Fill Out a Louisiana Bill of Sale Online in 2026

A Louisiana bill of sale—sometimes referred to as an Act of Sale under Louisiana's civil law tradition—is a legal document that records the private transfer of ownership of personal property (movable property) from a seller to a buyer. It documents the key transaction terms: the identities of both parties, a description of the item, the sale price, and the date of the sale.

For motor vehicle transfers, Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) typically requires a bill of sale alongside the signed title. Because Louisiana follows civil law rather than common law, certain legal concepts differ from other US states. For movable property such as vehicles, a bill of sale does not legally require notarization, but notarization is deeply customary in Louisiana and may be expected by OMV offices.

In Louisiana, a bill of sale (also called an Act of Sale) serves the same core purposes as in other states but carries additional legal weight due to the state's civil law tradition. It is used to:

• Document the transfer of movable property (vehicles, boats, personal items) from seller to buyer
• Establish the taxable purchase price for Louisiana OMV vehicle title transfer and sales tax
• Serve as an Act of Sale — a formal record of the transaction in keeping with Louisiana's civil law tradition
• Protect the seller from future liability associated with the property after the date of sale
• Provide the buyer with proof of ownership pending receipt of a new title
• Support notarization and witness requirements that are customary in Louisiana transactions

A complete Louisiana 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
• Two witness signatures (customary for Louisiana Acts of Sale, especially for higher-value transactions)

Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles requires a bill of sale when applying for a vehicle title transfer if the title does not list the purchase price. The stated sale price is used to calculate Louisiana's vehicle sales tax.

For other movable property (boats, equipment, personal items), a bill of sale is not legally mandated but is strongly recommended. Louisiana's civil law tradition treats such documents differently from common-law states, and having a written Act of Sale protects both parties.

For movable property such as motor vehicles, Louisiana law does not legally require notarization on a bill of sale. However, notarization is deeply embedded in Louisiana's civil law tradition and is widely expected in practice. Some OMV offices may prefer a notarized bill of sale, and many Louisiana buyers and sellers choose to notarize as standard practice.

For immovable property (real estate), Louisiana law requires an authentic act executed before a notary and two witnesses. For vehicle and personal property sales, notarization is optional but strongly recommended to avoid issues during the title transfer process.

A Louisiana 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 Louisiana OMV 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.

PDF Guru provides a ready-to-use Louisiana 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.

Louisiana does not publish a single mandatory bill of sale form for all transaction types. PDF Guru's template covers all the information required for a valid Louisiana bill of sale. Delivering the signed document and handling the title transfer with the Louisiana OMV is your responsibility.

PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Louisiana 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. Note that Louisiana has a strong notarial tradition. While PDF Guru's electronic signature is suitable for most private-party transactions, many Louisiana buyers and sellers prefer to sign the bill of sale in person before a notary public. Confirm with the Louisiana OMV whether an electronically signed document is accepted for title transfer purposes.