Overview
Selling or buying a used vehicle in Vermont? A bill of sale is your proof of the deal — it records who sold what, for how much, and on what date. Vermont actually requires a Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005) along with the signed title and a Registration, Tax & Title Application (Form VD-119), and it protects both sides: it locks in the price the DMV uses for Purchase and Use Tax, fixes the handover date, and shows the seller is no longer responsible for the vehicle once the keys change hands.
Vermont requirements
Is a bill of sale required in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont requires a completed Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005) along with the signed title and the VD-119 application. It must identify the vehicle and show the purchase price, which the DMV uses to assess Purchase and Use Tax.
Does it need to be notarized?
No. Vermont does not require the bill of sale or the title to be notarized, and no notary needs to witness the application forms. You can notarize voluntarily for extra proof, but it isn't needed to transfer ownership.
Title transfer deadline
Purchase and Use Tax, titling, and registration are all due at the time you register, so handle it promptly — register before driving the vehicle. New residents get 60 days, and Vermont offers temporary plates valid up to 60 days while you finish the paperwork.
Purchase and use tax
Vermont charges a 6% Purchase and Use Tax on the greater of the purchase price or the NADA value, minus any trade-in credit. The buyer pays it to the DMV at registration/titling, based on the price shown on your VT-005 bill of sale.
Odometer disclosure
Federal law requires the odometer reading at the time of sale for vehicles under 20 model years old. Vermont's VT-005 captures it, and you should record it on both the bill of sale and the title.
How to fill it out
- 1
Enter the sale date and the Vermont town or county where the sale takes place.
- 2
Add the seller's and buyer's full legal names and addresses.
- 3
Describe the vehicle — make, model, year, color, and 17-character VIN.
- 4
Record the odometer reading and the federal odometer disclosure.
- 5
Enter the purchase price and choose 'as-is' or add warranty terms.
- 6
Both parties sign — then the buyer files Form VT-005 and VD-119 at the Vermont DMV and pays the Purchase and Use Tax.
Ready to create your Vermont bill of sale?
Fill the form, watch it build live, and download the PDF — free, no signup.
Open the free builderWhat to include
- Seller & buyer names and addresses
- Make, model, year, color & VIN
- Odometer reading + federal disclosure
- Purchase price & sales-tax note
- “As-is” statement or warranty terms
- Date of sale and signatures
Vermont bill of sale by vehicle type
The same Vermontbuilder works for more than cars — pick your vehicle and the form adapts: the right ID number (a VIN, a boat's HIN, or a serial number) and an odometer reading only where one applies.
- Car bill of sale
- Truck bill of sale
- SUV bill of sale
- Van bill of sale
- Motorcycle bill of sale
- ATV bill of sale
- RV bill of sale
- Camper bill of sale
- Trailer bill of sale
- Boat bill of sale
- Jet Ski bill of sale
- Snowmobile bill of sale
- Golf Cart bill of sale
- Tractor bill of sale
A few differ: boats and jet skis use a Hull ID Number (HIN) instead of a VIN and have no odometer; trailers, campers, snowmobiles, golf carts, and tractors have no odometer either; and boats, ATVs, and snowmobiles often register with a different agency (such as a wildlife, boating, or parks department) rather than the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Confirm the details with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Vermont bill of sale FAQ
Does a Vermont motor vehicle bill of sale need to be notarized?
No. Vermont does not require the bill of sale, the title, or the application forms to be notarized or witnessed. The transfer happens through the signed title, Form VT-005, and the VD-119 at the DMV — notarizing is optional.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont requires a Bill of Sale and Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form VT-005) to title and register the vehicle. It proves the price the DMV uses for Purchase and Use Tax, the sale date, and that you're no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Where do I transfer the title in Vermont?
At the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The buyer submits the signed title, Form VT-005, a completed VD-119 Registration, Tax & Title Application, and payment for the title fee and Purchase and Use Tax — by mail or in person.
How long do I have to transfer the title in Vermont?
Purchase and Use Tax, titling, and registration are all due when you register, so do it promptly and register before driving. New residents have 60 days, and temporary plates valid up to 60 days cover you while the paperwork is processed.
How much is tax on a used car in Vermont?
6% Purchase and Use Tax, charged on the greater of the purchase price or the vehicle's NADA value, minus any trade-in credit. The buyer pays it to the DMV at registration based on the price on your VT-005 bill of sale.
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. If there are two buyers or two sellers, every party signs.
Is a handwritten bill of sale valid in Vermont?
Vermont expects the information on Form VT-005, but a document is valid as long as it includes the make, year, VIN, purchase price, mileage, seller's signature, and date of sale. A complete, typed document like this one is cleaner and far less likely to be questioned at the DMV.
Is this Vermont 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.