What is a Colorado Bill of Sale?
A Colorado bill of sale is a legal document confirming the private transfer of ownership of personal property—such as a vehicle, boat, or other asset—from a seller to a buyer. It records the essential terms of the transaction: the identities of both parties, a description of the property, the agreed sale price, and the date of transfer.
Colorado's Division of Motor Vehicles provides Form DR 2116 as an official motor vehicle bill of sale. This form is commonly used when applying for a title and helps establish the taxable purchase price for motor vehicle sales tax purposes. Private parties may also create their own written agreement as long as it includes all required details.
What is a Colorado Bill of Sale used for?
A Colorado bill of sale is used to formally document the transfer of personal property and protect both parties in a private sale. Specifically, it is used to:
- Document the transfer of personal property (vehicle, boat, firearm, equipment, or other items) from seller to buyer
- Establish the agreed purchase price on record — Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles uses this to calculate applicable sales tax, use tax, or registration fees when the buyer applies for a new title
- Protect the seller from future liability related to the property after the sale date
- Give the buyer proof of ownership pending receipt of a new title
- Serve as evidence in any dispute about the terms, price, or condition of the item at the time of sale
- Support insurance documentation — the buyer can present the bill of sale to their insurer as proof of acquisition and value
How to write a Bill of Sale in Colorado
- 1
Open the form – Use PDF Guru's online editor to access a pre-loaded Colorado Bill of Sale template. No uploading or printing is required. Form DR 2116 is also available from the Colorado DMV website.
- 2
Enter seller details – Provide the seller's full legal name and current address.
- 3
Enter buyer details – Include the buyer's full legal name and address.
- 4
Describe the property – For vehicles, include year, make, model, color, body type, and VIN. For other items, add a detailed description and any serial number.
- 5
Record the odometer reading – Required by federal law for all motor vehicle sales.
- 6
State the purchase price – Write the agreed amount clearly.
- 7
Add the date – Record the exact date the sale takes place.
- 8
Sign the document – Both the buyer and the seller sign and date the bill of sale.
What information should a Colorado Bill of Sale include?
A complete Colorado bill of sale should include the following information:
- Full legal name and current address of the seller
- Full legal name and current address of the buyer
- Detailed description of the item being sold — for vehicles: year, make, model, color, body type, and VIN; for other property: a clear description with any serial number
- Agreed purchase price
- Date of the transaction
- Current odometer reading at the time of sale (required by federal law for all motor vehicle transfers)
- Signatures of both the buyer and the seller
Is a Bill of Sale required in Colorado?
Colorado law does not require a bill of sale for all private-party sales. However, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles strongly recommends one for vehicle transactions. The stated purchase price is used to calculate motor vehicle sales tax—without a bill of sale, the state may assess tax based on the vehicle's book value.
For boats and trailers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife may also request documentation of the sale. A bill of sale is advisable for all significant private transactions to protect both buyer and seller.
Does a Colorado Bill of Sale need to be notarized?
No. Colorado does not require a bill of sale to be notarized. A Colorado bill of sale is legally valid and enforceable without notarization for most personal property transactions, including motor vehicles.
Notarization is not a requirement of the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles for vehicle title transfers. It remains an optional step that parties may choose for added authentication.
How long is a Colorado Bill of Sale valid?
A Colorado bill of sale has no expiration date. Once both parties sign it, it becomes a permanent legal record of the transaction. Neither party needs to renew or re-execute the document—it remains valid indefinitely as long as it accurately reflects the completed sale.
Both the buyer and the seller should keep their signed copies for their personal records. For vehicle transactions, retain the bill of sale until the Colorado DMV has processed the title transfer and issued a new title in the buyer's name. The document may also be needed as proof of purchase for insurance, tax verification, or future ownership disputes.
Where can I get a blank Colorado Bill of Sale?
PDF Guru provides a ready-to-use Colorado Bill of Sale template preloaded in our online editor. There is no need to download or upload anything in advance—simply open the form, fill in all required fields, add your electronic signature, and download the finished document as a PDF.
The official Form DR 2116 is also available directly from the Colorado DMV website for vehicle transactions. PDF Guru helps you prepare and download the document; delivering the signed bill of sale to the other party and submitting it to the Colorado DMV for title transfer remains your responsibility.
How to sign a Colorado Bill of Sale online
PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Colorado Bill of Sale online without printing or scanning. Once you have completed all required fields in the form, use the Sign tool in the editor. You can draw your signature with a mouse or trackpad, type your name, or upload a saved signature image. Position the signature in the designated field for the seller — if both parties are signing digitally, the buyer can do the same before the final download.
When your signatures are in place, click Done to download the completed PDF to your device. Electronic signatures are generally accepted for private-party bill of sale transactions in Colorado. If you plan to submit the bill of sale to the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles as part of a title transfer, confirm in advance whether an original ink signature is required.



