Legal form · Vehicles · official sources
North Carolina vehicle bill of sale
As of October 26, 2026, in North Carolina the seller’s assignment on a state title must be notarized, and the buyer has 28 days to apply for a new title or owes a $20 penalty.1
NCDMV requires both the original owner and the recipient to complete the back of the title, and a North Carolina title must also be notarized; for an out-of-state title, NCDMV follows that state’s rules.2
A North Carolina title transfer is handled at a license plate agency or by mail.2
North Carolina at a glance
- Buyer must title within
- 28 days1
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 North Carolina
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. 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. Purchase price or gift
4. Odometer statement
5. Condition and warranty
6. Ownership and title
7. Title, registration and taxes
8. Entire agreement
9. Signatures
Sections 3–9 unlock after purchase. Prepared with SimplePaperwork, which is not a law firm.
North Carolina’s rules, with sources
- State form
- For a vehicle bought from an individual, donated or gifted, NCDMV asks for the title, a lien release if one is shown, the Title Application (MVR-1), the Odometer Disclosure Statement (MVR-180) and the Damage Disclosure Statement (MVR-181).3
- NCDMV puts a bill of sale on its list of title documents in the row for a vehicle purchased from a dealer, next to the title and Form MVR-1.3
- North Carolina requires the odometer disclosure statement only when the vehicle is less than 10 years old.3
- Signing
- NCDMV requires both the original owner and the recipient to complete the back of the title, and a North Carolina title must also be notarized; for an out-of-state title, NCDMV follows that state’s rules.2
- North Carolina General Statutes Section 20-72(b) has the owner sign the assignment and warranty of title in the presence of a person authorized to administer oaths, or in a manner that conforms to Article 40 of Chapter 66.1
- When a North Carolina vehicle has more than one owner, every signature on the required documents must be notarized and come with a black-and-white copy of the other owner’s driver license or ID.2
- Deadlines
- Where it is filed
- A North Carolina title transfer is handled at a license plate agency or by mail.2
- Under North Carolina General Statutes Section 20-72(a), the owner who transfers a registered vehicle removes the license plates.1
- North Carolina sends the plates and registration card of a sold vehicle back to the Division, unless the owner keeps them to transfer to another vehicle and applies within 20 days after the plates were last used.1
- NCDMV processes a regular title application in 10 to 15 business days and offers a same-day or next-day instant title at certain license plate agencies.2
- Taxes and fees
- North Carolina charges a 3 percent highway-use tax on vehicles in place of a state sales tax, assessed each time a title is transferred.4
- NCDMV lists the fee for a North Carolina certificate of title as $66.75.5
- A North Carolina buyer who misses the 28-day title deadline faces a $20 civil penalty and a Class 2 misdemeanor under Section 20-73(c).1
- Gifts of a vehicle between spouses, between a parent and child, or between a stepparent and stepchild are exempt from the North Carolina highway-use tax.4
- A notary at a North Carolina license plate agency may charge up to $9 for one signature, to be paid in cash.5
- Law
- North Carolina General Statutes Section 20-72(b) says no title to a motor vehicle passes until the assignment is signed and the vehicle is delivered to the buyer.1
- Delivering or accepting a North Carolina certificate of title assigned in blank is a Class 2 misdemeanor under Section 20-72(b).1
- Knowingly giving the North Carolina DMV a false date of sale on an application is a Class 3 misdemeanor under Section 20-74.1
Questions about a North Carolina bill of sale
What paperwork goes with a private car sale in North Carolina?
NCDMV’s list for a vehicle bought from an individual, donated or gifted has the title, a lien release when the title shows a lien, Form MVR-1 (title application), Form MVR-180 (odometer disclosure, for vehicles under 10 years old) and Form MVR-181 (damage disclosure).
A bill of sale shows up on that list only in the row for a purchase from a dealer. What moves ownership is the assignment on the title: under Section 20-72(b), title does not pass until the assignment is signed and the vehicle is delivered.1,3
Does a North Carolina vehicle sale need a notary?
For the title, yes. Seller and buyer both fill in the back of the title, and a North Carolina title must be notarized; Section 20-72(b) calls for the assignment to be signed before a person authorized to administer oaths or in a way that conforms to Article 40 of Chapter 66. An out-of-state title follows the rules of the state that issued it.
NCDMV marks the title, Form MVR-1 and Form MVR-613 as needing notarization. A notary at a license plate agency charges at most $9 for one signature, in cash.1–3,5
How long does a North Carolina buyer have to title the vehicle?
Twenty-eight days from the transfer, under Section 20-73. Missing it brings a $20 civil penalty and a Class 2 misdemeanor, and the buyer stays responsible even if the seller or a lender agreed to file.
For the seller, Section 20-72(a) means taking the license plates off the vehicle at the transfer, then either sending plates and registration card to the Division or keeping them to move onto another vehicle.1
What does a North Carolina buyer pay to title a used car?
A $66.75 certificate of title fee and the 3 percent highway-use tax, which North Carolina charges instead of sales tax every time a title changes hands.
A gift between spouses, parent and child, or stepparent and stepchild is exempt from the highway-use tax with Form MVR-613.2,4,5
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
What happens to the license plate after a car is sold in North Carolina?
The seller removes it. Under Section 20-72(a), the plates and registration card go back to the Division unless the owner will transfer them to another vehicle, in which case the owner keeps them and applies for the reassignment within 20 days after the plates were last used.1
Can a North Carolina seller sign the title and leave the buyer’s name blank?
No. The assignment has to include the buyer’s name and address, and delivering or accepting a title assigned in blank is a Class 2 misdemeanor.1
Where this information comes from
North Carolina’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.
- North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 20, Article 3 (Motor Vehicle Act of 1937) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Vehicle Titles (NCDMV) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Title Documents & Forms (NCDMV) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Highway-Use Tax (NCDMV) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
- Title & Registration Fees (NCDMV) Open the official page (opens in a new tab) ↩
Something changed? Tell us what is out of date and we will check the official page again.