Massachusetts Bill of Sale Requirements & Form

Massachusetts requirements

• Massachusetts title law requires motor vehicles (and trailers over 3,000 pounds) to be titled, and the RMV states the vehicle must be titled within 10 days of purchase.
• A bill of sale is required in specific cases: when the vehicle is exempt from titling because of its age it accompanies the previous owner's registration, and when the previous title has no space for a sales price a bill of sale showing the price must be submitted.
• Federal and Massachusetts law require the seller to state the mileage at transfer, and both buyer and seller must sign, hand print their names, and date the transfer document.
• The buyer pays a 75 dollar title fee plus 6.25 percent sales tax calculated on the higher of the purchase price or the NADA trade-in value.
• The RMV's private sale instructions do not require the bill of sale or title assignment to be notarized.
• Registration starts with a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent completing and stamping the Registration and Title Application, which is then filed at an RMV Service Center.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a bill of sale to register a car in Massachusetts?

Only in certain cases: for vehicles old enough to be title-exempt the RMV wants the prior registration plus a bill of sale, and if the old title has no sales price field a bill of sale showing the price must be submitted. It is a useful receipt in every private sale.

How long do I have to title a vehicle after buying it in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts title law requires titling within 10 days of purchase, and an inspection sticker is required within 7 days of registration. Transactions are handled at RMV Service Centers.

Official sources

• https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-registration-and-title-for-a-vehicle-purchased-from-an-individual