ATV Bill of Sale, with Title and Registration Rules by State

What it covers

Seller and buyer names and addresses
Year, make, model, color, and VIN or serial number
Registration or decal number and hours or miles, if you have them
Price and date of sale, or a gift transfer at $0
As-is terms, a title warranty, and who pays taxes and fees
A notary block, marked required or optional for your state

Where to find the VIN

Newer ATVs carry a 17-character VIN stamped on the frame. Older machines may have a shorter serial number, also on the frame. Copy it exactly, since the title or registration office will match it against the machine.

Side-by-sides and UTVs

Many states group side-by-sides with ATVs under one off-highway vehicle program, and this form works for either. A UTV that has been made street legal and registered for the road is a motor vehicle in most states, so use the vehicle bill of sale for that one.

Rules by state

Taken from each state agency's own site. Where the agency does not say, the table says to check with the state. The PDF includes a notary block either way, marked required or optional.

State	Title	Registration	Notarized bill of sale
Alabama	Check with the state	Check with the state	Check with the state
Alaska	Not titled	Required, Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles	Check with the state
Arizona	Titled	Required, Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division	Required
Arkansas	Titled	Check with the state	Check with the state
California	Titled	Required, California Department of Motor Vehicles, OHV identification	Not required
Colorado	Optional	Required, Colorado Parks and Wildlife	Check with the state
Connecticut	Not titled	Required, Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles	Not required
Delaware	Check with the state	Required, Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles	Check with the state
Florida	Titled	Check with the state	Check with the state
Georgia	Not titled	Not required	Check with the state
Hawaii	Not titled	Not required	Check with the state
Idaho	Titled	Required, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation	Check with the state
Illinois	Check with the state	Check with the state	Check with the state
Indiana	Titled	Required, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles	Not required
Iowa	Titled	Required, Iowa Department of Natural Resources	Check with the state
Kansas	Titled	Not required	Not required
Kentucky	Titled	Not required	Check with the state
Louisiana	Titled	Required, Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, Department of Public Safety and Corrections	Required
Maine	Check with the state	Required, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife	Check with the state
Maryland	Titled	Required, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration	In some cases
Massachusetts	Check with the state	Check with the state	Check with the state
Michigan	Titled	Required, Michigan Department of Natural Resources	Check with the state
Minnesota	Check with the state	Required, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources	Check with the state
Mississippi	Titled	Check with the state	Check with the state
Missouri	Titled	Required, Missouri Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Bureau	Not required
Montana	Titled	Required, Montana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division	In some cases
Nebraska	Titled	Not required	Check with the state
Nevada	Check with the state	Required, Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, OHV Section (mail or OHV dealer only	Not required
New Hampshire	Check with the state	Required, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department	Check with the state
New Jersey	Not titled	Required, New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission	Required
New Mexico	Titled	Required, New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Dept., Motor Vehicle Division	Not required
New York	Not titled	Required, New York State Department of Motor Vehicles	Check with the state
North Carolina	Optional	Not required	Check with the state
North Dakota	Titled	Required, North Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division	In some cases
Ohio	Titled	Required, Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles / deputy registrars	Check with the state
Oklahoma	Titled	Required, Service Oklahoma (titles and registration	Not required
Oregon	Optional	Not required	Check with the state
Pennsylvania	Titled	Required, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Snowmobile/ATV Registration Section	Required
Rhode Island	Check with the state	Required, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Boat Registration & Licensing	Check with the state
South Carolina	Optional	Check with the state, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles	Check with the state
South Dakota	Titled	Required, South Dakota Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division	Check with the state
Tennessee	Titled	Not required	Required
Texas	Titled	Not required	Check with the state
Utah	Titled	Required, Utah Motor Vehicle Division (DMV)	Not required
Vermont	Titled	Required, Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles	Not required
Virginia	Optional	Not required	Check with the state
Washington	Titled	Required, Washington State Department of Licensing	Check with the state
Washington DC	Check with the state	Not required	Check with the state
West Virginia	Titled	Not required	Required
Wisconsin	Not titled	Required, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources	Check with the state
Wyoming	Titled	Required, Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites & Trails	Check with the state

Common questions

Do I need a bill of sale to sell an ATV?

In states that title ATVs, the signed title transfers ownership and the bill of sale backs it up with the price. In states that do not title them, the bill of sale is often the main proof of ownership the buyer has, so it matters more there.

Does an ATV bill of sale need to be notarized?

Only a few states require it, and the table above shows what each state agency says. The PDF includes a notary block either way, so you can have it notarized if the office asks.

What if the ATV has no title?

In a state that titles ATVs, the seller should apply for a replacement title before the sale, since the buyer usually cannot title it without one. In a state that does not title them, the bill of sale and the VIN are what the buyer uses to register it.