An Arizona bill of sale is a written record of a sale of personal property between a buyer and a seller, and in Arizona it is legally required for livestock transfers, required by the Game and Fish Department for used boat registrations, and treated as standard supporting paperwork for private vehicle sales handled through the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). What belongs on the form, whether a notary has to witness it, and what you pay at the counter all depend on what is changing hands.
When Arizona Actually Requires One
For motor vehicles, a bill of sale becomes essential when the vehicle has no standard title or when the existing title has no field for the purchase price. In those cases it is the primary proof of the transaction and is used to apply for a new title through MVD. Even with a clean title, pairing a bill of sale with the signed title is standard practice for private sales and gives both sides a paper trail.
For watercraft, the Arizona Game and Fish Department defines a bill of sale as a written agreement listing the buyer and seller names, the manufacturer, the hull identification number, the purchase price, any sales tax paid, and the seller’s signature.1Arizona Game and Fish Department. Fees and Forms If you bought a used boat that was previously registered in Arizona, you need that bill of sale when you register it in your name.2Arizona Game and Fish Department. Boating Registration Frequently Asked Questions
For livestock, A.R.S. § 3-1291 requires a written and acknowledged bill of sale for every sale or transfer, with the sole exception of dairy calves under thirty days old.3Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 3 Section 3-1291 – Bill of Sale Required in Transfer of Livestock
For other personal property, Arizona does not require a bill of sale. Private firearm sales are a common example: state law imposes no record-keeping duty on the seller, but writing down the make, model, serial number, and both parties’ names gives you something to point to if questions come up later. For furniture, equipment, or any item of real value, a short written record is sensible even though nothing compels it.
Which Vehicle Form to Use and What Goes on It
MVD publishes two official bill of sale forms, and the right one depends on the situation.
- Form 38-1306, the Title Transfer Bill of Sale, is designed for vehicles currently titled in Arizona and captures the buyer’s and seller’s names, addresses, and driver license numbers along with the vehicle’s VIN, year, make, and model.4Arizona Department of Transportation. Bill of Sale 38-1306
- Form 48-2004 is used as supporting documentation for a vehicle title transaction. It captures similar information but includes body style rather than model and asks for the buyer’s and seller’s dates of birth.5Arizona Department of Transportation. Bill of Sale 48-2004
Both are available at MVD offices, at authorized third-party providers, and in the ADOT forms library online.6Arizona Department of Transportation. Bill of Sale Fill every field legibly. Incomplete or illegible forms get rejected at the counter.
Arizona’s title application statute also requires the buyer to provide an odometer mileage disclosure statement when applying for a certificate of title to a previously registered vehicle.7Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-2051 – Application for Certificate of Title Federal law exempts vehicles 20 model years old or older and those with a gross vehicle weight rating over 16,000 pounds; for everything else, the seller discloses the odometer reading as part of the title paperwork.
Notary or MVD Witness for the Seller’s Signature
Arizona requires the seller’s signature on a title transfer document to be witnessed by either a notary public or an MVD agent.8Arizona Department of Transportation. Buying or Selling a Used Vehicle You have two realistic paths: visit a notary before going to MVD, or sign the paperwork in front of a designated agent at an MVD office or authorized third-party location. A.R.S. § 28-370 gives MVD officers, agents, and designated employees the authority to witness title and registration documents.9Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-370 – Oaths and Acknowledgments; Power of Attorney; Definitions
If you use a notary, Arizona caps notary fees at $10 per notarial act; the notary can charge anything up to that amount.10Arizona Secretary of State. Notary Public Services Fees Schedule Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Without a witnessed or notarized signature, MVD will not process the transfer.
The 15-Day Deadline to Transfer Title
Once you buy a vehicle in Arizona, you have 15 days to apply for a new title in your name, whether or not you plan to drive it right away.4Arizona Department of Transportation. Bill of Sale 38-1306 The statute requires the buyer to present the signed certificate of title or title transfer form, with the required fee, to MVD within that window.11Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-2058 – Transfer of Title; Odometer Mileage Disclosure Statement; Education
Miss the deadline and penalties accrue. Under A.R.S. § 28-2162, the late fee is $8 for the first month of delinquency and $4 for each additional month, capped at $100.12Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-2162 – Delinquent Registration; Penalty; Lien; Failure to Apply for Certificate of Title The dollar cap is modest; the bigger exposure is driving an unregistered vehicle still tied to someone else’s name.
You can submit the paperwork at any MVD office or at an authorized third-party provider. Third-party offices add their own convenience fees on top of state fees.
What You Pay at Title Transfer
The state title fee is $4.13Arizona Department of Transportation. Vehicle Title On top of that, you will typically pay registration fees that vary by vehicle type and value, plus any late penalties if you blew the 15-day window.
The larger line item is usually vehicle use tax. The state rate is 5.6%, and city and county rates can add to it. MVD collects the tax at the time of title transfer or registration. The Arizona Department of Revenue notes, however, that casual sales between private parties are not taxable under the transaction privilege tax framework.14Arizona Department of Revenue. Vehicle Use Tax and Calculator Questions and Answers Whether you owe use tax on a private purchase depends on the specifics; the Department of Revenue’s Vehicle Use Tax Calculator will tell you the number, and bringing your bill of sale to MVD helps them run the calculation.
Sellers: File a Sold Notice the Same Day
This is the step sellers skip most often, and it causes the most problems. After you sell a vehicle, file a Sold Notice (Form 46-8502) with MVD. Without it, MVD records still show you as the owner, which can leave you exposed to parking tickets, towing fees, and liability if the vehicle is later involved in a crash or a crime.15Arizona Department of Transportation. Sold Notice
The fastest way is online through AZMVDNow.gov. You can also fill out the sold notice on the back of your vehicle registration card and mail it in, or download Form 46-8502 and submit it by mail or in person.16Arizona Department of Transportation. Selling a Car? Protect Yourself and Complete a Sold Notice You will need the buyer’s name and address. Do it the day you hand over the keys.
Watercraft: Different Agency, Different Fields
Boat transfers go through the Arizona Game and Fish Department, not MVD, and the required information differs. A watercraft bill of sale must list the buyer and seller names, the manufacturer, the hull identification number, the length of the vessel, the purchase price, and the seller’s signature. If you bought from a watercraft dealer, you also need a bill of sale showing that sales tax was paid.2Arizona Game and Fish Department. Boating Registration Frequently Asked Questions
Game and Fish publishes its own watercraft forms, separate from MVD’s vehicle forms.1Arizona Game and Fish Department. Fees and Forms An MVD vehicle form will not work for a boat; the fields are different and the registration goes to a different agency.
Livestock: Written, Acknowledged, and Sometimes Inspected
A.R.S. § 3-1291 requires a written and acknowledged bill of sale for every livestock sale or transfer, with the single exception of dairy calves under thirty days old.3Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 3 Section 3-1291 – Bill of Sale Required in Transfer of Livestock “Acknowledged” means the document is formally recognized, not improvised at the sale barn.
The bill of sale alone does not always finish the job. For branded range cattle, the Arizona Department of Agriculture requires a Form I inspection for any change of ownership, custom slaughter, or out-of-state shipment, and a self-inspection certificate will not substitute. Non-range, dairy, and feedlot cattle can use a self-inspection certificate for ownership transfers. The inspection form is separate from the bill of sale and does not replace it; you need both.17Arizona Department of Agriculture. Livestock Inspections Information If your livestock was inspected in another state, you will also need a valid Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and an entry permit number when applying for an Arizona inspection.