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Compare warranty and as-is options to protect your transaction.
Attorney-drafted forms, each paired with a state instruction rider. Instant Word download.
Seller warrants clear title and that the vehicle matches its described condition
No warranties of condition — the warranty of title still stands
| Feature | With Warranty | As-Is (No Warranty) |
|---|---|---|
| Seller Liability | Warrants clear title and described condition | No condition warranties; title warranty stands |
| Buyer Protection | Condition promised as described | Accepts the condition risk |
| Common Uses |
Standard sales
Good condition items Known history |
Estate sales
Unknown condition Distressed property |
| Price Expectation | Standard market value | Typically lower (reflects risk) |
| Legal Recourse | Seller can be sued for false claims | Shielded from condition claims; title and fraud liability remain |
A warranty bill of sale means the seller warrants clear title and that the vehicle matches its described condition, including any disclosed defects. The seller can be held liable if those promises prove false. An as-is bill of sale means the buyer accepts the vehicle in its current condition with all faults, known or unknown. The seller makes no promises about condition (the warranty of title still stands), and the buyer assumes the condition risk. As-is sales typically have a lower price to reflect this increased risk.
Use warranty if you're confident in your vehicle's mechanical condition, have maintenance records, and the car has a clean title. This is standard for well-maintained used cars. Use as-is if the vehicle has high mileage (over 100,000 miles), needs significant repairs, has a salvage title, or you inherited it and don't know its full history. As-is protects sellers from liability for unknown problems, but expect buyers to negotiate a lower price or request a pre-purchase inspection.
A motor vehicle bill of sale typically includes: buyer and seller names and addresses, vehicle identification number (VIN), year/make/model, odometer reading at time of sale, purchase price and payment method, sale date, warranty terms or as-is statement, and signatures of both parties. State-specific requirements — notarization, tax statements, disclosures — are covered in your state's instruction rider.
Your state kit pairs the bill of sale with an instruction rider listing your DMV's exact title-transfer steps — the signed title assignment, any official state form, the tax due, and how a lien is recorded. The bill of sale documents the sale; the rider walks you through your agency's title process.
Notarization requirements vary by state and sometimes by transaction — a few states require a notarized title assignment or bill of sale for certain sales. Every kit includes a notary block, and your state's instruction rider flags whether you need it. Even when optional, notarization adds proof of signature and deters fraud on high-value vehicles.
Yes. The kit is a fillable Word document — click the blanks and type, or print and complete by hand; it prints clean either way. Fillable fields work best in Microsoft Word (they fall back to plain text in Google Docs or LibreOffice). Your download link arrives instantly after purchase — no delays, no subscriptions.
In most states, no — a bill of sale cannot replace a title. The signed title assignment proves the ownership transfer; the bill of sale documents the transaction details (price, condition, date), and many DMVs ask for it as proof of purchase price when computing tax. Some states allow a bill of sale alone for certain situations (vintage vehicles, abandoned vehicles, or if the title is lost and you're applying for a duplicate). Check your state's DMV for specific requirements.
With an as-is sale, the buyer generally has no legal recourse for mechanical problems discovered after purchase - this is the purpose of the as-is clause. However, the seller can still be held liable for: (1) actively concealing known major defects (fraud), (2) tampering with the odometer (federal crime), (3) failing to disclose salvage/flood title when required by state law, or (4) providing a false VIN. The key is honest disclosure - an as-is sale protects sellers from unknown problems, not from deliberate deception.
Absolutely yes - when buying any vehicle as-is, always arrange a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic before completing the sale. This typically costs $100-200 and can save you thousands by identifying hidden problems (bad transmission, frame damage, engine issues). Most honest sellers will allow an inspection; if a seller refuses, walk away. An inspection doesn't change the as-is nature of the sale, but it helps you negotiate a fair price and make an informed decision about whether to proceed.
Yes, both types are widely used in every state. The choice between warranty and as-is is a decision about risk allocation, not about legality. Warranty sales are standard for well-maintained vehicles; as-is sales are common for older vehicles, project cars, or estate sales. Both must include accurate information (VIN, odometer, known issues) to be enforceable. Both versions are attorney-drafted, and your state's rider covers the rules that differ — tax, title transfer, lien recording, and any notary requirement.
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Yes, our motor vehicle bill of sale templates are adaptable for most titled vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, trailers, and RVs — just update the description field, and check your state's rider for trailer, motorcycle, or off-highway-vehicle specifics. For boats, explore our comparison page .