Missouri General Bill of Sale Form

SAVE PDF WORD RTF EMAIL
PDF
WORD
RTF

A Missouri general bill of sale form qualifies as a sales receipt for the purchase of a generic item. It lists the identifying details of the buyer and seller, describes the object sold, and contains signatures from both parties. By signing, each person acknowledges the listed terms and agrees to fulfill their role in the transaction. They can also hold each other legally accountable if either individual fails to satisfy their task(s). The buyer and seller should have the form notarized so the court accepts it as evidence in this case.

Signing Requirements: The merchant and purchaser must enter their signatures on the lines provided.

What is a Missouri General Bill of Sale?

A Missouri general bill of sale captures the transactions between buyers and sellers. This form covers non-specific items, such as jewelry, video games, or clothing. Both parties should only use this document if another category does not better represent it. For example, owners should use a dog bill of sale (i.e., not a general bill of sale) when selling a puppy.

Selecting the best bill of sale is crucial when buying or selling personal property.

Specific forms have special clauses and sections about the item, whereas generic documents request broader information. A firearm bill of sale has a set of statements the buyer and seller must agree to before carrying out the transfer. Similarly, a motor vehicle bill of sale requires both parties to enter the car’s description, value, price, and the trading or gifting details (if applicable). On the other hand, general forms contain the same questions, regardless of the item sold.

Is a Missouri Bill of Sale Mandatory?

Missouri requires a bill of sale in some, but not all, situations. In most cases, a buyer or seller can use the form to verify ownership; however, it is one of many documents they can use to represent the sale. For example, when notifying the state of a purchase or gift transfer, the seller can submit a Sale of Notice (Form 5049) or a Bill of Sale (Form 1957).

Furthermore, a Missouri resident could need a bill of sale in the following situations:

  • If a buyer purchases a used vehicle or boat out-of-state, they need to obtain a bill of sale if the state does not require titles. Under these circumstances, the person buying the item must ensure they and the seller include their names, addresses, and signatures. They must also provide the sale date, purchase price, year, make, and vehicle identification number (VIN) or hull identification number (HIN). Owners of vehicles and boats less than twenty (20) years old with the model year of 2011 or newer must disclose the odometer reading.
  • When an individual buys a new vehicle or boat in-state, they must give the state the dealer’s invoice, a bill of sale with the manufacturer’s statement of origin (MSO), or an application signed by the dealer.
  • Residents that need a temporary permit to operate their vehicle or boat must present proof of ownership to the Missouri license office. They can give them a bill of sale, title, MSO, a notice of sale, or an application signed by the dealer.

Do I Need to Notarize My Form?

Missouri requires the notarization of boat and motor vehicle bill of sale forms. It also requires a signature from a notary public when the seller needs to confirm ownership of the “major component parts” after rebuilding a car. While rare, the Department of Revenue (DOR) also reserves the right to request notarization at any time. Nonetheless, buyers and sellers should notarize their forms, when possible, to give them more authenticity.