What is a Kansas Bill of Sale?
A Kansas bill of sale is a written document that records the sale and transfer of personal property between a seller and a buyer. It documents the terms of the transaction—who the parties are, what is being sold, the purchase price, and the date—and serves as legal proof of the ownership transfer.
Kansas offers Form TR-12 as an official motor vehicle bill of sale through the Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles. While the form is primarily used for vehicle transactions, a bill of sale in Kansas can also cover boats, farm equipment, personal property, and other assets. It is commonly used to document the taxable sale price for sales tax purposes when transferring a vehicle title.
What is a Kansas Bill of Sale used for?
A Kansas 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 — Kansas Division of 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 Kansas
- 1
Open the form – Use PDF Guru's online editor to access a pre-loaded Kansas Bill of Sale template. No uploading or printing is required. Form TR-12 is also available from the Kansas Division of Vehicles website.
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Enter seller details – Provide the seller's full legal name and current address.
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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.
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Record the odometer reading – Required by federal law for all motor vehicle sales.
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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 Kansas Bill of Sale include?
A complete Kansas 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 Kansas?
Kansas law does not universally require a bill of sale for private-party sales. For vehicle title transfers at a county motor vehicle office, the Kansas Division of Vehicles uses the purchase price from the bill of sale to calculate motor vehicle sales tax. Without a documented price, the state may assess tax based on the vehicle's book value.
For vehicle sales, the seller must also sign the existing title over to the buyer. A bill of sale (Form TR-12 or equivalent) is submitted alongside the title at the county office.
Does a Kansas Bill of Sale need to be notarized?
No. Kansas does not require a bill of sale to be notarized for it to be valid. A Kansas bill of sale is enforceable without notarization for most personal property transactions, including motor vehicles.
The Kansas Division of Vehicles does not require a notarized bill of sale for vehicle title transfers. Notarization is entirely optional.
How long is a Kansas Bill of Sale valid?
A Kansas 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 Kansas Division of Vehicles 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 Kansas Bill of Sale?
PDF Guru provides a ready-to-use Kansas 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 TR-12 is also available directly from the Kansas Division of Vehicles 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 Kansas Division of Vehicles for title transfer remains your responsibility.
How to sign a Kansas Bill of Sale online
PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Kansas 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 Kansas. If you plan to submit the bill of sale to the Kansas Division of Vehicles as part of a title transfer, confirm in advance whether an original ink signature is required.



