Fill Out a Missouri Bill of Sale Online in 2026

A Missouri Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the private transfer of a vehicle, trailer, watercraft, or other personal property from a seller to a buyer in Missouri. It documents the sale price, describes the item sold, and captures both parties' signatures.

Missouri recognizes two official forms for this purpose: Form 1957 (Bill of Sale/Even-Trade Bill of Sale) and Form 5049 (Notice of Sale or Transfer). The seller must submit one of these forms to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days of the sale. The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days of purchase. Failure to report the sale is an infraction; intentional non-reporting to help the buyer avoid titling fees is a class C misdemeanor.

A Missouri 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 — Missouri DOR 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

To create a valid Missouri Bill of Sale, follow these steps:

1. 1

   Obtain Missouri DOR Form 1957 (Bill of Sale/Even-Trade Bill of Sale) or Form 5049 (Notice of Sale or Transfer) from the Missouri DOR website or any Missouri license office.

2. 2

   Fill in the full legal names and addresses of both buyer and seller.

3. 3

   Enter the vehicle description: year, make, model, VIN, and title number.

4. 4

   Record the odometer reading at the time of sale.

5. 5

   Write in the agreed sale price and the date of the transaction.

6. 6

   Both buyer and seller sign the form. The seller must obtain the purchaser's signature.

7. 7

   The seller must mail the completed form to the Missouri DOR address on the form within 30 days.

8. 8

   The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days of the purchase date.

A Missouri Bill of Sale should include the following information:

• Full legal names and addresses of buyer and seller
• Vehicle description: year, make, model, and body style
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and title number
• Odometer reading at the time of sale
• Sale price (or notation of even-trade if applicable)
• Date of the transaction
• Signatures of both buyer and seller
• Notary seal (required only for rebuilt vehicles or when specifically requested by the DOR)

Yes. If you sell or transfer a motor vehicle, trailer, or all-terrain vehicle in Missouri, you must report the sale to the Missouri Department of Revenue within 30 days. The seller must submit either a completed Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957) to fulfill this requirement.

Failure to submit the notice is an infraction. If the failure is done to help the buyer avoid titling fees or other obligations, it constitutes a class C misdemeanor. The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days of purchase.

Generally, no. A Missouri Bill of Sale (Form 1957) does not need to be notarized for most private vehicle transfers. The seller and buyer simply sign the form.

Notarization is required in two specific situations: (1) when the bill of sale is used to show proof of ownership for major component parts of a rebuilt vehicle, or (2) when the Missouri Department of Revenue specifically requests notarization. In those cases, notarization can be obtained at any Missouri license office for a $2.00 fee. Signatures on the back of the vehicle title (assignment area) also do not need to be notarized.

A Missouri Bill of Sale does not expire. Once signed by both parties, it is a permanent legal record of the property transfer and remains valid indefinitely.

For vehicle title purposes, the bill of sale is most relevant while the new title is being processed. Once the buyer receives a new title from the Missouri DOR, the bill of sale continues to serve as documentation of the original transaction — including the agreed sale price, the date of sale, and the condition of the vehicle at time of transfer.

The official Missouri Bill of Sale/Even-Trade Bill of Sale (Form 1957) and Notice of Sale or Transfer (Form 5049) are available free of charge from the Missouri Department of Revenue at dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle, or at any Missouri license office.

You can also use PDF Guru to fill out your Missouri Bill of Sale online. Our editor lets you complete all required fields, add your signature, and download the finished document as a PDF.

PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Missouri 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 Missouri. If you plan to submit the bill of sale to the Missouri DOR as part of a title transfer, confirm in advance whether an original ink signature is required.