you want the 6.5% excise tax based on the sale price - and it's mandatory when a vehicle under 7 years old sells for $500 or more below book value. Even when optional, it proves the price and that you're no longer liable for the vehicle.
Does it need to be notarized?
When you use it to set the excise tax, yes. Maryland's MVA bill of sale (Form VR-181) must be notarized and signed by both buyer and seller to base tax on the actual price paid. The title assignment itself does not require notarization.
Title transfer deadline
The buyer must title the vehicle with the MVA within 30 days of the sale. Titling after 30 days adds a late-transfer penalty fee, so don't wait.
Motor vehicle excise tax
Maryland charges a 6.5% excise titling tax (raised from 6% on July 1, 2025), based on the greater of the purchase price - verified by a notarized Form VR-181 - or $640. Without a notarized bill of sale, the MVA uses the vehicle's book value.
Odometer disclosure
Federal law requires the odometer reading at the time of sale for vehicles under 20 model years old. Record it on both the bill of sale and the title.
Rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) before you sign.
Step by step
How to fill it out
Enter the sale date and the Maryland county where the sale takes place.
Add the seller's and buyer's full legal names and addresses.
Describe the vehicle - make, model, year, color, and 17-character VIN.
Record the odometer reading and the federal odometer disclosure.
Enter the purchase price and choose 'as-is' or add warranty terms.
Both parties sign - then the buyer files Form VR-005 with the MVA within 30 days.
Document checklist
What to include
Parties and vehicle
- Seller and buyerfull legal names and mailing addresses
- Vehicle descriptionmake, model, year, color and VIN
- Odometer readingplus the federal disclosure
Price, terms and signatures
- Purchase pricein figures and words, plus a sales-tax note
- As-is or warranty termsstate clearly which one applies
- Date of sale and signaturesboth parties sign and each keeps a copy
Common questions
Maryland bill of sale FAQ
Does a Maryland motor vehicle bill of sale need to be notarized?
It does when you use it to set the excise tax. Maryland's MVA bill of sale (Form VR-181) must be notarized and signed by both buyer and seller to base the 6.5% excise tax on the actual price paid. The title assignment itself isn't notarized.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Maryland?
Sometimes. A notarized Form VR-181 is required to base the excise tax on the sale price, and it's mandatory when a vehicle under 7 years old sells for $500 or more under book value. It also proves the price, the sale date, and that you're no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Where do I transfer the title in Maryland?
At the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The buyer brings the assigned title, a completed Application for Certificate of Title (Form VR-005), a notarized bill of sale if using it for tax, proof of insurance, and payment for the title fee and excise tax.
How long do I have to transfer the title in Maryland?
The buyer has 30 days from the date of sale to title the vehicle with the MVA. After 30 days, Maryland charges a late-transfer penalty fee, so don't wait.
How much is excise tax on a used car in Maryland?
6.5% (raised from 6% on July 1, 2025) of the greater of the purchase price or $640. To use the actual sale price, you need a notarized MVA bill of sale (Form VR-181); otherwise the MVA bases it on the vehicle's book value.
Do both the buyer and seller need to sign?
Yes. Both parties should sign and date the bill of sale, and each keeps a copy - and Form VR-181 specifically requires both buyer and seller signatures. If there are two buyers or two sellers, every party signs.
Is a handwritten bill of sale valid in Maryland?
For tax purposes the MVA wants its own notarized Form VR-181, so a handwritten note may not be accepted to set the excise tax. As a general record between buyer and seller a written bill of sale is fine - but a complete, typed document like this one is cleaner and far less likely to be questioned at the MVA.
Is this Maryland bill of sale really free?
Yes - completely. Fill it in, preview it live, and download the PDF with no signup, no credit card, and no watermark. Unlike sites that charge a fee or push a subscription to download, there's nothing to pay here.
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