An Indiana bill of sale is a legal document that proves a motor vehicle ownership transfer from one party to another. The vehicle bill of sale contains personal information and signatures of both legal entities that participate in the sale and purchase process.

Moreover, the form contains detailed information about the motor vehicle that is being sold. A car bill of sale is sometimes useful as part of the documentation needed for a car title transfer procedure, but the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) does not specifically require it, as vehicle sellers and buyers are only mandated to sign the title change documents.

However, an auto bill of sale is recommended in order to have a proof of the transfer of rights over the vehicle in question. Note that the document may only serve as a document that proves a transfer of ownership between two parties, but it cannot be used as proof of ownership when completing the auto title process. Learn where to get the form by reading the sections below.

When is a bill of sale necessary in Indiana?

An Indiana bill of sale form is a legal document that contains the signatures of both the seller and the purchaser of vehicles that were not bought at car dealerships. Filling out a bill of sale template may prove useful in various situations for both parties.

The document may help the seller resolve potential legal issues that may occur after the rights over the vehicle are handed over to the other party. Similarly, the form may be useful to a purchaser in situations when his or her ownership is put into question.

Who needs an Indiana bill of sale?

A DMV bill of sale in Indiana is a necessary document that both the vehicle seller and the vehicle buyer need when transferring the rights of a motor vehicle. The bill of sale form holds valuable information about both legal entities that participate in the procedure, as well as detailed description of the motor vehicle that is on sale. Therefore, a simple bill of sale is a significant part of the paperwork that both sellers and purchasers are recommended to have in order to avoid future legal disputes.

Vehicle sellers may provide a copy of the document when they want to report the change of ownership to the IN Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in order to avoid being liable for any violations tied to the vehicle they have sold. Buyers can use the document as a generic bill of sale in case there is any dispute about the vehicle price or the buyer’s ownership status.

How to Complete a Bill of Sale Form in Indiana

When completing a sample bill of sale in Indiana, vehicle sellers and buyers need to obtain a blank form.

After obtaining a bill of sale template, both the seller and the purchaser need to provide the following information:

  • Information about the vehicle, such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make and model
  • Purchase price and date of sale
  • Information about the seller (signature, full name, date and address)
  • Information about the buyer (signature, full name, date and address)

When printing out and completing Indiana bill of sale PDF, the vehicle sellers provide their personal details and signatures, as well as the information about the vehicle and the price. Before signing the form, the vehicle buyer is highly encouraged to check the accuracy of every detail written on the form.

The vehicle purchasers need only provide their signatures on the form, affirming that all details are correct. Therefore, the vehicle bill of sale must be completed on the same date when the vehicle rights are transferred from one party to another. Before signing the document, buyers should consider requesting an Indiana vehicle history report to learn more about the state of the car they are buying.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 10 2020.