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California vehicle bill of sale

As of October 25, 2026, California publishes its own bill of sale (REG 135); the seller must report the sale to the DMV within 5 days and the buyer has 10 days to transfer.1–3

The seller signs California’s REG 135 under penalty of perjury under state law.2

A California Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability does not transfer ownership; the new owner still completes the transfer and pays the fees.4

Updated Checked against dmv.ca.gov, leginfo.legislature.ca.govHow we check

California at a glance

Buyer must title within
10 days3
Seller’s notice window
5 days5
Official state form
Yes1

A dash or a missing box means the official pages we read do not state that rule; we never fill it in from memory.

Preview of the document

Vehicle Bill of Sale

State of California

  1. 1. The parties

    This Vehicle Bill of Sale is made on Date between Seller’s full name (the “Seller”) and Buyer’s full name (the “Buyer”).

  2. 2. The vehicle

    The Seller sells and transfers to the Buyer the following motor vehicle (the “Vehicle”): year Year, make Make, model Model, vehicle identification number (VIN) VIN.

  3. 3. Purchase price or gift

  4. 4. Odometer statement

  5. 5. Condition and warranty

  6. 6. Ownership and title

  7. 7. Title, registration and taxes

  8. 8. Entire agreement

  9. 9. Signatures

Sections 3–9 unlock after purchase. Prepared with SimplePaperwork, which is not a law firm.

California’s rules, with sources

State form
  • The California DMV publishes its own Bill of Sale form, REG 135, among the forms used to transfer a vehicle title.1
  • California’s REG 135 records the vehicle’s identification number, year, model, make and license plate.2
  • When a California vehicle changes hands as a gift, REG 135 asks for the relationship between the parties and the gift value.2
Signing
  • The seller signs California’s REG 135 under penalty of perjury under state law.2
  • When the California title is missing, section 5 of form REG 227 needs a notary only if the registration shows a lienholder.1
Deadlines
  • California Vehicle Code Section 5900 gives the seller five calendar days to notify the DMV of a sale.5
  • California Vehicle Code Section 5902 gives the buyer 10 days to send the signed-over title and the transfer fee to the DMV.3
Where it is filed
  • A California Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability does not transfer ownership; the new owner still completes the transfer and pays the fees.4
  • California title transfers go to a DMV office or by mail to DMV, PO Box 942869, Sacramento, CA 94269.1
  • A California release of liability filed online updates the vehicle record within 1 business day.4
Law
  • Once the California DMV receives the notice of transfer, liability for parking and traffic violations or civil litigation after the sale date belongs to the buyer.4

Questions about a California bill of sale

Does California have an official bill of sale form?

Yes. The DMV publishes REG 135, a one-page bill of sale with the VIN, year, make, model and plate, the names of seller and buyer, the date and the price, or the relationship and value when the vehicle is a gift.

The seller signs a certification under penalty of perjury. The form has no notary block.1,2

How fast must a California seller report the sale?

Within five calendar days, under Vehicle Code Section 5900. The Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability carries the date, both names and addresses, the vehicle and the odometer reading.

Filed online, it updates the DMV record within one business day. From then on, parking and traffic violations after the sale date are the buyer’s responsibility.4,5

What does the California buyer do with the title?

Section 5902 gives the buyer 10 days to send the signed-over title and the transfer fee to the DMV, at a field office or by mail to PO Box 942869 in Sacramento.

The seller’s release of liability is not a transfer: only the buyer’s application takes the seller’s name off the vehicle record.1,3,4

What to have at hand

  • Vehicle identification number (VIN), year, make, model and plate
  • Odometer reading on the day of sale
  • Sale price, or the value if it is a gift
  • Full legal names and addresses of seller and buyer

It does not replace the title. Ownership moves when the signed title and the state’s title application reach the motor vehicle agency.

Frequently asked questions

Does a California bill of sale need to be notarized?

The DMV’s REG 135 is signed under penalty of perjury and has no notary section. The DMV asks for a notary only on form REG 227, when the title is missing and the registration shows a lienholder.1,2

Who files the California Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability?

The seller, within five calendar days of the sale. Someone else may file it for the seller, but the seller stays responsible for any missing information.4,5

Vehicle Bill of Sale in other states

More for California

Where this information comes from

California’s rules above come from the state’s own statutes, agency pages and forms, read on the date shown. A rule that passes its review date without a new check is removed automatically.

  1. Title Transfers and Changes (California DMV) dmv.ca.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026 Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
  2. Bill of Sale (REG 135, REV. 2/2007) dmv.ca.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026 Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
  3. California Vehicle Code Section 5902 leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026 Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
  4. Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (California DMV) dmv.ca.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026 Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
  5. California Vehicle Code Section 5900 leginfo.legislature.ca.gov · checked Oct 25, 2026 Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩

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