What is a North Carolina Bill of Sale?
A North Carolina Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the private sale of a vehicle or other personal property from a seller to a buyer in North Carolina. It documents the agreed sale price, identifies the item being sold, and is signed by both parties.
The official form is MVR-614, accepted by the North Carolina DMV. While a bill of sale is not legally required for vehicle title transfer in North Carolina, it is strongly recommended. Importantly, vehicle titles in North Carolina must be notarized — both buyer and seller must sign the title in front of a notary public. Vehicle sales are subject to a 3% Highway Use Tax (capped at $250 for private sales) rather than standard sales tax. The buyer must complete Title Application (MVR-1) and submit it with the notarized title.
What is a North Carolina Bill of Sale used for?
A North Carolina Bill of Sale is used to document private vehicle sales and support the title transfer process at the NCDMV. Specifically, it is used to:
- Document the private sale of a vehicle and establish the agreed purchase price on record
- Provide the NCDMV with sale price information used to calculate the 3% Highway Use Tax (capped at $250 for private sales)
- Protect the seller from future liability — the seller should also return their license plate after the sale
- Give the buyer a written record of the transaction to support the notarized title transfer at the DMV
- Serve as evidence in any dispute about the terms, price, or condition of the vehicle at the time of sale
How to write a Bill of Sale in North Carolina
To create a valid North Carolina Bill of Sale, follow these steps:
- 1
Download North Carolina DMV Form MVR-614, or prepare a document with all required information.
- 2
Fill in the full legal names and addresses of both buyer and seller.
- 3
Enter the vehicle description: year, make, model, color, VIN, and odometer reading.
- 4
Record the agreed sale price and the date of the transaction.
- 5
Both buyer and seller sign the bill of sale. The bill of sale itself does not need to be notarized.
- 6
Note: the vehicle title must be signed by both parties in front of a notary public.
- 7
The buyer also completes Title Application (MVR-1) and, for vehicles under 10 years old, Odometer Disclosure Statement (MVR-180) and Damage Disclosure Statement (MVR-181).
- 8
Submit all documents and pay the 3% Highway Use Tax (capped at $250 for private sales) and the $52 title transfer fee at a local NCDMV office.
What information should a North Carolina Bill of Sale include?
A North Carolina Bill of Sale should include the following information:
- Full legal names and current addresses of buyer and seller
- Vehicle description: year, make, model, color, and body style
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
- Odometer reading at the time of sale (for vehicles under 10 years old)
- Sale price — used by the NCDMV to calculate the 3% Highway Use Tax
- Date of the transaction
- Signatures of both buyer and seller
- Note: the vehicle title (not the bill of sale) must be signed before a notary public
Is a Bill of Sale required in North Carolina?
A North Carolina Bill of Sale (Form MVR-614) is not legally required for private-party vehicle title transfers — the signed and notarized title is the primary ownership document. However, a bill of sale is strongly recommended because the NCDMV uses the sale price to calculate the 3% Highway Use Tax (capped at $250 for private sales).
Many private sellers and buyers choose to complete a bill of sale to document the transaction details and protect both parties. Note: the vehicle title itself must be signed by both parties before a notary public — this is a requirement for all North Carolina vehicle title transfers.
Does a North Carolina Bill of Sale need to be notarized?
The bill of sale itself does not need to be notarized in North Carolina. However, the vehicle title transfer does require notarization — both the buyer and seller must sign the vehicle title in front of a notary public. Without the notary's stamp on the title, the NCDMV will not process the title transfer.
If there are co-owners to be recorded on the new title, all signatures on required documents must be notarized. Out-of-state buyers or sellers can use a notary in their own state, but the title must bear a valid notary acknowledgment. A power of attorney used in a title transaction must also be notarized.
How long is a North Carolina Bill of Sale valid?
A North Carolina 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 North Carolina DMV, 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.
Where can I get a blank North Carolina Bill of Sale?
The official North Carolina Bill of Sale (Form MVR-614) is available free of charge from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles at ncdot.gov/dmv, or at any NCDMV driver license office.
You can also use PDF Guru to fill out your North Carolina Bill of Sale online. Our editor lets you complete all required fields, add your signature, and download the finished document as a PDF. Remember that the vehicle title itself must also be signed before a notary public at a DMV office.
How to sign a North Carolina Bill of Sale online
PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your North Carolina 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 the bill of sale itself in a North Carolina private vehicle sale. However, the vehicle title must be signed in person before a notary public — this is a separate step from signing the bill of sale and cannot be done electronically.



