Maryland vehicle bill of sale

Fill in the free Maryland bill of sale on this page and print it.

The MVA does not always require a bill of sale but recommends one, and says some buyers may need it to title the vehicle. The MVA title manual says a title can be refused if the price on the title is left blank, or the buyer's name is left blank on a signed title, and no bill of sale is provided. Chapter 118 of 2026 repealed the notarized bill of sale requirement effective October 1, 2026, and the current Bill of Sale form (VR-181, 10-26) has no notary section.

Use the official form if you prefer it: Bill of Sale (VR-181).

Maryland lists these items:

• Vehicle information (Form VR-181 asks for year, make, model, body style, VIN and odometer reading)
• Sale price
• Date of sale
• Names and signatures of the buyer and seller

1. Make sure you have a valid Maryland title in your name. Get a duplicate if it is lost or damaged, and have any lien released before the sale.
2. Check that the VIN, owner names and address on the title are correct, and fix any errors before selling.
3. On the back of the title, fill in the buyer's name and address, the sale price, the odometer reading and the date of sale, then sign. All owners must sign unless the title shows 'OR.'
4. Consider giving the buyer a bill of sale (Form VR-181 works) with the vehicle information, price, date, and both names and signatures.
5. Remove your license plates before the buyer takes the vehicle, and do not let the buyer use them.
6. Return the plates to the MVA with the Tag Return Form (VR-027), by drop box, at the counter or by mail, unless you are moving them to another vehicle you own.
7. Keep your insurance until you get the tag return receipt, and keep copies of the completed title (front and back) and the bill of sale.

The back of the Maryland certificate of title. The seller adds the buyer's name and address, the sale price, the odometer reading and the date of sale, and signs. If more than one owner is listed, all owners must sign unless the title shows 'OR.' The title signature does not need a notary in Maryland.

Maryland has no notice of sale. Instead, return your plates to the MVA with the Tag Return Form (VR-027), or keep them for another vehicle you own, and keep the tag return receipt. Form: Tag Return Form (VR-027).

Plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle. Remove them before the buyer takes possession. You must return them to the MVA (24-hour drop box, information counter or mail, with Form VR-027) unless you transfer them to another vehicle you own. Keep your insurance active until you receive the tag return receipt. You can download it in myMVA, and the MVA says to allow 72 hours (business days) after the drop. Not returning plates can lead to insurance violation penalties or other fees. If the plates expire more than 12 months from now, you may qualify for a refund with Form VR-021.

Inspection. None required of the seller. The buyer is responsible for the Maryland Safety Inspection, which most used vehicles must pass before they can be titled and registered, and for any required emissions inspection. The MVA says the seller is not responsible for these steps once the sale is complete.

Odometer disclosure. The seller writes the odometer reading on the back of the title, which the MVA notes is required by federal law. The Bill of Sale (VR-181) and the Odometer Disclosure Statement (VR-197) also have odometer sections. Under federal rules (49 CFR 580.17), in 2026 vehicles of model year 2010 or older are exempt from the federal disclosure, and model year 2011 and newer vehicles need it until they are 20 years old. Vehicles over 16,000 pounds GVWR are also exempt.

Sales tax. The buyer pays Maryland's 6.5% vehicle excise tax when titling the vehicle, plus the $200 title fee. For a privately sold vehicle 7 or more model years old, the tax is based on the greater of the purchase price or $640. For a newer vehicle, it is based on the purchase price, unless the price is $500 or more below the retail value in the used car guide the MVA uses, in which case it is based on that value. Chapter 118 of 2026 (effective October 1, 2026) removed the option of using a notarized bill of sale to be taxed on a lower price.

The title fee is $200.

Forms used in the transfer:

• Bill of Sale (VR-181)
• Tag Return Form (VR-027)
• Odometer Disclosure Statement (VR-197)
• Application for Certificate of Title (completed by the buyer), VR-005

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change, so check with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) if anything about your sale is unusual. Last verified October 20, 2026.

Listing it first? Good photos sell cars faster: see how to take pictures of a car to sell, and read the full guide to selling a car. Buying or selling in another state? Pick it on the bill of sale page.