Prepare the record
Collect the identifying details, seller and buyer names, addresses, and the agreed sale or gift information.
California · DMV REG 135 guide
A clearer way to prepare your California bill of sale.
Answer a few guided questions, check the details, and download a locally completed official REG 135 or an independent printable backup. Your information stays on this device.
No account needed•Private by design•Independent helper
A little less paperwork. A lot more clarity.
5 daysSeller's NRL notice
10 daysBuyer's vehicle transfer
2 copiesOne for each party
Independent helper — not a government service. This first release is for straightforward California private-party car, truck, and motorcycle transactions. A bill of sale does not transfer the title, file the seller's NRL, or complete DMV registration. Special title, lien, estate, dealer, and out-of-state situations need an official review.
Your paperwork, step by step
Let's get the details right.
Four short steps. You can go back and edit anything before preparing your copies.
01 / 04 · THE TRANSACTIONStep 1 of 4
What are you preparing?
First, let's make sure this is the right California DMV workflow.
Is this a California vehicle transfer?
Is this a private-party transaction?
What kind of transfer is it?
What are you transferring?
Use the date the vehicle is sold/transferred and delivered to the buyer. If those dates differ, confirm the correct date with DMV before relying on the reminder.
Does any special situation apply?
Select all that apply. We'll flag anything that needs a closer look before you rely on the document.
This may not be the right workflow.
Enter the full identification number exactly as shown on the title or vehicle. Older vehicles may use a different format; we do not force every ID to be 17 characters.
?
Where can I find it? For most cars, check the lower driver's-side windshield or the driver's door jamb. You can also compare it with the title. Do not guess if the numbers do not match.
The seller's online NRL asks for the reading at the time of transfer. This is not a REG 135 field.
DMV says an odometer record is needed for vehicles less than 10 years old.
If the title has no mileage line, DMV says to use REG 262. It is printed on security paper and is not available online.
!
Check every character. A wrong VIN, HIN, or plate number can delay the transfer and may prevent the seller's NRL from matching the DMV record.
Seller detailsUp to two signers
REG 135 has two seller signature rows. If the person selling is not the owner named on the title, DMV says both people should sign the bill of sale.
Buyer detailsUp to two names
The REG 135 buyer section has two print-name lines and an address. It does not have a buyer signature line.
$
Enter the amount agreed by both parties. Do not include an estimated tax or DMV fee here.
Enter a value you can support. This helper does not decide whether a gift qualifies for a tax or fee exemption.
Ready to reviewCheck the summary and make any corrections before preparing the record.
Vehicle and transaction
People
Items to check
!
Before you prepare: the seller's signature must be written by hand. This tool does not sign, submit, or send anything to the DMV. The printable record is independent and is not the official REG 135 PDF.
Your paperwork summary
Your record is prepared.
Your documents · two copies
Choose the document you want to take away.
Download the completed official California DMV REG 135 with both matching halves. The PDF is filled entirely in your browser using a version-checked copy of the original DMV PDF included in the tool. Signature fields and signing dates are left blank so sellers can sign by hand.
This template has one mailing address row per party; if two people on the same side use different addresses, choose the independent printout or finish the official form manually. No file is submitted to DMV.
What is still not done?
- Seller signature(s) must still be completed by hand.
- The seller's NRL notice has not been filed.
- The buyer's title transfer has not been submitted or approved.
A little clarity goes a long way
What this helper does — and what it doesn't.
California DMV's REG 135 is a bill of sale. It records the vehicle or vessel, the people involved, the transfer date, and the sale or gift details. It is useful paperwork, but it is only one part of a private-party transfer.
Keep both copies
Download the filled original REG 135 with two matching halves, or print an independent record. Review fields and add seller signatures by hand.
Finish the DMV steps
The seller files the NRL separately. The buyer completes the title transfer and any required supporting steps.
Don't mix these up
A bill of sale is not a title transfer.
Notice of Transfer & Release of Liability
Notify DMV within five calendar days. The NRL records that you sold or transferred the vehicle; it does not transfer ownership to the buyer.
Title and registration transfer
Buyers have 10 days after purchasing a vehicle from a private party to transfer ownership. The title, mileage record, smog certification, fees, and use tax may apply.
Keep your own signed copy
Check names, vehicle identification, date, and amount carefully. Keep the signed record with your transaction paperwork.
Official references
Go straight to the source.
- REG 135 — Bill of Sale (official PDF)
- DMV Procedures Manual — 1.020 Bill of Sale
- Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (NRL)
- Start the online NRL application
- Registration for a Vehicle Purchased from a Private Party
- California DMV — Boat / Vessel Registration
- DMV Procedures Manual — Vessel Transfers
- REG 227 — Application for Replacement or Transfer of Title
Sources checked November 4, 2026. Official rules and forms can change. Re-check the DMV source pages before relying on a deadline or submitting paperwork.
Common questions
Before you sign.
Does a bill of sale transfer ownership?
No. A bill of sale records the transaction. The buyer still needs to complete the title transfer with DMV. The seller's NRL is a separate notice and does not itself transfer ownership.
Does the buyer need to sign REG 135?
The official REG 135 page has buyer print-name and address fields, but no buyer signature line. This helper leaves buyer signature requirements to the actual title and other documents that apply.
Can I use a bill of sale other than REG 135?
DMV's Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual says any bill of sale that identifies the vehicle or vessel is acceptable. It also says a bill of sale does not need to be notarized or witnessed. Keep the document accurate and complete.
What if the title is missing or has a lien?
Do not assume a bill of sale solves a missing title or lien. Review the DMV replacement-title and lien-release process, and confirm the correct route with DMV or the lienholder.
What if this is a gift?
The record can show the relationship and gift value. This helper does not determine whether a tax or fee exemption applies; DMV may require additional information or forms depending on the relationship and facts.
Does this tool send anything to DMV?
No. The official blank PDF and its audited field manifest are downloaded to your device; your completed values are entered locally in the browser, and no personal details are uploaded. Downloading a PDF does not file the seller's NRL or the buyer's title transfer.