How to Fill Out the Nevada Bill of Sale: VP104 Form Step by Step

The Nevada VP104 bill of sale is a one-page DMV form that records a vehicle sale and releases the seller’s ownership interest, and you fill it out by copying details straight from the vehicle title and both parties’ IDs into every field, then signing in original ink. Because the DMV will not accept alterations or erasures, and no changes are allowed after signing, the practical rule is simple: gather everything first, write once, sign last.¹

What the VP104 Does and Doesn’t Do

The VP104 has two jobs. It releases the seller’s interest in the vehicle, and it creates a written record of the sale for both parties.¹ The state’s Car Seller’s Guide describes it as a document “to be completed for your records.”²

What it does not do is transfer ownership on its own. The DMV states plainly that “a Bill of Sale by itself is not acceptable” for registration.³ The signed certificate of title is what actually moves ownership. The VP104 sits alongside the title, documenting the price and identifying the parties.

What to Gather Before You Write Anything

The form’s instructions require every area to be completed in full, and any alteration or erasure triggers additional documentation and verification at the counter.¹ Starting fresh is easier than explaining a scratched-out digit to a DMV clerk. Collect the following before you pick up a pen.

From both buyer and seller:

Full legal names, spelled exactly as they appear on each person’s ID. The buyer’s name will print on the new certificate of title exactly the way it’s written here.
Nevada driver’s license number, state ID number, date of birth, or FEIN. Businesses use their Federal Employer Identification Number in place of a personal ID.
Addresses. The buyer provides both a physical and mailing address; the seller provides a mailing address.

From the vehicle title:

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Year, make, model, and body type.
The exact sale price both parties agreed on.
Lienholder name, if money is still owed. If the vehicle is free and clear, you’ll write “NONE.”

Check the Title First

Before writing anything on the VP104, a buyer should look at the paper title carefully. Confirm the seller’s name matches the title, check that no lien is recorded unless the seller can prove it’s been satisfied, and look for brands like “salvage,” “rebuilt,” or “flood.” The National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, run by the Department of Justice, offers vehicle history reports showing title brand history, total loss records, and odometer readings from state titling agencies.⁴ A few dollars for that report before you hand over cash can save you from a vehicle with hidden damage or ownership problems.

Filling Out the VP104 Section by Section

The form fits on one page. Work top to bottom.

Sale Price

The first blank asks for the sale amount. Write the price in words on the long line and in numbers in the parenthetical space. If any non-cash consideration was exchanged, such as a trade-in, note that here too.

Buyer Information

Enter the first buyer’s full legal name, then their Nevada driver’s license or ID number, date of birth, or FEIN. Add the physical address and mailing address. If a second buyer is co-owning the vehicle, fill in the same details on the next set of lines, and pay attention to whether you write “AND” or “OR” between the two names. “AND” means both owners must sign any future transfer. “OR” means either one can act alone.

If three or more buyers are taking ownership, complete an additional VP104 with the extra names attached to the first, indicating “AND” or “OR” between the second and third owners.¹

Vehicle Description

Copy the VIN, year, make, model, and body type directly from the title. Check every character of the VIN twice. A single transposed digit can create real problems when the buyer tries to register.

Lien Information

If a lender or other party holds a lien, enter their name and address. If there is no lien, write “NONE.” Do not leave the line blank.¹

Rebuilt Vehicle Checkbox

The form includes a checkbox indicating whether the vehicle has been rebuilt as defined under NRS 482.098. This generally applies to vehicles previously declared a total loss and then reconstructed. Check the box if the title carries a rebuilt brand. It does not apply to off-highway vehicles.

Seller Information

The seller enters their full legal name, driver’s license or ID number, date of birth, or FEIN, and mailing address. If multiple sellers are listed on the title, each one must be identified here.

Signing the Form

Both parties sign and date at the bottom. A few rules catch people out:

Original signatures only. The DMV does not accept photocopies.¹
One buyer signature is enough. Even if “AND” appears between two buyer names, only one buyer needs to sign the VP104.
No changes after signing. If you spot an error afterward, you’ll need a new form, and possibly additional verification from the DMV.

The VP104 does not require notarization for DMV purposes. Notarization can make sense for a high-value transaction where extra proof of authenticity is worth having, but the DMV will process the form without it.

Make at least two copies of the completed form, one for each party. Keep the originals safe. Sellers in particular should hold onto their copy as proof they no longer own the vehicle, which helps if the buyer is involved in an accident or picks up parking tickets before re-registering.

Seller’s Steps After Signing

Completing the VP104 is one piece of the seller’s job.

Sign Over the Title

The seller must sign the certificate of title in the spaces provided and give it to the buyer along with their residence address. This is the step that actually enables the ownership transfer at the DMV.⁵

Disclose the Odometer Reading

For vehicles of model year 2011 or newer, the seller must enter the current mileage in the odometer section of the title. The DMV will reject the paperwork if this is missing, even if the title itself says “Exempt.”⁶ Get the reading before you meet the buyer.

Remove the License Plates

The seller removes the plates and either transfers them to another vehicle or surrenders them to the DMV.⁷ Don’t let the buyer drive off with your plates.

File a Vehicle Resale Notification

Within five days of the sale, the seller may submit a notice of transfer to the DMV electronically.⁵ The DMV provides an online tool for this.⁸ Filing it protects you if the buyer delays registration and racks up tolls, tickets, or other liabilities tied to the vehicle. It takes a few minutes.

Buyer’s Steps After Signing

The buyer’s clock starts immediately. Nevada requires the buyer to apply for registration right away, and in most private party sales the practical window is 30 days from the date of purchase.⁹ Governmental services tax is due at that time.⁵

Bring the following to the DMV:³

The vehicle title, signed by the seller with odometer disclosure completed for 2011 and newer models.
Nevada proof of insurance. Coverage has to be active before you walk in.
An emissions inspection report if the vehicle is based in the urban areas of Clark or Washoe County, is gasoline-powered (or diesel up to 14,000 lbs), and is model year 1968 or newer. New vehicles are exempt for their first three registrations.¹⁰
Current odometer reading.
A VIN inspection certificate (VP015) if the vehicle has never been registered or titled in Nevada. Any DMV office can perform the inspection, or a sworn law enforcement officer can complete the form.¹¹

Private party purchases in Nevada are not subject to sales tax.¹² The buyer will owe a $28.25 title fee for a first-time Nevada title,¹³ a $33 registration fee for most passenger cars, motorcycles, and low-speed vehicles, and governmental services tax at four cents per dollar of the vehicle’s depreciated DMV valuation (minimum $16), with Clark and Churchill counties adding a supplemental cent per dollar. That valuation starts at 35% of the original MSRP and depreciates over time, so the tax reflects the vehicle’s age and original price rather than what you paid.

When the VP104 Isn’t the Right Form

The VP104 is a DMV form for motor vehicles. If you’re buying or selling a boat, the process runs through the Nevada Department of Wildlife, which requires its own proof of ownership and provides a separate bill of sale form on its website.¹⁴

For general personal property such as furniture, equipment, firearms, or livestock, Nevada does not mandate a state form. A general bill of sale should identify both parties by name and address, describe the item in enough detail that it can’t be confused with anything else, state the sale price, and carry the date and signatures of both parties. An “as-is” clause is worth adding if the seller doesn’t want to imply a warranty. Notarization isn’t required, but it adds proof if ownership is ever disputed.

1
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Bill of Sale – VP104
2
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Car Seller’s Guide 2024
3
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration – Private Party, Family Sales and Gifts
4
VehicleHistory (Office of Justice Programs). Understanding an NMVTIS Vehicle History Report
5
Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes 482.400 – Endorsement of Certificate of Title
6
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. New Federal Rule Extends Odometer Disclosure for Used Vehicles
7
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada Registration Requirements
8
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Resale Notification
9
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registration
10
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada Emission Control Program
11
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registration – Out-of-State Dealers
12
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Nevada Vehicle Registration Fees
13
Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Titles
14
Nevada Department of Wildlife. Boat Titling, Registration and More