Michigan Bill of Sale Form

Updated on August 13, 2026

A Michigan bill of sale is the private transaction record for a vehicle sale: who sold the vehicle, who bought it, the price, the date, the vehicle identification number, the odometer statement, and the condition bargain. It is not automatically the same thing as Michigan title transfer. Michigan says titles establish ownership for titled motor vehicles. The seller completes title seller information and odometer disclosure, removes the plate, and should keep proof of sale for 18 months.

This page improves on Jotform-style state PDFs by giving Michigan users the legal context around the receipt. It adds lien and payoff disclosure, title-delivery promises, possession timing, odometer status choices, known-defect language, and a narrow as-is clause. It also keeps the document honest about official forms: TR-207 is not for ordinary titled motor vehicles.

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Michigan Bill of Sale

This Michigan Bill of Sale is made on in , Michigan, between of (the Seller) and of (the Buyer).

1. Vehicle

Year / make / model:
Body style:
Vehicle identification number:
Title number:

2. Price and Payment

The sale price is , paid by . The parties record this amount for their private transaction record and for any title, tax, registration, or purchase-price evidence required by the relevant motor vehicle office.

3. Title, Liens, and Official Paperwork

The parties understand that Michigan says titles establish ownership for titled motor vehicles. The seller completes title seller information and odometer disclosure, removes the plate, and should keep proof of sale for 18 months. Official-form or title notes recorded for this transaction are: .

The Seller states that no lien, security interest, title brand, or third-party claim has been disclosed except as written in this Bill of Sale.

4. Odometer

The odometer reads miles, no tenths, and to the Seller knowledge this is the actual mileage.

5. Condition and Handover

Known defects, damage, missing equipment, title concerns, inspection notes, or included accessories are: . Except for title, lien, odometer, and express written promises in this Bill of Sale, the vehicle is sold as-is and with all faults.

OptionalInclude limited seller warranty

Possession and risk of loss pass to the Buyer at , unless the official title, registration, plate, insurance, or state paperwork requires a later handover.

OptionalInclude Michigan official-form warning

Michigan note: TR-207 is not for ordinary titled motor vehicles; buyer title transfer is due within 15 days in the SOS guidance; notarization position: not required for an ordinary private bill of sale under the B1 source; do not preserve Jotform optional-notary filler as legal advice.

6. Signatures

Each party signs this private sale record and keeps a copy with the assigned title, odometer disclosure, lien release, registration, tax, plate, notice-of-sale, or other official documents required for this transaction.

Seller

Date:

Buyer

Date:

How a Michigan bill of sale fits the title process

Michigan Secretary of State is the starting point for title, registration, plate, tax, odometer, and seller-notice instructions. This page fixes Jotform by dropping the fake universal notary block and emphasizing proof-of-sale retention, plate removal, and title assignment.

A strong private bill of sale still matters even when the title does most of the legal work. The title may not record deposit terms, cleared-funds conditions, lien payoff arrangements, included accessories, inspection exceptions, delivery timing, or known defects. Those are the points that create disputes after a private sale, so this template records them without pretending to be a substitute for the state process.

Official Michigan form and notary cautions

The official-form position for this page is: TR-207 is not for ordinary titled motor vehicles. The notary position from the B1/B2 research is: not required for an ordinary private bill of sale under the B1 source; do not preserve Jotform optional-notary filler as legal advice. That wording is deliberate. Some states notarize title assignments, some notarize a specific form only in special situations, and some do not state a notary requirement for the bill of sale at all.

If the official form is mandatory for your transaction, complete that form. If the official form is only supporting evidence, keep this template as the private agreement and attach the official form or title paperwork. Do not use a generic PDF to avoid a required odometer disclosure, release of lien, notice of sale, county filing, emissions inspection, salvage disclosure, or title assignment.

Odometer, title, lien, and as-is issues

Odometer language needs more than a blank mileage line. The document asks whether the reading is actual mileage, exceeds mechanical limits, not actual, or exempt. Michigan may require that disclosure on the title or a specific state form, so the private record should match, not replace, the official paperwork.

As-is wording is also narrower than many templates suggest. It can allocate ordinary used-vehicle condition risk, but it does not make a false statement true and it does not erase title, lien, odometer, or fraud problems. This template records known defects and title concerns so the buyer does not rely on silence and the seller does not rely on a vague disclaimer.

What to check before signing in Michigan

Before money and keys change hands, check whether Michigan requires or recommends a state bill of sale, a purchase-price certification, title assignment, odometer statement, seller notice, plate removal, county tax step, inspection, or insurance evidence. The current B2 anchor says: buyer title transfer is due within 15 days in the SOS guidance.

Keep the signed bill of sale with the title documents, payment proof, lien release, repair or inspection records, and any state forms. If the sale involves a salvage title, rebuilt vehicle, non-title-state vehicle, gift, family transfer, below-market transfer, dealer, estate, business seller, trailer, boat, off-road vehicle, or missing title, use the special official instructions before relying on this template.

Clause-by-clause guide

Parties and sale date: Names the seller and buyer and fixes the Michigan sale date for title, tax, insurance, and registration records.
Vehicle description: Records year, make, model, body style, VIN, title number, and other identifiers so the receipt matches the title and the physical vehicle.
Price and payment: Records the sale price, payment method, and payment status. In states like Michigan, purchase-price evidence can affect tax or title paperwork.
Title and liens: Requires disclosure of title brands, missing title issues, lender liens, payoff arrangements, and lien-release documents.
Odometer: Uses actual, exceeds-limits, not-actual, and exempt choices instead of a single unsafe mileage blank.
Condition and as-is: Lists known defects and limits the as-is clause so it does not purport to waive title, lien, mileage, or fraud duties.
Michigan official-form note: Records whether the parties are using TR-207 is not for ordinary titled motor vehicles and any special Michigan Secretary of State instructions they have checked.

Michigan compliance checklist

Confirm the current Michigan title, registration, odometer, tax, and notary position before relying on a private bill of sale.

Check Michigan Secretary of State title-transfer instructions before signing
Michigan says titles establish ownership for titled motor vehicles. The seller completes title seller information and odometer disclosure, removes the plate, and should keep proof of sale for 18 months. Use this template to record the private transaction, but complete the title, odometer, tax, plate, lien release, notice, and registration documents required by Michigan Secretary of State.
Michigan SOS - buying, selling, or leasing
Handle odometer disclosure separately from the sale receipt
Federal odometer disclosure rules use actual mileage, exceeds mechanical limits, not-actual mileage, and exemption logic. Many states put that statement on the title or a state form, so a private paragraph is not always enough.
49 CFR 580.17 - odometer disclosure exemptions
Do not let as-is wording hide title, lien, or mileage problems
As-is language is a condition bargain. It does not fix a missing title, unreleased lien, false mileage statement, undisclosed title brand, or a specific written promise by the seller.
Notary and witness handling for Michigan
not required for an ordinary private bill of sale under the B1 source; do not preserve Jotform optional-notary filler as legal advice. If the official form or county office requires a notarized signature, use that official form or add the required acknowledgement rather than relying on a generic signature block.

How to complete a Michigan bill of sale

Check the official transfer route. Open the Michigan Secretary of State source and decide whether your sale uses a state form, title assignment, purchase-price statement, notice of sale, county filing, or special affidavit.
Identify the vehicle and parties. Copy the VIN, title number, year, make, model, body style, buyer, seller, and address details from source documents rather than from an advertisement.
Record price and payment status. Write the full price, deposit, balance, payment method, trade-in or gift terms, and whether funds have cleared.
Complete title, lien, and mileage disclosures. List title brands, lienholder/payoff details, lien releases, and the correct odometer choice. Use the official odometer or title form where required.
Sign and keep the complete packet. Sign the private bill of sale, complete any Michigan official form, and keep copies with payment proof, title paperwork, registration, insurance, plate, tax, and notice records.

Frequently asked questions

Does Michigan require a bill of sale for a car?

Michigan says titles establish ownership for titled motor vehicles. The seller completes title seller information and odometer disclosure, removes the plate, and should keep proof of sale for 18 months. Because transactions differ, check the official Michigan Secretary of State source before relying on a private receipt alone.

What Michigan form should I use?

The B2 research anchor for this page is: TR-207 is not for ordinary titled motor vehicles. If that official form applies, use it with this private sale agreement rather than replacing it.

Does a Michigan bill of sale need to be notarized?

not required for an ordinary private bill of sale under the B1 source; do not preserve Jotform optional-notary filler as legal advice. Notary rules often attach to a title assignment or special official form, so confirm the exact route before signing.

Can the vehicle be sold as-is?

A private used vehicle can often be sold as-is, but the language does not protect a seller who hides a lien, title problem, odometer issue, known defect, or specific written promise.

Does this replace the title?

No. A bill of sale records the sale terms. The certificate of title, official odometer disclosure, registration application, tax filing, and lien release remain separate where the state requires them.

What should the buyer check before paying?

Check the VIN, title owner, lien status, odometer reading, title brand, registration status, known defects, included accessories, insurance needs, and whether state forms are complete.

What should the seller keep after the sale?

Keep a signed bill of sale, payment proof, copy of title assignment, lien-release evidence, notice-of-sale filing where required, and any messages about condition or delivery.

Related templates

Disclaimer

This Michigan bill of sale template and guide are for general information only and are not legal, tax, title, DMV, county, odometer, insurance, notary, or registration advice. Verify current Michigan requirements before signing.