Free Vermont Bill of Sale Template

A Vermont bill of sale is a legal document proving the sale and transfer of personal property. It protects both parties, provides evidence of ownership, and may be required for registration or titling with the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

A valid Vermont bill of sale should include:

• Buyer and seller names, addresses, and signatures
• Description of the property (make, model, year, VIN/HIN/serial number)
• Purchase price and date of sale
• Notarization, if desired

A Vermont bill of sale is required or recommended for these transactions:

• Vehicles: Required for all private sales and out-of-state purchases. New owners must register vehicles within 30 days; new residents have 60 days.
• Boats: Required for motorized boats. Registration fees vary by vessel size and registration length. Non-motorized boats like kayaks and canoes are exempt.
• Trailers: Required for all trailer registrations. Trailers under 1,500 lbs empty weight don’t require a title but must be registered.
• Firearms: Required when transferring ownership between private parties through a licensed dealer. Vermont law prohibits unlicensed person-to-person firearm sales except to immediate family members.
• Motorcycles: Required for all motorcycle transfers. Older motorcycles (15+ years) may use the bill of sale for title applications if the original title is missing.

Notarization rules in Vermont:

• Vehicles: Not required, except when completing an Affidavit of Non-Titled Vehicle for a vehicle with no prior title or registration record in NMVTIS, which does require notarization.
• Boats: Not required.
• Trailers: Not required.
• Firearms: Not required.
• Motorcycles: Not required.

While not mandatory, notarization may help verify authenticity if ownership is later contested.

Keep these state requirements in mind when completing a Vermont bill of sale:

• Vehicle inspections: Required within 15 days of registration.
• Emissions exemptions: Vermont doesn’t require emissions testing for registration, but vehicles must meet safety standards. Vermont’s safety and visual emission testing is annually for motor vehicles registered in the state and are 16 model years old or less..
• Boat registration: Class A–3 vessels have different fees; renewals are typically one or two years.
• Firearm waiting period: Vermont imposes a 72-hour waiting period after background checks for purchases from federally licensed dealers.
• Trailer titling: Trailers over 1,500 lbs. require a title; under that weight (empty weight), registration alone suffices.