What Is REG 135?
REG 135 is the official name for California’s Bill of Sale. It’s a short receipt that records who sold a vehicle or vessel, who bought it, and for how much. The DMV lists it as a public service form, available as a ready-made bill of sale for vehicle and vessel transactions.
Do You Actually Need One?
Not always. A bill of sale isn’t required for every transaction. If the title is properly endorsed, it may be enough on its own.
You may need a bill of sale, or DMV may ask for one, in situations such as:
- The registered owner never signed the release section of the title
- The seller isn’t the person whose name is on the title
- The vehicle changed hands more than once before anyone filed the paperwork
- The vehicle was a gift, and you need to document the gift value and relationship between the parties.
One more thing worth knowing: DMV doesn’t require this exact form. Its own manual says any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle is acceptable. It’s simply a ready-made template with the information DMV needs.
Sale or Gift?
The form has two dollar lines, and only one gets filled in.
If money changed hands, write the actual price on the “selling price” line. DMV uses this number to calculate use tax, so it should match what was really paid.
If the vehicle was a gift, leave the selling price blank and use the “gift value” line instead. Write the honest value of the vehicle, not $0, and note your relationship to the buyer, like parent, spouse, or sibling. This helps document the gift when you submit the transfer paperwork. If you’re claiming a qualifying family transfer tax exemption, you may also need a REG 256 Statement of Facts.
Filling Out the California Bill of Sale Form
The form prints two copies on the same page, one for the seller and one for the buyer. Fill them out with the same information.
- Vehicle or vessel description. Enter the identification number (VIN or hull ID), year, make, license plate or CF number, and motorcycle engine number if it applies.
- Seller and buyer names. Print the full legal name of everyone selling and everyone buying.
- Date and price or gift value. Enter the month, day, and year of the sale, then fill in whichever dollar line matches your situation.
- Addresses and phone number. The seller’s mailing address and daytime phone go on the form. The buyer only needs to print their name and mailing address.
- Signature. Only the seller signs, under penalty of perjury that the information is true.
Why Doesn’t the Buyer Sign Bill of Sale REG 135?
The form only asks the seller to certify the sale. The buyer prints their name and mailing address, but there is no buyer signature line. The seller signs under penalty of perjury to certify that the information is true and correct.
Does It Need to Be Notarized?
No. Nothing on this form requires a notary. The seller signs under penalty of perjury, which is part of the form’s certification.
Keep Your Copy
The form prints two identical copies on one page with a cut line down the middle, one for the seller and one for the buyer. Cut it apart, sign both, and each person keeps their own.
Hang onto your copy even after the sale is done. Your copy gives you a record of the sale, including the date, price, and vehicle information. Sellers must also file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) within five calendar days of the sale, since a bill of sale doesn’t release you from responsibility for tickets or accidents after the sale.
Common Mistakes
- Writing $0 for a gift instead of using the gift value line and noting the relationship.
- Assuming this form transfers ownership by itself, ownership follows the signed title.
- Not keeping a copy after the sale is complete.
- Skipping the Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability after selling a vehicle.
- Leaving the identification number or engine number blank.
- Assuming a notary is required, it isn’t
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a bill of sale required in California?
Not always. California DMV says a bill of sale isn’t required in every transaction, and a properly completed title may be enough on its own. That said, a bill of sale documents the sale and is required or useful in situations like a missing title signature, a seller who isn’t the person on the title, or a gift between relatives.
Do I need REG 135 if the title is already signed?
Usually not. A correctly signed title is normally enough on its own. A bill of sale becomes useful as backup proof of the price and date, or when the title’s paperwork has a gap.
Does the buyer need to sign the bill of sale?
No. Only the seller signs. The buyer prints their name and address, but the certification is the seller’s declaration alone.
What if the vehicle was a gift, not a sale?
Use the gift value line instead of the selling price line, and write in your relationship to the buyer. This documents the transfer for a potential use tax exemption when the paperwork is filed.
Where do I get a blank REG 135 form?
Download the REG 135 PDF directly from the DMV website. California DMV says any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle or vessel is acceptable.