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Written by Lumr Team
A bill of sale proves what you sold and what the buyer paid. Lumr’s Arkansas bill of sale template builds that record from a few questions about the sale, so you never have to write one yourself. Finish it online and download the PDF.
Where will it be used?
A bill of sale is a written record that an item passed from one owner to another for an agreed price. The buyer holds proof of the purchase, and the seller holds proof the item is gone.
To title a used vehicle, the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) asks for the title signed by both parties plus a bill of sale showing the VIN, sale date, price, and both signatures. A bill of sale is part of the required paperwork.
Arkansas does not prescribe a single bill of sale form for every type of personal property. The information you include should clearly identify the parties, describe the item being sold, and document the transaction.
It should contain:
Notarization is generally not required for a standard bill of sale in Arkansas. However, additional documentation may be necessary for certain transactions, particularly vehicles and boats.
The right bill of sale depends on the item, and most private sales fall into one of these common types:
Use this type for property without a title, such as a lawn mower or a set of golf clubs. A simple bill of sale pairs a clear description of the item with the sale price and date, plus both signatures. Add the serial or model number if the item has one, and list anything sold with it, such as a case or an extra battery.
State law treats a sale of goods priced at $500 or more as unenforceable without a signed writing (Ark. Code § 4-2-201).
Buyers hand the DFA an Arkansas bill of sale for a car along with the signed title. It should show the VIN and the price paid.
Form 10-313 works as a DMV bill of sale, even though the DFA, not a DMV, runs vehicle titling here. Any vehicle bill of sale with the same details matches what the DFA’s checklist asks for.
Register within 30 days of buying the vehicle. After that, the DFA adds a 10% penalty on the sales tax plus $3 for every 10 days of delay.
The State Revenue Office will ask for these items:
The DFA registers boats through the same revenue offices that handle vehicles, and buyers have 30 days to apply after the purchase. Any boat with a sail or a motor, including a trolling motor, needs registration on public waters.
The bill of sale should identify the vessel by hull identification number, year, make, and horsepower. Add the sale amount and date, then have both parties sign. The buyer also submits a pencil rubbing or photo of the hull number.
Boats from model year 2020 or newer receive a title, while older boats get a registration only. Jet skis and motors over 50 horsepower also need liability insurance.
The bill of sale is the main record of the transfer when selling a firearm in Arkansas, because no state background check applies for an unlicensed seller.
You cannot sell a firearm to anyone you know cannot legally own one (Ark. Code § 5-73-132). Selling to a minor requires a parent’s or guardian’s consent. Violations range from a misdemeanor up to a Class B felony when the gun is a handgun.
Identify the gun by its serial number, caliber, make, and model on your bill of sale. Write the buyer’s full name and address to match their photo ID.
Trailers have a shorter deadline than vehicles. A buyer must title and register one within 30 calendar days of the transfer, and the late fee is $3 for every 10 days.
Trailers carry a VIN like any other vehicle, so a bill of sale should show it with the year, make, and price. The sale date matters most here, because it starts the buyer’s 30-day clock.
Lumr turns a blank bill of sale form for Arkansas into a printable PDF in five steps:
Select the bill of sale template that matches the property you're selling, such as a vehicle, boat, trailer, or other personal property.
Provide the full legal names and addresses of both parties to clearly identify who is buying and selling the property.
Include identifying details, such as the make, model, year, condition, and VIN or serial number, depending on the type of property.
Enter the agreed purchase price and transaction date. Specify any payment terms, warranties, or “as is” conditions that apply.
Download your completed Arkansas bill of sale as a PDF, print it, and have both parties sign and keep copies.
The DFA’s Notice of Transfer of Ownership is optional. It records the sale date and VIN, along with both parties’ names and addresses.
Ark. Code § 27-14-911 shields a former owner from liability for the buyer’s later negligent driving once the seller delivers the endorsed, dated title or files that notice. Mail the form to the Office of Motor Vehicle in Little Rock or deliver it in person.
Take your license plate off before the buyer leaves. The DFA lets you transfer a plate to your next vehicle if you bring your current registration certificate when you register it.
Keep a copy of the bill of sale. If you buy a replacement vehicle or trailer within 60 days of a sale, the DFA asks for that copy before it will credit the sale against your new sales tax.
Here, you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we get about bills of sale in Arkansas:
Yes, when you sell a vehicle, because the DFA lists a bill of sale among the documents a buyer brings to register. Boat buyers also use one as proof of ownership. Most other private sales have no such rule, though a written record protects both sides.
No. Form 10-313 offers signature lines for the two parties, and the DFA’s title-transfer checklist asks for nothing more.
They stay with the seller. The buyer registers the vehicle and either gets new plates or transfers one from a vehicle they already own.
Yes. Under Ark. Code § 4-2-316, wording such as “as is” or “with all faults” excludes implied warranties when it makes plain to the buyer that none apply. Place it where the buyer sees it before signing.
Plan on 5 years, the period the state gives for suing on a written contract. However, you should hold a vehicle or boat bill of sale for as long as you own the item.
A handwritten bill of sale or a blank form filled in by hand is valid if it includes the VIN or serial number, the full price, the date, and both signatures.
However, there are risks that come from doing it manually, since a missing detail or an unreadable serial number can slow down the DFA, and a wrong price leaves you without clean proof in a dispute.
Lumr avoids those risks. Its Arkansas template asks for every field and produces a clean, printable PDF, which makes it the most convenient and practical option.
Answer a few questions and download your document in minutes.