A Washington bill of sale is a written record that documents the change in legal ownership for an item. In addition to being required to transfer the ownership through a state agency, a Washington bill of sale is an important part of personal record keeping. It can be particularly valuable if there is a legal dispute of some kind involving the item. A Washington bill of sale does not need to be notarized.
The most common bills of sale used in Washington include a 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.
A basic Washington bill of sale includes certain information about both the buyer and seller:
A Washington bill of sale can be written in plain English. There’s no need to use legal jargon or archaic terms. Just remember to include the required elements. If you’re a party, keep more than one copy of the completed document.
Yes. You need a Washington bill of sale if you are registering a motor vehicle that was bought through a private sale. As mentioned earlier on this page, the Washington Department of Licensing provides a bill of sale that you can use.
The buyer will also need to complete a Vehicle Title Application. The Vehicle Title Application must be signed in front of a notary. The buyer must apply for a new title within 15 calendar days of purchasing the vehicle to avoid paying a penalty.
To register a vehicle, you will need the signed title, bill of sale, odometer statement, emissions certificate, Vehicle Certificate of Ownership (Title) Application (Form 420-001), and pay the appropriate fees.
No. A Washington bill of sale is not required to register a boat. You will need to complete a Vessel Title Application and have proof that you paid your sales tax. If your boat is documented with the US Coast Guard, click here to learn about what you must do to register your boat.
No. A Washington bill of sale is not required to register a gun. There is no legal requirement to register a gun.
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