How to Get a Bill of Sale in Georgia
The Georgia bill of sale form, which is typically completed during a vehicle sale, is a document that contains important information about the transfer of car ownership and the involved legal entities. Due to the ability of a vehicle bill of sale to serve as proof of a successful transaction between a buyer and a seller with vehicles not bought from car dealerships, it can be used for various purposes.
A car bill of sale may be necessary for car owners when completing certain vehicle-related procedures with the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of Department of Revenue (DOR). Find out where to get the document, how to fill it out and when it is needed by reviewing the sections outlined below.
When is a bill of sale necessary in Georgia?
A Georgia auto bill of sale can serve many purposes. For example, a GA bill of sale form is required to complete the car registration procedure for a vehicle that does not require a title.
These include cranes, mopeds, trailers weight 2,000 pounds or less, off-road vehicles and more. In such cases, a signed document may be necessary to register the vehicle and prove the chain of ownership for the vehicle.
A Georgia bill of sale form is also required during the title registration of vehicles sold through a state court due to personal bankruptcy cases. In these cases, the document must be properly signed by the trustee assigned by a state judge.
Another instance when a GA car bill of sale may be needed is during the application process for a Class C or D driving license. Namely, the form serves as a proof of purchase for driver’s license applicants taking the road test in a vehicle with temporary tags.
Who needs a Georgia bill of sale?
A printed and completed bill of sale PDF often proves to be an invaluable document to both the seller and the buyer of a vehicle, due to the detailed information it contains related to the change of vehicle ownership. Sellers who retain a GA bill of sale copy after selling their vehicle are protected in the event that the new owner incurs traffic citations, as they can prove they are no longer the legal owners of the vehicle in question.
Since a bill of sale template requires the signatures of both the purchaser and the seller, it can also be used to resolve certain legal issues that may arise in the future regarding the details of the transaction.
Buyers can utilize the form to prove that they are the current owners of the vehicle and calculate the taxes on their newly purchased vehicle. Regardless of whether or not a generic bill of sale is needed for certain MVD vehicle procedures, buyers and sellers should still keep a simple bill of sale as a security measure against future issues regarding the sold vehicle.
How to Complete a Bill of Sale Form in Georgia
Prior to completing the form, both the buyer and the seller must familiarize themselves with the information they will have to provide to ensure they fill it out with accurate information. Note that submitting a motor vehicle bill of sale that contains fraudulent data is prohibited by law. The GA bill of sale template offered by the state MVD (Form T-7) includes fields for the following types of information:
- The date of sale and the seller’s name and address
- Information about the vehicle, such as the vehicle identification number (VIN), year and make
- The buyer’s full name and address
- Information regarding liens, encumbrances and security interests
- The odometer disclosure
- The purchase price and tax-related information
- Official signatures of both the buyer and the seller
Note: Before filling out the document, conduct a vehicle history check to ensure that the information it contains is accurate.
If you need to submit a Georgia auto bill of sale in order to finalize certain vehicle transactions through the MVD, you will typically be required to do so in person through a nearby MVD location offering titling and car registration services.
Sources
- Motor Vehicles Titles and Registration from DOR.Georgia.gov