Fill Out a Washington Bill of Sale Online in 2026

A Washington Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the transfer of personal property — most commonly a vehicle or vessel — from a seller to a buyer in Washington State. It establishes the agreed purchase price, describes the item being sold, and includes the names and signatures of both parties.

For vehicle sales, Washington DOL uses the official Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (Form TD-420-065). Both buyer and seller must sign the bill of sale before the buyer can apply for a new title. The seller is also legally required to submit a Report of Sale to the DOL within 5 days of completing the sale. The buyer must apply for a new title at a vehicle licensing office within 15 calendar days of purchase (failure to transfer within 45 days is a misdemeanor under RCW 46.12.650).

A Washington Bill of Sale is used to formally document the private transfer of a vehicle, boat, or other personal property, and to protect both parties in the transaction. Specifically, it is used to:

• Document the transfer of a vehicle or vessel and establish legal ownership between buyer and seller
• Record the agreed sale price, which Washington DOL uses to calculate use tax when the buyer applies for a new title
• Support the seller's obligation to file a Report of Sale with the DOL within 5 days of the sale
• Protect the seller from future liability — traffic violations, towing charges, or civil claims — after the sale date
• Give the buyer proof of purchase to present at a vehicle licensing office when applying for a new title

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

1. 1

   Download or open the official Washington DOL Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (Form TD-420-065) — or use an equivalent document with all required information.

2. 2

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

3. 3

   Enter the vehicle's VIN, year, make, model, and odometer reading at time of sale.

4. 4

   Record the agreed sale price (enter zero if the vehicle is a gift or inheritance).

5. 5

   Write in the date of the sale.

6. 6

   Both parties sign the bill of sale. Each party should keep a signed copy.

7. 7

   The seller must also submit a Report of Sale to the DOL within 5 days of the sale.

8. 8

   The buyer brings the signed bill of sale, the signed title, and other required documents to a vehicle licensing office to apply for a new title within 15 calendar days of purchase.

A Washington Bill of Sale should include the following information:

• Full legal names and current addresses of buyer and seller
• Vehicle description: year, make, model, and color
• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or vessel identification number
• License plate number (if applicable)
• Odometer reading at the time of sale
• Sale price (or "zero" if the vehicle is a gift or inheritance)
• Date of the sale
• Signatures of both buyer and seller
• Optional: trip permit information if the buyer drives the vehicle without plates

Yes. In Washington State, both the buyer and seller must sign a Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (Form TD-420-065) before the buyer can apply for a new title — unless the sale price and date are already included on the title itself. The Washington DOL requires this document as part of the title transfer process.

Additionally, the seller is legally obligated to submit a Report of Sale to the DOL within 5 days of the sale date. A bill of sale is distinct from the Report of Sale: the bill of sale documents the transaction details, while the Report of Sale protects the seller from future liability for the vehicle.

No. Washington State does not require notarization for a Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale for in-person title transfers completed at a vehicle licensing office. Both buyer and seller simply sign the bill of sale document.

However, if the Vehicle Certificate of Title Application (Form TD-420-001) is submitted by mail rather than in person, the signature on the application must be signed before a notary public. To avoid the notarization requirement, it is recommended to process title transfers in person at a vehicle licensing office. Notarization is also required for vessel title applications submitted by mail.

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

For practical purposes, the bill of sale is most actively used during the title transfer process: the buyer must apply for a new title within 15 calendar days of the purchase date (late penalties apply after 45 days). Once the new title is issued in the buyer's name, the bill of sale continues to serve as a historical record of the transaction.

The official Washington Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (Form TD-420-065) is available free of charge from the Washington Department of Licensing (DOL) website at dol.wa.gov, or at any vehicle licensing office in the state.

You can also use PDF Guru to fill out your Washington Bill of Sale online. Our editor lets you complete, sign, and download the form as a PDF — without printing or scanning. You can fill in all required fields, add your electronic signature, and share the document with the other party before finalizing the sale.

PDF Guru makes it easy to sign your Washington 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 Washington Bill of Sale for private-party vehicle transactions. However, if you plan to submit the title application by mail rather than in person, the signature on the title application must be notarized. Processing the title transfer in person at a vehicle licensing office is recommended to avoid this requirement.