Selling or buying a vehicle in New Jersey? The buyer has just 10 working days to complete the title transfer at an NJ MVC office — a $25 late penalty applies after that.
This free template is formatted for New Jersey’s requirements and works alongside the Certificate of Title at any NJ Motor Vehicle Commission office.
Click Get This Template below to open it in Google Docs, then click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive.
For templates for all 50 states, visit the Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Templates →
On this page:
- What Is a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
- Is a Bill of Sale Required in New Jersey?
- New Jersey-Specific Requirements
- Free New Jersey Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
- How to Fill Out the Template
- How to Transfer a Car Title in New Jersey
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale?
A New Jersey motor vehicle bill of sale is a written record of a private vehicle sale.
The seller provides the bill of sale when signing over the title to the buyer. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) handles all title transfers. In New Jersey, license plates stay with the seller — not the vehicle.
Is a Bill of Sale Required in New Jersey?
The NJ MVC requires the seller to provide a bill of sale to the buyer alongside the signed title. The bill of sale must include the buyer’s name and address, date of sale, odometer reading, sale price, and a description of the vehicle including make, model year, and VIN.
A notarized bill of sale is required specifically when a NJ resident purchases a vehicle from another state that does not require a title — in that situation, the notarized bill of sale plus the prior registration substitute for the title.
New Jersey-Specific Requirements
1. 10-Working-Day Deadline
New Jersey or dealer-reassigned titles must be transferred within 10 working days from the date of sale. A $25 late fee applies after 10 working days. The buyer visits any NJ MVC agency to complete the transfer.
2. Seller: Complete the Title Assignment
The seller signs the seller’s section on the reverse side of the title and provides the buyer with this bill of sale. The bill of sale must include the buyer’s name and address, date of sale, odometer reading, sale price, and vehicle description including VIN.
3. License Plates Stay with the Seller
New Jersey license plates stay with the seller. Remove your plates before handing over the vehicle. You can transfer your plates to a new vehicle or surrender them to the MVC. The buyer will receive new plates when they register.
4. Sales Tax
New Jersey charges sales tax on private vehicle purchases. Tax is paid at the MVC at the time of title transfer. The purchase price on the bill of sale is used to calculate the tax.
5. Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49)
If the buyer also needs to register and receive new plates, they complete the Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49) at the MVC along with the title transfer.
6. Vehicles from States That Don’t Require Titles
If a NJ resident purchases a vehicle from a state that does not require a title, a notarized bill of sale plus the prior state registration are required in place of a title. The NJ MVC will issue a NJ title based on these documents.
7. Notarization
Notarization is not required for a standard NJ private party vehicle bill of sale. It is required only when the vehicle comes from a state that does not issue titles. Notarization is optional but recommended for high-value sales.
Free New Jersey Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Template
This template opens in Google Docs. Click Use Template to save a copy to your Drive, fill it out digitally, or print and complete by hand.
How to Fill Out the Template
Enter the seller’s name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Title. Enter the buyer’s name and address — these are required fields on the NJ MVC bill of sale.
In Section 3, copy the VIN character by character. Enter the odometer reading and the full agreed purchase price in Sections 3 and 4 — NJ calculates sales tax on the purchase price.
Both parties sign Section 11. The seller also signs the title assignment on the reverse side of the Certificate of Title.
For a complete field-by-field walkthrough of every section, see: How to Fill Out a Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale →
How to Transfer a Car Title in New Jersey
For the Seller
Sign the seller’s section on the reverse side of the title. Provide the buyer with this completed bill of sale. Remove your license plates before handing over the vehicle.
For the Buyer
Within 10 working days of purchase, visit any NJ MVC agency with the signed title, this bill of sale, valid NJ driver’s license, proof of NJ insurance, and payment for the title fee and applicable sales tax. Complete Form BA-49 if also registering the vehicle.
Lost Title
The seller must obtain a duplicate title before the sale can proceed. Contact the NJ MVC at nj.gov/mvc.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 working days from the date of sale. A $25 late fee applies after 10 working days. The buyer must visit any NJ MVC agency to complete the transfer.
New Jersey plates stay with the seller — not the vehicle. Remove your plates before handing over the vehicle. You can transfer your plates to a new vehicle or surrender them to the MVC. The buyer will receive new plates when they register.
Only in a specific situation — when the vehicle comes from a state that does not require a title. In that case, a notarized bill of sale plus the prior registration substitute for the title. For standard NJ private party sales, notarization is not required.
The NJ MVC requires the bill of sale to include the buyer’s name and address, date of sale, odometer reading, sale price, and vehicle description including make, model year, and VIN. Both parties’ signatures are strongly recommended.
Yes. New Jersey charges sales tax on private vehicle purchases. Tax is paid at the MVC at the time of title transfer, calculated on the purchase price stated on the bill of sale.
Yes. New Jersey does not require a specific state-issued bill of sale form. Any bill of sale containing the buyer’s name and address, date of sale, odometer reading, sale price, and vehicle description including VIN is acceptable alongside the signed title.
This template and all information on this page are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Contact the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission at nj.gov/mvc to confirm current requirements before completing your transaction.