Arkansas Vehicle Bill of Sale

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

Yes. Arkansas requires a bill of sale for vehicle registration. The Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) publishes an official form (Form 10-313) that combines the bill of sale with the federal odometer disclosure on a single document. If the title has space for the purchase price and odometer reading and both are properly completed, a separate bill of sale may not be strictly necessary — but Form 10-313 is effectively required for the title transfer process because the DFA uses the stated purchase price to determine the applicable sales tax bracket.

Does an Arkansas bill of sale need to be notarized?

No. Arkansas does not require notarization of a vehicle bill of sale or the title assignment for standard private-party transfers. Form 10-313 provides signature lines for both the buyer and seller but includes no notary acknowledgment block. Both parties sign in ink, and the signed form is submitted with the title to the DFA revenue office.

What is the tiered sales tax structure?

Arkansas has a unique tiered sales tax structure for used vehicle purchases that took effect January 1, 2022 under Act 1013. The state sales tax rate depends on the purchase price: vehicles sold for less than $4,000 owe no state sales tax, vehicles sold for $4,000 to $9,999 are taxed at a reduced 3.5% state rate, and vehicles sold for $10,000 or more are taxed at the full 6.5% state rate. Local county and city taxes apply on top of the state rate. Because the stated purchase price determines the bracket, the figure on the bill of sale directly controls what the buyer owes.

How quickly must the buyer transfer the title?

The buyer has 60 days from the date of sale to title and register the vehicle at a DFA revenue office. Missing the window triggers two separate penalties: a late-registration penalty of $3.00 for every 10 days the vehicle goes unregistered (capped at the vehicle's annual license fee, roughly $17 to $30), plus a 10% penalty on the sales tax due. The title transfer can be completed online through the DFA's MyDMV portal (with instant temporary tags) or in person at any DFA revenue office. The title fee is $10.

What should the seller do after the sale?

The seller must remove their license plates from the vehicle before delivery. Arkansas plates belong to the seller and do not need to be returned to the DFA — they can be kept or destroyed. The seller should retain a copy of the signed bill of sale (Form 10-313) and the assigned title. Arkansas does not require the seller to file a separate notice of sale with the DFA — the transfer is recorded when the buyer submits the title application.

What if the vehicle has multiple owners?

If the vehicle is titled to more than one person, all owners on the title must sign the bill of sale. Use the "Add a co-seller" option on the form to add the second seller's name and address. Both sellers' names and signature lines will appear on the document. For electronic signing, each co-owner can sign on the same device in sequence, or the document can be passed from one device to another via QR code or shared link. Both buyers can likewise be named on the bill of sale using the "Add a co-buyer" option.