In Washington State, the bill of sale is part of the buyer’s title paperwork. The Department of Licensing (DOL) lists its Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale among the documents a buyer brings to transfer ownership, because the price on it is what the buyer’s tax is based on. It still does not transfer the title, and it does not report the sale for the seller.
This page sets out what DOL asks of sellers and buyers, quoted from its guidance and forms, and gives you a free Washington bill of sale template.
The short answer
DOL’s own Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065) says: “Completing this form does not transfer the title or act as a Report of Sale.” The seller must remove the license plate and file a Report of Sale within 5 business days (RCW 46.12.650). The buyer takes “the Certificate of Title and this Bill of Sale” to a vehicle licensing office within 15 days, or pays late fees from $50 up to $125.
Three documents, three jobs
| Document | What it does | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of title | Transfers ownership. The seller signs it and gives it to the buyer; every owner listed must sign. | At the sale |
| Report of Sale (TD-420-062) | Filed by the seller. DOL’s bill of sale form says: “The Report of Sale releases your liability from the vehicle or vessel.” A fee applies. | 5 business days |
| Bill of sale (TD-420-065) | Records the price (or zero for a gift or inheritance). The buyer brings it with the title, and DOL uses the price on it to calculate use tax. | With the buyer’s application, within 15 days |
The seller’s Report of Sale
Five business days. DOL’s Report of Sale form tells the seller to “sign the Vehicle Certificate of Title and give it to the buyer” and to “file a Report of Sale within 5 business days of the sale with DOL to document the sale”. You can file online at dol.wa.gov, in person at a vehicle licensing office, or by mail with the fee.
Remove the license plate from the vehicle at the time of sale. And file only for a real sale: the form warns that “a person who files a vehicle report of sale without the knowledge of the transferee shall be guilty of fraudulent filing”.
The buyer’s 15 days
DOL’s guidance on buying from a private party lists what the buyer needs:
- The current title, signed by all owners. DOL suggests checking it is clear of liens by calling 360-902-3770.
- A Vehicle Title Application. “Do not sign this document until you are in front of a licensing agent at a vehicle licensing office who can notarize it.”
- An odometer disclosure for vehicles model year 2011 or newer. It must be obtained at a licensing office on tamper-proof paper; it cannot be downloaded.
- The bill of sale, with the sale price, or zero for a gift or inheritance.
Apply within 15 days. After that, DOL charges “$50 on the 16th day, and $2 per day after the 16th day (up to $125)”.
What to put in a Washington bill of sale
- License plate or registration number, VIN, year, make and model.
- The sale price, or zero if the vehicle is a gift or inheritance.
- The date of sale.
- Names and addresses of seller and buyer.
- Signatures, and a copy for each party.
Common mistakes
- Treating the bill of sale as the Report of Sale. DOL’s form says it is not. File the Report of Sale separately.
- Leaving the plate on the car. Remove it at the time of sale.
- Signing the title application at home. Sign it in front of the licensing agent.
- Missing the 15-day window. The late fee starts at $50 on day 16.
Free Washington bill of sale template
Fill it in online below, or download the 2026 Washington version in PDF or Word, which ends with a checklist of the DOL steps. You can also use DOL’s own TD-420-065. Nothing is uploaded and there is no signup.
Washington bill of sale: common questions
Is a bill of sale required in Washington?
DOL lists it among the documents the buyer brings to transfer ownership, with the price recorded on it. It does not transfer the title, and it does not count as the seller’s Report of Sale.
Does a Washington bill of sale need to be notarized?
DOL’s bill of sale form has no notary section. What gets notarized is the buyer’s Vehicle Title Application, which you sign in front of a licensing agent.
How long do I have to report the sale?
Five business days, with a Report of Sale filed online, in person or by mail.
How long does the buyer have?
Fifteen days. Late fees are $50 on day 16, then $2 a day, up to $125.
What price goes on the bill of sale for a gift?
Zero. DOL says to record the sale price, or enter zero for a gift or inheritance.
Related
- Bill of sale rules for all 50 states + DC
- Oregon bill of sale: a 10-day notice of sale
- Vehicle bill of sale template
- General bill of sale template
How this page was checked
The requirements and quotations come from the Washington State Department of Licensing: the Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065), the Vehicle Report of Sale (TD-420-062) and the guidance “Buying from a private party”, all read in full on dol.wa.gov.
Last verified: October 2026. We do not advance this date without re-checking the sources. Fees and forms are set by DOL and can change: confirm with a vehicle licensing office before you file.
LegalTemplateVault is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Compiled and edited by Daniel Mercer, editor of LegalTemplateVault. He is not an attorney, and neither is anyone else on this site: we compile primary sources and cite them so you can check them yourself.