Basics
51 articles in this category
Titled, Registered, or Neither: How States Classify Vehicles and Property
A title proves you own something. Registration lets you drive it on public roads. Those are two different things, and knowing which one applies saves headaches at the sale.
Can You Sell a Trailer Without a Title?
Many trailers were never titled because they fall under a state weight limit. Here is how to sell one, what the buyer needs to register it, and why the bill of sale becomes the ownership record.
Mobile Home Bill of Sale: What to Include
A manufactured home carries more identifiers than a car, and the document has to say whether it is personal property or real property. Here is the field-by-field list.
Bill of Sale for Livestock, Equipment, and Other High-Value Personal Property
When there is no title, the bill of sale is the ownership record. Here is how to document tractors, livestock, tools, generators, and collectibles.
What an Odometer Disclosure Statement Is and When It Is Required
The odometer disclosure statement is a small form with a big job. Here is what it records, why federal law requires it, and how the 2021 rule change expanded which cars it covers.
Bill of Sale for an ATV, UTV, or Dirt Bike: What Off-Road Vehicles Need
Off-highway vehicles are titled in some states and only registered in others. Here is what an ATV, UTV, or dirt bike bill of sale needs to hold up.
Only 2 States Require a Notarized Bill of Sale. Here Is When Notarizing Actually Protects You.
We reviewed all 50 states and DC. Only two legally require a notarized vehicle bill of sale. Here is when a notary stamp genuinely protects you, and when it is just theater.
Vehicle Power of Attorney: When You Need One to Buy or Sell a Car
A vehicle power of attorney lets someone handle a car transaction on your behalf, from signing the title to registering at the DMV. This guide explains what it does, the common situations that call for one, and how it differs from a general power of attorney.
Do You Need Insurance Before You Can Register a Car You Just Bought?
In most states you cannot title or register a car without showing that it is already insured. This guide explains the correct order of steps and how temporary coverage lets you drive your new car home.
Selling a Car to a Family Member Below Market Value: Taxes and Title
Selling a car to a relative for a token price feels simple, but the registration counter may not honor the number you wrote down. This guide explains how use tax is assessed, why states often tax book value, and how family exemptions and a bill of sale fit in.
How Sales Tax Works When You Buy a Car From a Private Seller
Buying a car from a private seller does not let you skip sales tax. In most states the tax is collected when you register the car, and your bill of sale is the document that proves what you paid. This guide explains how the tax is calculated, why the declared price matters, and the cases where it works differently.
Who Keeps the Bill of Sale, the Buyer or the Seller?
When a sale is done, one question comes up fast: who walks away with the bill of sale? The short answer is that both parties should keep a signed copy. Here is why each side needs one and how many copies to make.