A Missouri car bill of sale is a short document that records who sold the vehicle, who bought it, what it was, how much changed hands, and when. The Department of Revenue publishes an official version, Form 1957, and you can either use that form or write your own with the same information. Either way, the bill of sale sits alongside the assigned certificate of title; it does not replace it.
Where to Get Form 1957
Download Form 1957 from the Missouri Department of Revenue website or pick up a paper copy at any local license office.1Missouri Department of Revenue. Forms and Manuals Missouri doesn’t require the official form. A bill of sale you type up yourself is valid as long as it captures the same details. Using Form 1957 is simply the easier path, because the layout already matches what the DOR expects and the same sheet doubles as your Notice of Sale after the transaction.
What Information to Include
Form 1957 asks for a short list of facts about the sale:
- Buyer’s full legal name and address, with city, state, and zip code.
- Seller’s full legal name and address, with city, state, and zip code.
- Vehicle year, make, title number, and full Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Sale price, as the actual dollar amount paid.
- Sale date, written MM/DD/YYYY.
The form has no field for the model or the odometer reading. If you’re drafting your own bill of sale rather than using Form 1957, include everything above, and consider adding the model and color for clarity. The odometer is handled separately (see below).
Getting the Sale Price Right
The number you write on the sale price line is not just a detail. Missouri sales tax on a private vehicle purchase runs 4.225 percent at the state level plus any applicable local sales tax, all calculated against the price listed on the bill of sale.2Missouri Department of Revenue. Buying a Vehicle Writing down an artificially low figure to shrink the buyer’s tax bill is something the DOR can flag, and it creates problems for both sides if the transaction is ever questioned. Put down what actually changed hands.
If the vehicle is a gift and no money is being paid, write “GIFT” on the sale price line instead of a dollar amount. Missouri doesn’t charge state or local sales tax on a gifted vehicle, though the buyer still owes title and registration fees.
Signatures and Notarization
Both the buyer and the seller sign Form 1957. Notarization generally isn’t required.3Missouri Department of Revenue. Form 1957 – Bill of Sale or Even-Trade Bill of Sale Two situations change that: when the bill of sale is being used to prove ownership of major component parts on a rebuilt vehicle, and when the Department of Revenue specifically requests a notarized copy. Even outside those cases, having a notary witness the signatures is cheap protection if a dispute about the sale terms comes up later.
Pair It With the Title Assignment
The bill of sale is essentially a receipt. The legal transfer of ownership happens on the back of the certificate of title, in the assignment section. Missouri law treats a vehicle sale without a proper title assignment as presumed fraudulent and void.4Missouri Revisor of Statutes. RSMo 301.210 – Sale or Transfer of Motor Vehicle Complete both documents at the same time.
On the back of the title, the seller enters the odometer reading and the date of sale, then every seller listed on the front signs and prints their name in the assignment area. At least one buyer must also sign and print. The seller must disclose any liens or encumbrances on the vehicle.5Missouri Department of Revenue. Selling a Vehicle The signed title then goes to the buyer at delivery. The buyer cannot apply for a new title without it.6Missouri Department of Revenue. Instructions for Completing the Title Assignment Title signatures don’t need to be notarized.
Odometer Reading Goes on the Title, Not the Bill of Sale
The mileage doesn’t go on Form 1957. The seller writes it into the odometer disclosure section on the back of the title.5Missouri Department of Revenue. Selling a Vehicle For most private sales involving a Missouri title issued after August 1989, that built-in section is enough and no separate form is needed.
If the title lacks an adequate odometer disclosure section, the seller completes a separate Odometer Disclosure Statement (Form 3019) and attaches it.7Missouri Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Titling and Registration Federal law exempts older vehicles from odometer disclosure: for 2011 and newer models the exemption kicks in at 20 model years old, and older models follow a 10-year exemption. If your vehicle qualifies, write “exempt” in the odometer field on the title instead of leaving it blank.
What Each Side Does With the Bill of Sale Afterward
For the seller, the bill of sale doubles as a Notice of Sale. Missouri sellers must report the sale to the Department of Revenue within 30 days, and a copy of Form 1957 satisfies that requirement (Form 5049 is the alternative).8Missouri Department of Revenue. Notice of Sale5Missouri Department of Revenue. Selling a Vehicle Skipping this step is where sellers get burned. Until the DOR updates its records, you remain the registered owner in their system, which means parking tickets, toll violations, and accident liability can still land on you for a car you no longer own. Keep a copy of whatever you send in, along with the signed bill of sale itself. If the buyer never titles the vehicle, that paperwork is your proof of when you transferred it.
For the buyer, the bill of sale isn’t on the DOR’s required document list for a standard title transfer when a properly assigned title exists. Bring it to the license office anyway. It backs up the purchase price and sale date if any question comes up at the counter.