California Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

The California vehicle bill of sale is a special legal document that confirms the sale of a car to another person. When buying their first vehicle, many motorists do not know what steps they need to take or the documents they require.

To do this, you need to know what a car bill of sale is. It describes the legality of the transaction, all the vehicle’s details, condition, and documentation. After the transaction, the former owner has no obligations.

Let us consider the process of selling a car in more detail.

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Six Steps to Selling a Vehicle in California

Cars are a trendy segment on the market; therefore, it should not be difficult for you to sell them.

To issue the form of a bill of sale for a vehicle correctly, follow these simple steps.

1. Prepare the Documents

Collect all the required documents in one folder so that they are safe and there are no problems during the transaction. The buyer needs to prepare several documents to register a car.

You will need:

A bill of sale for a vehicle
A list of facts (REG 256 form)
A certificate of ownership (REG 343 form)
A driver’s license
An application for ownership
A power of attorney for the vehicle (REG 260).

2. Prepare the Vehicle

It is important to the buyer that the car works perfectly and looks good. The better you prepare the vehicle for sale, the more profit you will get from the sale of your car. Wash the dirt off, clean up the interior, and repair minor creases.

3. Pass a Smog Check

If your car is not yet four years old, then you do not need to pass a smog check, but the buyer is obliged to pay a tax fee for passing a smog check. In the opposite case, we advise you to pass it to simplify further work with documents.

4. Get Insurance for Your Vehicle

Be sure to get car insurance for the following requirements:

$15 000 for the death or injury of a passenger
$30 000 for the death or injury of two or more passengers
$5 000 for any material damage.

You will additionally need a power of attorney for the vehicle to sell the car.

5. Find out the Price of Your Vehicle

There is nothing wrong with asking for a fair price for your car. If you sell to an experienced car owner, you will likely face the problem of depreciation of your car from their side, especially if you make such a transaction for the first time. We advise you to conduct a brief market value survey in advance or talk to a specialist to determine the best price.

6. Fill Out the Bill of sale Correctly

After researching the price agreement and negotiating with the buyer, you will need a properly filled bill of sale. Specify this data:

Transaction date
Seller’s details
Buyer’s details
Transaction amount
Vehicle Information (Make, model, condition, car ID, serial number, and more)
Other important details
Signatures.

We recommend that you consult with a notary about filling out a vehicle bill of sale to make sure that you do not make mistakes. However, notarization of this legal paper is not mandatory.

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