The most commonly used Pennsylvania bills of sale are the general bill of sale, a bill of sale for a motor vehicle, a bill of sale for a boat, and a bill of sale for a gun.
Since a Pennsylvania bill of sale is used as a personal record, they're easy to write. There's no need to use complicated legal words. You can write it in plain English. The major difference between each of the most commonly used bills of sale is in how the item was described. First, you'll learn about the information that belongs in each bill of sale. Then, you'll learn about how to properly describe each item.
Every Pennsylvania bill of sale needs:
When the Pennsylvania bill of sale is completed, both the buyer and the seller should keep several completed copies for their records.
A Pennsylvania general bill of sale is used to sale an item such as your old bedroom furniture, a used laptop, a table saw, a pair of skis, or other personal items that don't meet the definition of a motor vehicle, boat, or gun. Describing the item is simple. You should use the following information (if applicable to the item):
A Pennsylvania bill of sale for a motor vehicle lists specific information about the vehicle involved:
A Pennsylvania bill of sale for a boat should list specific information about the boat:
In Pennsylvania, a bill of sale for a boat is used as proof of ownership during the registration process. However, it is not the only type of proof of ownership that is accepted by the state.
A Pennsylvania bill of sale for a gun should list:
If the gun is part of a trade, remember to describe the items that are part of the trade.
No, a Pennsylvania bill of sale is not required to register a motor vehicle. You will need the title to complete the registration process. To learn more about registering a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania, the DMV has an excellent set of FAQs for titling and registration.
No, a Pennsylvania bill of sale is not required to register a boat. However, a bill of sale can be used as the necessary supporting documentation that must be provided along with a completed Application for Pennsylvania Boat Registration and / or Boat Title. When you turn in this material, you can also apply for a temporary registration.
No, a Pennsylvania bill of sale is not required to register a gun. Guns are not registered in Pennsylvania.