A Washington bill of sale is your written proof that a private sale happened: who sold what, to whom, for how much, and when. For a car or boat it rides alongside the state's own form, the Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065), and two deadlines decide whether the sale closes cleanly. The seller has 5 days to file a Report of Sale, and the buyer has 15 days to transfer the title.
Free to use. Legally binding under the ESIGN Act, UETA, and eIDAS.Updated November 2026 by Document eSign
A Washington bill of sale records the sale of personal property, most often a used vehicle or vessel, from a seller to a buyer. It captures the four things that matter later: what was sold, who was on each side, the price, and the date. The general mechanics of a bill of sale are the same everywhere and are covered on our national bill of sale page. What Washington adds is specific: the Department of Licensing publishes its own Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale, form TD-420-065, and the law ties two clocks to the sale. The seller must report the sale within 5 days and the buyer must transfer the title within 15 days. The bill of sale itself does not transfer ownership. The signed certificate of title does that, and the bill of sale is the supporting record the buyer hands the licensing office.
Who uses it
A private seller of a used car, truck, or motorcycle in WashingtonSomeone selling a boat or vessel that the Department of Licensing titlesA buyer who needs the bill of sale to transfer the title at a vehicle licensing officeA parent gifting a vehicle to an immediate family member who still needs a paper recordAnyone selling equipment or other personal property who wants a clear Washington paper trail
What's inside
The buyer and seller names and addresses
A full description of the vehicle or vessel, with its VIN or hull number, plate or registration number, make, model, and model year
The sale price, or a note that the vehicle is a gift to an immediate family member
The date of sale and how payment was made
An as-is clause that sells the property in its current condition, with no warranty
The seller's statement that they own it and it is free of liens
A federal odometer disclosure section for vehicle sales
A Washington clause setting out the 5-day Report of Sale, the 15-day title deadline, and who pays use tax
A governing-law line for Washington and a signature block for both parties
HOW IT WORKS
From template to signed in three steps.
01
Start from the template
Open it in the editor with the fields already mapped, or download the DOCX to edit offline.
02
Add signers and send
Drop signature and date fields, then route each party in order or in parallel.
03
Get a sealed copy
Everyone signs, and you get a tamper-evident PDF plus an audit certificate.
Free forever. No credit card. Your recipients sign with no account.
The details
Everything to know before you send it.
1
What Washington actually requires
For a vehicle or vessel, the Department of Licensing has its own form, the Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065), which cites RCW 46.12.650 and WAC 308-56A-024. You do not have to use the state's exact form, but your bill of sale needs to carry the same information: the vehicle or vessel details, the parties, the price, and the date. Two points on that form catch people out. First, it says in plain words that completing it 'does not transfer the title or act as a Report of Sale.' Those are separate steps. Second, there is no notary line, because Washington does not require a bill of sale to be notarized.
Use the state fields: make, model, model year, VIN or hull number, plate or registration number, date of sale, and sale price.
The bill of sale is a record of the deal, not the title transfer.
If the vehicle is a gift to an immediate family member, note the relationship, since that affects the tax.
2
The two deadlines that trip people up
Washington puts a clock on both sides of the sale, and missing either one costs money. The seller has to file a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing within 5 days of the sale date. That filing is what releases the seller from liability for the vehicle, including parking tickets, tolls, and anything the new owner does, so do it even though it feels like paperwork after the money has changed hands. The buyer has 15 days to apply for a new title. Miss that and the late fee is $50 on the 16th day, then $2 for each additional day, up to a maximum of $125. File the Report of Sale online or at any licensing office; apply for the title in person with the signed certificate of title and this bill of sale.
3
Use tax: who pays and how it is figured
In a private sale there is no dealer to collect sales tax, so the buyer pays Washington use tax when transferring the title. It is the buyer's bill, not the seller's. The Department of Revenue bases it on the vehicle's fair market value, which it pulls from Price Digests, an industry valuation source, rather than simply taking your word for the price. The department may accept the price you wrote down instead of that value if the fair market value is below $7,500, or if your price is within 20 percent of fair market value. On top of the regular state and local rate for the buyer's address, Washington adds a separate motor vehicle sales and use tax: 0.3 percent through December 31, 2025, and 0.5 percent from January 1, 2026. Writing a fake low price to shrink the bill usually fails, because the state substitutes its own figure, so put down the real number.
4
Notarization, emissions, and the odometer
A Washington bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The state's own form has no notary block, and an electronic signature is valid. Emissions are simpler than they used to be: Washington ended its vehicle emission check program on January 1, 2020, so you no longer need an emissions test to sell a car or renew a registration anywhere in the state. Driving a vehicle with tampered emissions equipment is still illegal, but that is a separate matter from the sale. The odometer rule is federal, not state specific: for a vehicle under 20 years old, meaning model year 2011 and newer, the seller must give a written mileage statement at transfer. In Washington that disclosure is also recorded on the certificate of title.
5
How to fill it in
Most of the fields are self-explanatory. The two to get exactly right are the vehicle description and the price, because the licensing office and the tax calculation both read them.
Buyer and seller: full legal names and current addresses.
Vehicle or vessel: make, model, model year, the VIN or hull number, and the plate or registration number.
Price and date: the real amount paid, how it was paid, and the date of sale. For a genuine family gift, say so and note the relationship rather than inventing a token price.
Odometer: record the exact mileage and check the statement that matches. Leave this out for non-vehicles.
Both parties sign. Keep a signed copy each, then file the Report of Sale and apply for the title.
6
Common mistakes
The errors that cause trouble later are easy to avoid in Washington.
Skipping the Report of Sale, which leaves the seller on the hook for the vehicle.
Letting the buyer's 15-day title window lapse and picking up the late fee.
Writing a false low price when the state values the vehicle from Price Digests anyway.
Treating the bill of sale as the title transfer; the signed certificate of title is what moves ownership.
Leaving the VIN or hull number off, or omitting the odometer reading on a vehicle that still needs one.
This template and the guidance on this page are provided for general information only and are not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state, so review the final document against your own situation and have a qualified lawyer check anything high-value or regulated before you sign.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Is a bill of sale required in Washington?
For a vehicle or vessel, yes, unless the sale price and date are already on the title. The Department of Licensing asks the buyer and seller to complete a Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (form TD-420-065), and the buyer brings it with the signed title to transfer ownership. For untitled property it is not required by law, but it is still the main proof the sale happened.
Does a Washington bill of sale need to be notarized?
No. Washington does not require a bill of sale to be notarized. The state's own Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale has no notary line, and an electronic signature is valid on it. Both the buyer and seller sign, and each keeps a copy.
How long do I have to report the sale or transfer the title in Washington?
The seller must file a Report of Sale with the Department of Licensing within 5 days of the sale, which releases their liability. The buyer must apply for a new title within 15 days. After that the late fee is $50 on the 16th day, then $2 per day, up to a maximum of $125.
Do I need an emissions test to sell or register a car in Washington?
No. Washington ended its vehicle emission check program on January 1, 2020, so emissions testing is no longer required to sell a car or renew a registration anywhere in the state. Tampering with emissions equipment is still illegal, but there is no emissions test tied to the sale.
How much is use tax on a used car in Washington?
In a private sale the buyer pays use tax at title transfer, based on the vehicle's fair market value from Price Digests. The state may accept your price instead if the fair market value is under $7,500 or your price is within 20 percent of fair market value. On top of the state and local rate for your address, Washington adds a motor vehicle tax of 0.3 percent through December 31, 2025, and 0.5 percent from January 1, 2026.
What is the Washington bill of sale form number?
The Department of Licensing form is the Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale, number TD-420-065. It collects the vehicle or vessel details, the parties, the sale price, and the date. This template follows the same information and is ready to download, fill in, and sign.
Is the Washington bill of sale available in Word format?
Yes. Download the Washington bill of sale as a Word (.docx) file and edit it in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Pages. You can also download a PDF or fill it in and sign online.
Can I download the Washington bill of sale as a PDF?
Yes. A print-ready PDF is available alongside the Word version. Download either one free, or sign online without downloading anything.
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