Ohio Bill of Sale
Selling a car in Ohio? Fill in the seller, the buyer, the vehicle and the price and get a ready-to-sign bill of sale with the odometer disclosure, plus Ohio's title rules: notarized title assignment, buyer titles within 30 days and pays sales tax. Free PDF, no signup.
- Odometer disclosure built in
- As is or with a warranty
- Ohio title and sales tax notes
- Free, no subscription
How to fill out an Ohio bill of sale
- Seller and buyer. Full names and addresses, as on their IDs.
- The vehicle. Year, make, model and the 17-character VIN exactly as on the Ohio title, plus the odometer reading.
- The sale. Date, price, how it was paid and whether it is sold as is. Write the same price as on the title assignment. Print two copies; seller and buyer sign both and each keeps one.
Does Ohio require a bill of sale?
Not for a car sold in Ohio. The certificate of title is what transfers ownership: a buyer gets no right, title or interest in the vehicle until a title is issued or assigned to them (R.C. 4505.04(A)). The price, the mileage and the seller's promise that the vehicle is free of liens all go on the back of the title (R.C. 4505.07(F)).
A bill of sale is still worth having: it is your copy of the deal, with the date, how it was paid and the "as is" terms that the title does not record.
Does the title need a notary in Ohio?
Yes, the title does. The assignment on the back of an Ohio title has a space for the seller's signature and for the seal and acknowledgment of a notary or the clerk of courts (R.C. 4505.07(F)), so the seller signs it in front of one of them. The buyer's application for the new title is also sworn to before a notary or another officer who can administer oaths (R.C. 4505.06(A)(1)).
The bill of sale itself does not need a notary for a car. This form has an optional notary block if you want one anyway.
When does the buyer have to title the car, and what tax is due?
In a private sale the buyer gets the new title, from the clerk of courts of any county. The application must be filed within 30 days after the title is assigned or the vehicle is delivered (R.C. 4505.06); filing later adds a $5.00 fee (R.C. 4505.07(F)).
The clerk will not issue the title until the buyer pays sales tax at the rate of the county where the buyer lives. In a private sale the tax is based on the purchase price on the assigned title (R.C. 4505.06(B)). The title itself warns that both sides must state the true selling price: a false statement is punishable by up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both (R.C. 4505.07(F)).
Selling a boat in Ohio?
For a boat the bill of sale matters more. After a private sale the buyer may use a titled boat or outboard motor for up to 60 days without the new title only if they carry a notarized bill of sale (R.C. 1548.03). The title application is due within 30 days of the purchase, with a $5 late fee after that (R.C. 1548.06).
Canoes, boats under 14 feet with no motor or a motor under 10 horsepower, and outboard motors under 10 horsepower are not titled (R.C. 1548.01). Use our boat bill of sale and switch on its notary block.
Is the odometer disclosure needed?
Federal law requires the seller to state the mileage when ownership changes, and this bill of sale includes that statement. The Ohio title has its own odometer statement on the back, which the seller fills in as well (R.C. 4505.07(F)).
Is it really free?
Yes. No account, no trial and no card: fill in the form and download the PDF. There is no subscription to cancel later. The free PDF carries a small "Made with DittoFox" mark at the bottom of the page.