Pennsylvania Vehicle Bill of Sale

Is a bill of sale required to sell a car in Pennsylvania?

PennDOT does not require a standalone bill of sale to transfer a vehicle. In Pennsylvania, ownership transfers through the notarized title assignment on the back of the certificate of title, not through a separate bill of sale. However, a bill of sale is strongly recommended as a private record of the sale price, date, and terms — particularly because PennDOT's Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program may review the stated price and assess sales tax based on fair market value if the number appears too low.

PennDOT does not publish an official standalone bill of sale form. The transaction is completed using Form MV-4ST (Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Return/Application for Registration) for vehicles already titled in Pennsylvania, or Form MV-1 (Application for Certificate of Title) for new or out-of-state vehicles. Both forms are available only from authorized PennDOT agents — they cannot be downloaded online.

Does the title need to be notarized?

Yes — and this is the critical distinction in Pennsylvania. The bill of sale itself does not require notarization, but the title assignment does. Under 75 Pa.C.S. §1111, the seller must sign the assignment on the back of the Pennsylvania certificate of title in the presence of a notary public or authorized PennDOT agent. If there are multiple owners on the title, all owners must sign before the notary. The transfer is not legally complete until the title assignment is signed and notarized.

This means the buyer and seller should meet at an authorized PennDOT agent's office, a tag service, or a notary to complete the transaction. The agent handles the title assignment, the MV-4ST application, and the collection of sales tax in a single visit. Pennsylvania is one of the few states where the title transfer process must be completed through an authorized agent rather than directly at a state motor vehicle office.

What information should a Pennsylvania vehicle bill of sale include?

Although PennDOT does not require a bill of sale, one that serves as a useful record should include the full legal names and addresses of the buyer and seller, the date of sale, the agreed purchase price, and the vehicle's year, make, model, VIN, and color. The odometer reading is recorded directly on the title itself (Section A on the back of the Pennsylvania certificate of title) rather than on a separate form, satisfying federal odometer disclosure requirements under 49 CFR Part 580.

What taxes and fees does the buyer owe?

Pennsylvania sales tax on vehicle purchases varies by location: 6% statewide, 7% in Allegheny County, and 8% in the City of Philadelphia. The tax is calculated on the purchase price and collected by the authorized PennDOT agent at the time of title transfer. If the stated price is substantially below the vehicle's fair market value, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue may assess tax based on market value through the Motor Vehicle Understated Value Program.

The title transfer fee is separate from sales tax. Gift transfers between immediate family members may be exempt from sales tax but require a completed Affidavit of Gift (Form MV-13ST) signed by both parties.

What should the seller do after the sale?

The seller should remove their registration plates from the vehicle. Pennsylvania plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle — the seller can transfer the plates to another vehicle or return them to PennDOT. The seller should retain a copy of the signed bill of sale and any transaction documents for their records. The buyer has 20 days from the date of notarization to submit the title transfer documents to PennDOT.