Important Terms for a Bill of Sale
- Seller: The person or party that is releasing the property.
- Buyer: The person or party that is taking possession of the property in exchange for consideration.
- Make: The company or brand that manufactured a vehicle.
- Date of Sale: The date ownership of the property was transferred from buyer to seller.
- Purchase Price: The total amount of money the buyer paid for the property.
- Antique Vehicle: A vehicle more than 35 years old on the date of sale.
- Occasional /Isolated Sale: A sale that occurs between two private parties.
- VIN: (Vehicle Identification Number) A unique number assigned to a vehicle when manufactured that helps identify it, its manufacturer, the build date, and other key information.
- Description: A description of the property being sold, including make, model, year, and VIN for vehicles.
- As-Is: This term indicates the item was sold in its current condition without any warranties or guarantees.
- Signature/Certification: The signature of the seller and/or buyer. In-person signatures are always valid, but you can also use PandaDoc to obtain a legal, digital signature.
1. Kansas Bill of Sale Requirements
When buying or selling an antique vehicle in Kansas, defined as vehicles that are at least 35 years old, you can transfer ownership with a bill of sale. For all other vehicles, ownership should be transferred via title. Certain conditions on your title may mean you should also include a bill of sale in these transactions.
The Kansas Department of Revenue Division of Vehicles (KDRDV) does not require a bill of sale if you have a properly-executed transfer of title with the price listed. You will need a bill of sale if there is no price listed on your title for a private party sale, you are registering an out-of-state vehicle, or you purchased your vehicle from a dealer.
Bill of sale documents in Kansas are not required to be notarized. But, if you are titling a vehicle with a lien, the release of lien form (TR-42) must have the lienholder’s section notarized.
The KDRDV provides a standard bill of sale form (TR-312), but you can also create your own or use a standard bill of sale template from PandaDoc.
Why Use a Bill of Sale?
Buyers and sellers aren’t required to use a bill of sale in Kansas for many types of vehicle sales. But, it’s still a good idea to create one and keep it for your records.
A bill of sale protects both parties from potential liability. For example, if the seller was involved in a hit-and-run accident prior to the sale, the buyer can show the authorities that they didn’t own the vehicle at the time. Likewise, a seller can prove that they didn’t own a vehicle after a certain date if it was later abandoned or involved in a crash.
Buyers have a certain time window in which they need to register and title a purchased vehicle. A seller can use the bill of sale to prove that they don’t owe any parking tickets or other fines related to the new owner’s activity.
A bill of sale is also useful as a financial record. Either party might want to prove the transaction for tax purposes.
If you’re buying or selling property in Kansas, a bill of sale is a good idea. To make filling out an accurate bill of sale as easy as possible, PandaDoc provides downloadable bill of sale templates for your convenience.
Additional Considerations
Language Requirements
Kansas requires that your bill of sale, and any other documents related to vehicle title and registration, be submitted in English.
Number of Copies
Unless you are using a bill of sale to register your vehicle, you’ll only need two copies — one for the buyer and one for the seller.
Junk Vehicles
If the state of Kansas has classified a vehicle as salvage, non-highway, or non-repairable, the buyer will need to take the vehicle to a Kansas Highway Patrol motor vehicle inspection station to have it inspected before they can obtain registration or a license plate.
After Purchasing a Vehicle
If you buy a vehicle in Kansas, you have 60 days after the sale to apply for a title through the Kansas Department of Revenue. To do this, the buyer needs to visit their county’s motor vehicle office. The items that you need to get your vehicle titled and registered include:
- A completed Title and Registration Manual Application (Form TR-212a)
- A properly-signed title or manufacturer’s certificate of origin
- Odometer reading
- Sales tax receipt
- Proof of insurance
If you fail to register your vehicle within 60 days, you could face penalties. When you buy a vehicle from a private party, which Kansas refers to as “occasional or isolated” sales, you must also bring a bill of sale to registration if there is no sales price listed on the transfer title.
Kansas also requires a bill of sale if you are registering a vehicle from an out-of-state private purchase or a purchase from a business. Vehicle dealers will handle title and registration matters on your behalf.
2. Kansas Car (Vehicle) Bill of Sale
Kansas provides its residents with a simple vehicle bill of sale on the state’s KDRDV website. You aren’t required to use their form to buy or sell a vehicle in the state. You can download PandaDoc vehicle bill of sale template or create your own.
Only antique vehicles (35 years or older) can have their ownership transferred solely via bill of sale in Kansas. All other vehicles must transfer ownership via the car’s title.
The items you should include on a vehicle bill of sale are the following:
- Seller’s information: name, address, phone number
- Buyer’s information: name, address, phone number
- Vehicle information: year, make, model, VIN
- Purchase price
- Date of sale
- Seller’s signature and date
- Buyer’s signature and date
3. Kansas Boat Bill of Sale
The state of Kansas does not title boats or watercraft, but you may need a title for your boat trailer if the gross operating weight (including boat, trailer, fuel, etc.) is over 2,000 lbs.
Even though your vessel won’t have a title, the state still requires registration if the vessel is powered by a motor. If you are a nonresident, you can operate a vessel in Kansas for up to 60 days as long as it is properly registered in another state. Boats that are required to be registered in Kansas must have the registration on board before they can be operated.
You can download a standard watercraft bill of sale form from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The items you’ll need to list on the form include:
- Seller’s name, address, and phone number
- Buyer’s name, address, and phone number
- Description of watercraft (boat, motor, and trailer) that includes year, make, length, hull ID number, registration number, VIN, and HP
- Date of sale
- Purchase price
- Dated signatures of buyer and seller
4. Kansas Firearm Bill of Sale
Kansas does not require a bill of sale for firearms purchases, but having one is strongly recommended. You never know if a weapon will be lost, stolen, or used in a crime, and both buyers and sellers can use a bill of sale to protect their interests.
A general firearm bill of sale should include the following information:
- The full names of both buyer and seller
- The addresses and phone numbers of both parties
- Description of the firearm, including the make, model, caliber, and serial number
- Purchase price and date
- Dated signatures of both parties
5. Kansas Horse Bill of Sale
Horses can be costly and there is no formal registration process for these animals in Kansas. Considering these factors, it makes sense that buyers and sellers of horses would want a bill of sale to document a transaction.
You can download a general equine bill of sale or create your own. It should include:
- The date and location of the sale
- The seller’s name and contact information
- The buyer’s name and contact information
- The name, breed, sex, color, DOB, and a description of the horse
- The purchase price
- Dated signatures of both parties
6. Kansas Trailer/RV Bill of Sale
According to Kansas law, all trailers must be registered and titled. There are three exceptions to this rule:
- Farm trailers that haul 6,000 lbs. or less of agricultural products
- Farm trailers designed and used to transport forage or hay between fields, feedlots, and storage areas
- Trailers with operating weights of 2,000 lbs. or less
A trailer with an operating weight of 2,000 lbs. or less can be sold in Kansas with a trailer bill of sale. Other trailers will require transfer of the title, but you can also include a bill of sale for your protection and recordkeeping.
If you are registering a driveable RV in Kansas, you must follow the same rules for registering other motor vehicles.
