What is a Connecticut Bill of Sale?
A Connecticut bill of sale is a written document that records the private transfer of ownership of personal property—such as a motor vehicle, boat, or other asset—from a seller to a buyer. It documents the key transaction terms: the names and addresses of both parties, a description of the item, the agreed sale price, and the date of the transfer.
Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles provides Form H-31 (Supplemental Assignment of Ownership) as a standard document used when assigning a vehicle title. Connecticut also accepts general written bills of sale to establish purchase prices for vehicle sales tax and registration fee purposes.
What is a Connecticut Bill of Sale used for?
A Connecticut 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 — Connecticut DMV 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 Connecticut
- 1
Open the form – Use PDF Guru's online editor to access a pre-loaded Connecticut Bill of Sale template. No uploading or printing is required. Form H-31 is also available from the Connecticut 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.
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Add the date – Record the exact date the sale takes place.
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Sign the document – Both the buyer and the seller sign and date the bill of sale.
What information should a Connecticut Bill of Sale include?
A complete Connecticut 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut does not require a bill of sale for all private-party transactions. For vehicle title transfers, Connecticut DMV may require documentation of the purchase price to assess motor vehicle sales tax. A bill of sale or Form H-31 serves this purpose.
For boats registered with the Connecticut DEEP (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection), a bill of sale may be required as part of the title transfer process.
Does a Connecticut Bill of Sale need to be notarized?
No. Connecticut does not require a bill of sale to be notarized for it to be valid. A Connecticut bill of sale is enforceable without notarization for personal property transactions, including vehicles.
Notarization is optional and is not required by Connecticut DMV for vehicle title transfers.
How long is a Connecticut Bill of Sale valid?
A Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut Bill of Sale?
PDF Guru provides a ready-to-use Connecticut 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 H-31 is also available directly from the Connecticut 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 Connecticut DMV for title transfer remains your responsibility.
How to sign a Connecticut Bill of Sale online
PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Connecticut 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 Connecticut. If you plan to submit the bill of sale to the Connecticut DMV as part of a title transfer, confirm in advance whether an original ink signature is required.
