Vehicle Bill of Sale in Illinois

Download the formDownload the Word

What is Vehicle Bill of Sale?

A vehicle bill of sale is a form that records a private sale transaction involving a car between a buyer and seller. This document is required in some states in the US for vehicle registration. However, in the state of Illinois, there is no law mandating vehicle owners to obtain a vehicle bill of sale before registering their vehicles.

The major benefit of crafting a vehicle bill of sale is to protect car buyers from the risk of fraud or when a misunderstanding erupts between a buyer and a seller. A bill of sale is also important when you need to prove to the court that you are the legal owner of a used vehicle.

While there are so many ways to write a vehicle bill of sale, for it to be valid, it should capture important information like the full names of both the buyer and sellers, their addresses, transaction date, the amount involved, as well as, the signatures of both the buyer and seller.

What Information Can You Get From Vehicle Bill of Sale?

When you take a look at a vehicle bill of sale, you should be able to get the following information at a glance:

  • Date of transaction:
  • The bill of sale can only be valid if it carries the date the transaction occurred.

  • Witnesses:
  • The signing of the form by both the buyer and seller should be done in the presence of at least two witnesses.

  • Buyer:
  • This is the person buying the vehicle

  • Seller:
  • This is the owner of the vehicle that indicates interest to sell privately.

  • Payment Method:
  • The bill of sale for a car should clearly spell out the payment method; otherwise we cannot conclude that it is a valid document that can be tendered in court.

  • Name and address of both parties:
  • The full names and addresses of both the buyer and the seller should be captured in the bill of sale for car.

  • Signatures of both parties:
  • Both parties need to sign the document for it to be valid.

How to Write a Vehicle Bill of Sale

Writing a vehicle bill of sale is a simple process on the CocoDoc platform. While there is no general format to write a vehicle bill of sale, for the bill of sale to be valid, it must contain:

  • The seller’s name and contact information
  • The buyer’s name and contact information
  • The vehicle make, model, year, color, VIN, and odometer reading
  • The date of the sale
  • The purchase price
  • Signatures of both parties

Registering a Vehicle

Registering a vehicle in the state of Illinois is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you get a vehicle through a gift or inheritance, you must register the vehicle within 20 days; otherwise, you will get into troubles with law enforcement agencies.

If you buy a vehicle privately, you are required to complete the paperwork before registering the vehicle with your name. The registration should be done online at the Vehicle Services page or at the nearest Secretary of State (SOS) office.

Documents Required For The Registration

You need a few documents to register a new car. Some of the documents include a bill of sale, odometer disclosure statement for title transfers (VSD 333.4), application for vehicle transaction (Form VSD 190).

Other documents required are seller’s report of sale (VSD-703), certification of title signed by the previous owner, tax RUT-50 (obtained at SOS office), valid Illinois driver’s license, and registration Fees (typically $150-$165). Additionally, you will also need proof of car insurance and motor vehicle power of attorney.

Who Needs a Bill of Sale in Illinois?

If you are up to driving age and you intend to own a car, you need to request the bill of sale for a car from the seller before making a payment. It is a good practice to have a bill of sale. It will protect you from scams, frauds, and even misunderstanding from the other party.

Absolutely, a handwritten bill of sale is legal, provided it captures all the important information required by your state. A bill of sale also works like any other legal document. If other legal documents are valid, then a handwritten bill of sale is also valid.

Conclusion

Okay, that's it. As an Illinois resident looking to buy a second-hand or used car privately, you need a vehicle bill of sale in Illinois. The free bill of sale template for cars is a document that records the transaction involving the sale of vehicles between a buyer and the seller.

It is important to craft a bill of sale to protect yourself against fraud or misunderstanding with a potential buyer. A bill of sale must contain a number of things for it to be valid, including your full name and address, the full name of the other party and their address, a description of the vehicle, and the date the transaction occurred.

The bill of sale Illinois is valid when a buyer and seller append their signatures on the document. If the deal leads to a court case, the bill of sale for car Illinois can be used as evidence to win the case.

FAQs

Is a bill of sale required in Illinois?

Not really. Illinois doesn't have laws that require that car owners should present a bill of sale before registering their new vehicles. However, whenever you want to buy a used or second-hand vehicle, you need to craft one in order to protect your rights whenever there is misunderstanding.

What does a typical Illinois vehicle bill of sale look like?

We understand that there are no set rules to write a vehicle bill of sale in the state of Illinois, but generally, a bill of sale should capture important information such as the description of the vehicle, the full name of the buyer and seller, addresses of both parties, the date of the transaction, as well as the amount involved.

Does an Illinois bill of sale have to be notarized?

In the state of Illinois, it is not mandatory to notarize a bill of sale, but it is an option. However, if you want your vehicle bill of sale to be notarized in Illinois, do not rush to sign the document until you are in front of a notary public.

Can I get a title without a bill of sale in illinois?

If you live in Illinois, you can obtain a title without a bill of sale. In fact, the laws in Illinois do not make it mandatory to obtain a bill of sale before vehicle registration. However, if you craft a bill of sale for the purpose of buying or selling your vehicle, it can protect your right and also avoid misunderstanding if the sales don't go down well.

Create Document

Create a high quality document online now!

Create Document