Nevada Vehicle Bill of Sale
Official Nevada DMV Form VP-104; private-party sales pay no sales tax but an annual Governmental Services Tax.
Introduction
A Nevada vehicle bill of sale records a private car sale, naming the parties, the vehicle, the price, and the as-is terms. Nevada is one of the states that publishes an official form. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles issues the Bill of Sale Form VP-104, on which the seller certifies that he is the lawful owner of said vehicle and will warrant and defend the title against the claims and demands of all persons. The form notes that signatures must be originals and photocopies are not acceptable, and it contains no notary block, so a Nevada bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The VP-104 is optional and supplementary; a bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration, so the seller must provide the title. The odometer reading is disclosed in the Odometer Reading section of the title, required for 2011 and newer vehicles until they are 20 years old, not on the bill of sale. You register at a Nevada DMV office within 30 days of purchase. The standout Nevada angle is tax. Sales and use tax are not charged on private-party sales. Nevada instead levies an annual Governmental Services Tax computed off 35% of the original MSRP on a fixed depreciation schedule, not off the bill-of-sale price. DocDraft drafts a Nevada vehicle bill of sale from your facts, with attorney review available.
Key Things to Know
- 1
Nevada publishes an official DMV form, the Bill of Sale Form VP-104. On the VP-104 the seller certifies that he is the lawful owner of said vehicle, that he has the right to sell it, and that he will warrant and defend the title against the claims and demands of all persons. The form states that signatures must be originals and that photocopies are not acceptable. The VP-104 is optional supplementary documentation, not standalone proof of ownership. Confirm the current revision on the Nevada DMV forms library.
- 2
A Nevada vehicle bill of sale does not need to be notarized. The official VP-104 provides only seller and buyer signature lines and contains no notary or acknowledgment block, and Nevada does not require the vehicle bill of sale or a private-party title transfer to be notarized. The signature lines must carry original signatures, since the form states that photocopies are not acceptable.
- 3
The odometer is disclosed on the title, not the bill of sale. The Nevada DMV requires you to complete the Odometer Reading section of the title on any 2011 model year or newer vehicle at the time of sale or transfer, following the federal rule that odometer disclosures are required until vehicles are 20 years old. A 2010 or older vehicle may check the exempt box.
- 4
Private-party sales are not charged sales or use tax. The Nevada DMV states that sales taxes are not charged on private-party vehicle sales, family sales, or gifts. Nevada does not assess sales or use tax on a casual sale between private parties, so the price on the bill of sale does not generate a sales-tax bill at registration.
- 5
You register at a Nevada DMV office within 30 days of purchase. The controlling authority is the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711. Register the vehicle at a DMV office within 30 days of the purchase, and bring the title, because a bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration.
- 6
The bill of sale is supplementary, and the title is what proves ownership. A bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration, so the seller must provide a title in their name. The Nevada DMV advises not to purchase a vehicle from a private party unless the seller can provide a title in their name. For a 2010 or older vehicle without a title, a duplicate-title application plus the VP-104 may be completed at a DMV office.
- 7
The Nevada difference is the Governmental Services Tax in place of sales tax. Because private-party sales are not taxed, Nevada instead charges an annual Governmental Services Tax. The DMV valuation starts at 35% of the original MSRP, is reduced 5% after year 1 and 10% per year after, with a floor at 15% of that valuation, and the tax is 4% of the depreciated valuation. It funds local governments, school districts, and the state General Fund, and it is computed off MSRP, not off the bill-of-sale price.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Bill of Sale in Nevada, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Bill of Sale guide walks through them.
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Nevada Requirements for Bill of Sale
Nevada publishes the Bill of Sale Form VP-104 through the DMV. On it the seller certifies lawful ownership, the right to sell, and that he will warrant and defend the title against the claims and demands of all persons. The VP-104 is optional, supplementary documentation, not standalone proof of ownership. Confirm the current revision on the Nevada DMV forms library.
The VP-104 provides only seller and buyer signature lines and contains no notary block, and Nevada does not require the vehicle bill of sale or private-party title transfer to be notarized. Signatures must be originals, because the form states that photocopies are not acceptable.
Identify the vehicle by VIN, year, make, model, body type, and color, and identify the seller and buyer by name and address, with the sale price and the date of sale, so the bill of sale matches the title being assigned.
The Nevada DMV requires you to complete the Odometer Reading section of the title on any 2011 model year or newer vehicle at the time of sale, following the federal rule that disclosures are required until vehicles are 20 years old. A 2010 or older vehicle may check the exempt box. The odometer is disclosed on the title, not on the bill of sale.
The Nevada DMV states that sales taxes are not charged on private-party vehicle sales, family sales, or gifts. Nevada does not assess sales or use tax on a casual sale between private parties, so the price on the bill of sale does not generate a sales-tax bill at registration.
In place of sales tax, Nevada charges an annual Governmental Services Tax. The DMV valuation starts at 35% of the original MSRP, is reduced 5% after year 1 and 10% per year after, with a floor at 15%, and the tax is 4% of the depreciated valuation, funding local governments, school districts, and the state General Fund. It is computed off MSRP, not off the bill-of-sale price.
Register the vehicle at a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office, 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711, within 30 days of the purchase. A bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration, so the seller must provide a title in their name, and the DMV advises not to buy from a private party who cannot provide one.
Ownership is proved by the title, not the bill of sale, so the buyer must receive a title in the seller's name to register. For a 2010 or older vehicle without a title, a duplicate-title application plus the VP-104 may be completed at a DMV office. Keep the VP-104 as supporting documentation alongside the endorsed title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nevada does not use the bill of sale as proof of ownership. A bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration, so the seller must provide a title in their name. The Nevada DMV publishes an optional Bill of Sale Form VP-104 as supplementary documentation that records the parties, the vehicle, and the price. It is recommended to document the sale, but the endorsed title is what conveys the vehicle and lets the buyer register it.
No. Nevada does not require a vehicle bill of sale or a private-party title transfer to be notarized. The official Nevada DMV Bill of Sale Form VP-104 contains no notary or acknowledgment block and provides only seller and buyer signature lines. Those signatures must be originals, because the form states that photocopies are not acceptable. You can complete and sign the bill of sale without a notary.
Yes. The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles publishes the Bill of Sale Form VP-104. On it the seller certifies that he is the lawful owner of the vehicle, has the right to sell it, and will warrant and defend the title against the claims and demands of all persons. The VP-104 is optional and supplementary, not standalone proof of ownership, and signatures on it must be originals. Confirm the current revision on the Nevada DMV forms library.
Nevada does not charge sales or use tax on private-party vehicle sales, family sales, or gifts. Instead Nevada levies an annual Governmental Services Tax. The DMV valuation starts at 35% of the original MSRP, drops 5% after year 1 and 10% each year after, with a floor at 15%, and the tax is 4% of that depreciated valuation. It is computed off MSRP, not off the price on your bill of sale.
You register a vehicle at a Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles office, headquartered at 555 Wright Way, Carson City, NV 89711, within 30 days of the purchase. Bring the title in the seller's name, because a bill of sale by itself is not an acceptable proof of ownership for registration. Keep the VP-104 bill of sale as supporting documentation. For a 2010 or older vehicle without a title, a duplicate-title application plus VP-104 may be completed at a DMV office.
A Nevada vehicle bill of sale should name the seller and buyer, describe the vehicle by VIN, year, make, model, and color, state the sale price, note the as-is condition, and carry the date and original signatures of both parties. The seller certifies lawful ownership and the right to sell, as on the VP-104. The odometer is disclosed in the Odometer Reading section of the title for 2011 and newer vehicles, not on the bill of sale. Keep it with the endorsed title for registration.