How to Write a Bill of Sale for a Car in Alabama

A bill of sale for a car in Alabama needs six things to be valid: the buyer’s full name and address, the seller’s full name and address, the date of sale, a complete vehicle description including the VIN, the purchase price, and both parties’ signatures. Alabama Administrative Rule 810-5-1-.246 sets these as the minimum fields, and any document containing all of them satisfies the state. There is no mandatory state form.¹

The Six Required Fields

Write the document so a county licensing official can read each field at a glance:

Buyer’s full legal name and complete physical address
Seller’s full legal name and complete address
Date of sale, with month, day, and year
Vehicle description: VIN, make, year, model or series number, and body type
Purchase price in numerals, so the tax calculation is unambiguous
Signatures of both the buyer and the seller (or their authorized representatives)

Before you write down the VIN, compare the number on the title to the VIN stamped on the dashboard and door jamb of the vehicle. A mismatch will stall the title transfer when the buyer gets to the licensing office.

Adding an As-Is Clause

Most private sales in Alabama happen without a warranty, and an as-is clause makes that explicit. A single sentence does the job: “This vehicle is sold as-is, with no warranties expressed or implied.” The Alabama Attorney General’s office tells buyers that when a car is sold as-is, any problems that surface later are not covered.² For the seller, the clause blocks future claims about the car’s condition. For the buyer, it is notice that any inspection needs to happen before signing.

Odometer Disclosure

Federal law requires the seller to give the buyer a written odometer reading for most transfers. For sales in 2026, the requirement covers any vehicle from model year 2011 or newer; model year 2010 and older vehicles are past the 10-year threshold and exempt.³ Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating above 16,000 pounds and non-self-propelled vehicles like trailers are also exempt.⁴

When disclosure applies, record the current mileage and mark whether the reading is accurate, has exceeded the odometer’s mechanical limits, or does not reflect the actual mileage. Alabama titles have a space for this on the assignment section; if the title lacks one, use a separate disclosure form and attach it to the bill of sale.

Rolling back an odometer is a crime. Under Alabama law, tampering with a mileage device or hiring someone to do it is a misdemeanor carrying 30 days to 12 months in jail, a fine of $50 to $200, or both.⁵

Signing and Notarizing

Both parties sign. Alabama does not require the bill of sale or the title assignment to be notarized.⁶ Notarization is optional, but it is worth considering when the sale involves a large sum or the parties don’t know each other well, because a notary verifies each signer’s identity through government-issued ID. Alabama notaries can charge up to $10 per notarial act.⁷ Banks, shipping stores, and courthouse offices commonly offer the service, and Alabama also permits remote online notarization by secure video session.

What the Buyer Does Next

The buyer has 20 calendar days from the purchase date to register the vehicle and transfer the title at the county licensing office. Miss the deadline and you owe a $15 late-registration penalty, and driving an unregistered vehicle can add a fine of at least $25.⁸

Bring:

The title, properly assigned by the seller
The signed bill of sale with all required fields
Your driver’s license (and any co-owner’s)
Proof of liability insurance, which Alabama requires on any vehicle registered for use on public roads⁹

If the title is from another state, the office will do a VIN inspection, so drive the vehicle in.¹⁰

Expect the following at the counter:

Title fee of $15 plus a $3 county fee, or $18 total
Standard passenger plate at $23 plus a $1.25 issuance fee
State automotive sales tax of 2% of the purchase price¹¹
County and municipal taxes on top of the state rate, which vary by location

The licensing official calculates the tax from the purchase price on the bill of sale, which is why the number needs to be legible and in numerals.¹² You will leave with a temporary registration; the permanent title arrives by mail several weeks later.

What the Seller Does Next

Take your license plate off before the buyer drives away. Alabama law requires it.⁸ Transfer the plate to another vehicle you own at the county licensing office, or surrender it. A plate left on a car you no longer own can leave you tangled in the new owner’s traffic tickets, toll charges, or registration problems.

Keep a signed copy of the bill of sale. It is your proof of the transfer date if the buyer stalls on registration and something goes wrong with the vehicle in the meantime. Note the buyer’s name and the sale date somewhere you can find them, in case the county needs to verify the transaction.

Private Sales Are Final

Alabama gives no cooling-off period on a private vehicle sale. Once both parties sign and the buyer takes possession, the deal is done. The federal cooling-off rule that applies to certain door-to-door sales does not cover vehicles. If the car was sold as-is, a buyer who finds mechanical problems the next day has no legal basis to demand a refund. Do the inspections and title check before you sign, not after.

1
Alabama Department of Revenue. Rule 810-5-1-.246 Bill of Sale, Invoice or Other Sales Document – Minimum Requirements
2
Alabama Attorney General. AG Offers Guidelines for Used Car Buyers
3
eCFR. Title 49 Part 580 – Odometer Disclosure Requirements
4
eCFR. 49 CFR 580.17 – Exemptions
5
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 32 Chapter 15 Section 32-15-3 – Person Hiring Tampering With Speedometer, Odometer, or Other Recording Device
6
Alabama Department of Revenue. What Are the Requirements for Names and Signatures
7
Mobile County Probate Court. Notary Public
8
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code Title 40 Chapter 12 Section 40-12-260 – Transfer of License Plates
9
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. ALEA Mandatory Liability Insurance
10
Limestone County. Vehicle Purchased Resources
11
Alabama Department of Revenue. State Sales and Use Tax Rates
12
Shelby County, AL. FAQ – Registration