General Bill of Sale Template
A free general bill of sale template that records the sale of personal property between two people: what was sold, for how much, in what condition, and when ownership transferred. Download in PDF or Word and fill in the bracketed fields.
Last updated: August 5, 2026
What Is a General Bill of Sale?
A bill of sale is a short document that proves personal property changed hands. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the item, states the price and the payment method, records the date and time of transfer, and — critically for private sales — states that the item is sold as-is with no warranty. It is the receipt that both sides keep when there is no store, no invoice, and no return policy.
The document earns its keep after the sale rather than during it. A buyer uses it to prove ownership, register the item where registration applies, or claim it on insurance. A seller uses it to prove the exact date responsibility passed to the buyer, which matters if the item is later involved in damage, a dispute, or a claim. For anything valuable enough to argue about, the ten minutes it takes to fill in is time well spent.
When to Use This Template
- ✓You are buying or selling equipment, furniture, electronics, tools, or livestock privately
- ✓The item is valuable enough that proof of ownership and transfer date matters
- ✓You want written confirmation that the item is sold as-is with no warranty
- ✓The buyer needs documentation for insurance, resale, or a business asset record
- ✓Payment is being made in installments or partly in trade rather than in one cash payment
- ✓The item does not have its own title document, so the bill of sale is the only proof of ownership
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Full text of the template. Fields in [BRACKETS] are placeholders you fill in.
General Bill of Sale
1. 1. Seller
BILL OF SALE. Date of Sale: [DATE OF SALE]. Seller: [SELLER FULL NAME], residing or located at [SELLER ADDRESS], phone [SELLER PHONE], email [SELLER EMAIL]. The Seller represents being the lawful owner of the property described below, being of legal age and sound mind, and having full authority to sell and transfer it. If the Seller is a business, the person signing represents having authority to sign on its behalf.
2. 2. Buyer
Buyer: [BUYER FULL NAME], residing or located at [BUYER ADDRESS], phone [BUYER PHONE], email [BUYER EMAIL]. The Buyer represents being of legal age and having the authority to enter into this transaction. If more than one buyer is taking ownership, list each name and address, and state whether the property is held jointly or in defined shares: [OWNERSHIP SPLIT, if applicable]. Notices under this Bill of Sale are effective when delivered to the addresses or email addresses listed for each party.
3. 3. Description of the Property
The Seller sells and transfers to the Buyer the following personal property (the "Property"): [ITEM DESCRIPTION, e.g., quantity, type, make, model, year, color, dimensions]. Identifying numbers: [SERIAL NUMBER / MODEL NUMBER / IMEI / TAG NUMBER, as applicable]. Included accessories, attachments, keys, manuals, or components: [INCLUDED ITEMS]. Excluded items that remain the property of the Seller: [EXCLUDED ITEMS]. Current condition of the Property: [CONDITION DESCRIPTION, including known defects, damage, missing parts, or repairs needed]. The Buyer confirms having inspected the Property, or having declined the opportunity to inspect it, before signing.
4. 4. Purchase Price and Payment
The total purchase price for the Property is [PURCHASE PRICE] ([PRICE IN WORDS] dollars). Payment is made by [PAYMENT METHOD, e.g., cash, cashier check, bank transfer, money order]. Select one. (a) Paid in full: the Seller acknowledges receiving the full purchase price on [PAYMENT DATE]. (b) Deposit and balance: the Buyer paid a deposit of [DEPOSIT AMOUNT] on [DEPOSIT DATE], with the balance of [BALANCE AMOUNT] due on [BALANCE DUE DATE]. (c) Installments: the Buyer will pay [INSTALLMENT AMOUNT] every [FREQUENCY] beginning [FIRST PAYMENT DATE] until paid in full, and the Seller retains a security interest in the Property until the final payment is received. (d) Trade or gift: the consideration is [TRADE DESCRIPTION OR NOMINAL AMOUNT]. Any applicable sales or use tax is the responsibility of [PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR TAX].
5. 5. Transfer of Ownership and Delivery
Ownership of the Property passes from the Seller to the Buyer on [TRANSFER DATE] at [TRANSFER TIME], at which point all risk of loss, damage, theft, and liability associated with the Property passes to the Buyer. Delivery will be made by [DELIVERY METHOD, e.g., buyer pickup at the seller address, seller delivery to the buyer address, third-party shipping] on [DELIVERY DATE], and the cost of transport, loading, and insurance in transit is the responsibility of [PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERY COSTS]. The Seller will hand over all keys, remotes, manuals, accessories, and existing documentation for the Property at the time of transfer. If payment is being made in installments, ownership passes on the date stated above but the security interest in Section 4 remains until the balance is paid.
6. 6. As-Is Sale and No Warranty
THE PROPERTY IS SOLD "AS IS, WHERE IS," WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. The Seller makes no express or implied warranty, including no warranty of merchantability and no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. The Buyer accepts the Property in its present condition, acknowledges having had the opportunity to inspect and test it or to have it inspected by a professional, and is not relying on any statement by the Seller other than those written in this document. Any manufacturer warranty still in effect transfers to the Buyer only if the manufacturer permits it, and the Seller makes no promise that it will. The Seller is not responsible for any repair, defect, or failure discovered after the transfer date.
7. 7. Seller Warranty of Clear Title
Despite the as-is sale of the physical condition of the Property, the Seller warrants that the Seller is the lawful owner of the Property, has the full right to sell it, and that the Property is free of all liens, security interests, loans, pledges, judgments, and other claims, except for the following disclosed encumbrance: [DISCLOSED LIEN OR NONE]. The Seller will defend the title against any claim made by a third party arising from events before the transfer date and will reimburse the Buyer for reasonable costs of resolving any such claim. If any lien is disclosed above, the Seller will pay it off and provide the Buyer with a written release within [LIEN RELEASE PERIOD, e.g., ten days] of the sale.
8. 8. Governing Law and Entire Agreement
This Bill of Sale is governed by the laws of the State of [GOVERNING STATE], and any dispute will be brought in the courts located in [COUNTY AND STATE]. This document is the entire agreement between the Seller and the Buyer about the Property and replaces any prior listing, advertisement, message, or verbal statement about it. Any change must be in writing and signed by both parties. If any provision is unenforceable, the remainder stays in effect. This Bill of Sale binds the heirs, personal representatives, and successors of both parties and may be signed in counterparts, including electronically.
9. 9. Signatures and Notarization
By signing below, the Seller confirms receipt of the payment described in Section 4 and transfers the Property to the Buyer, and the Buyer confirms acceptance of the Property in its current condition. SELLER: [SELLER FULL NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Date: [DATE]. BUYER: [BUYER FULL NAME]. Signature: ______________________. Date: [DATE]. WITNESS (optional): Signature: ______________________. Printed Name: [WITNESS NAME]. Date: [DATE]. NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (complete only if required in your state or requested by either party): State of [STATE], County of [COUNTY]. Subscribed and sworn before me on [DATE] by [NAMES]. Notary Signature: ______________________. My commission expires: [EXPIRATION DATE].
10. Disclaimer
This template is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Requirements for bills of sale differ by state and by the type of property: some states require a specific form, notarization, or an odometer or hull identification disclosure for titled property such as vehicles and boats, and sales tax obligations vary. Use the type-specific template where one exists rather than this general form. Review and adapt this document for your own situation and consult a licensed attorney if the transaction is significant. Use of this template does not create an attorney-client relationship with ScanContract.
Key Clauses Explained
What each important clause does — and what to watch out for before you sign.
Description of the Property
Identifies exactly what is being sold, including serial numbers, included accessories, and known defects.
Vague descriptions are the source of most private sale disputes. Buyers should insist that serial numbers and included accessories are written in, since "with all accessories" means different things to different people. Sellers should list known defects explicitly, because a documented disclosure is the best defense against a later misrepresentation claim.
Purchase Price and Payment Method
Records the amount, how it was paid, and whether any balance remains outstanding.
Sellers should not release the item against a personal check or a payment app transfer that can be reversed; cash, a verified cashier check, or a cleared bank transfer is safer. Buyers should get the price written in both numbers and words and should never leave the payment section blank on the copy they keep.
As-Is, No Warranty
Confirms the buyer accepts the item in its current condition with no promises about future performance.
Buyers give up nearly all recourse by signing this, so inspect or test before signing rather than after. Sellers should note that an as-is clause does not protect against active fraud — hiding a known major defect or rolling back a reading can still create liability regardless of the wording.
Transfer of Risk of Loss
Fixes the exact date and time responsibility for the item passes to the buyer.
This is the clause that decides who pays if the item is damaged or stolen between the handshake and the pickup. Sellers should record the transfer time precisely and keep a copy. Buyers should confirm their own insurance is in place from that moment, especially for anything that gets used on a road or water.
Warranty of Clear Title
The seller promises the item is owned free of liens and agrees to defend the title.
This survives the as-is clause and is the buyer main protection. Buyers should confirm no loan is outstanding on the item, since a lender lien can follow the property. Sellers with an existing loan should disclose it and arrange payoff at the sale rather than promising to handle it later.
Installment Payment and Retained Security Interest
Allows payment over time while letting the seller keep a claim on the item until it is paid off.
Sellers financing a private sale should either hold the item or record a proper security interest, because an unrecorded interest in property already in buyer possession is very hard to enforce. Buyers should get a written release once the final payment is made so the retained interest does not cloud a future resale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a bill of sale need to be notarized?▾
Does a bill of sale transfer ownership by itself?▾
What does "as-is" actually mean for the buyer?▾
Who keeps the original bill of sale?▾
Do I have to pay sales tax on a private sale?▾
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