New Jersey Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

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A New Jersey motor vehicle bill of sale form verifies a transaction by including each party’s information and the car’s description. The document serves as a transfer record, which tells the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), or any other person or company, that the buyer and seller consented to the sale. It also confirms that one of the following situations occurred: 1) the purchaser gave the money to the merchant, 2) the owner gifted it, or 3) the buyer and seller engaged in a trade deal.


What is a New Jersey Car Bill of Sale?

A New Jersey bill of sale reports the critical details of a vehicle swap. Buyers and sellers complete the form by providing their credentials, the car’s identifiers, the sale date, and the payment information. If the deal involves a trade (i.e., both parties exchange cars), the bill of sale must have a description of the traded-in vehicle. They must enter the brand, type, year, style (or body type), color, odometer reading, and vehicle identification number (VIN). Individuals who agree to additional terms must also include the details in the applicable section.


What are the Buyer’s Tasks?

Purchasers should consider the vehicle’s reliability, history, and condition before buying. This information helps to estimate the car’s lifespan and whether it will need repairs. It also ensures that the buyer does not obtain a lemon (i.e., a defective vehicle).

The standard process for title and registration depends on how the buyer acquired the car. In-state dealerships generally handle the paperwork for the customer, meaning they do not have to visit the motor vehicle agency until they need to renew. However, private sales require the purchaser to make an appointment with a local office to take care of the documentation and payment.

During the transfer, the buyer must sign the applicable section of the title on its backside. They must also enter their driver’s license or Entity Identification Number (EIN). The title does not hold value until the seller provides their signature and other required details.

Once the buyer has the completed title, they must complete a Vehicle Registration Application (Form BA-49) and bring the forms to a motor vehicle agency. At this time, they transfer the title, pay the necessary fees, and register the vehicle. This process must happen within ten (10) business days of the sale to avoid a $25 penalty.


What are the Seller’s Tasks?

Sellers should only conduct deals with trustworthy buyers. Otherwise, the purchaser can scam the owner, which can have long-lasting impacts. Therefore, the person selling the car should exchange ownership once the buyer’s payment goes through and both individuals sign the paperwork.

The completed documents allow the seller to prove they legally transferred the vehicle and no longer have liability for damages or incidences after the sale date. Without the forms, the previous owner becomes vulnerable to lawsuits and other legal accusations.

Before giving the buyer the keys to the vehicle, the seller must remove the plates and give them to a motor vehicle or full-service agency. They cannot give them to the new owner or put them on a vehicle owned by someone else. However, they can transfer them to another car they own by visiting a motor vehicle agency.

The seller must sign the back side of the title in the labeled section and give it to the buyer. Both parties also have the responsibility of completing a bill of sale. The form must include the buyer’s name, address, sale date, odometer reading (mileage), and purchase price. The previous and new owners must keep a duplicate for their records.


How to Register a Car in New Jersey (4 Steps)

New residents have sixty (60) days to transfer their motor vehicle title and registration from their previous state to New Jersey. During Public Health Emergencies, the state extends the deadline to 120 days. Current residents who recently purchased a vehicle in New Jersey have ten (10) days to transfer the title at their local agency.

Per state law, all cars must have insurance, pass the biannual inspection, and have a valid title and registration. Drivers who have not met these requirements can receive penalties, fines, or jail time.

Step 1 – Insurance

Residents must have a car insurance plan through a certified company. The state requires the individual to show proof of the policy during registration and renewal. An official card or a policy number with the company name qualifies.

Coverage must include $15,000 for the bodily injury or death of one (1) person and $30,000 for two (2) or more people, and $5,000 for each incidence of property damage.

Step 2 – Inspection & Emissions Testing

Non-commercial used vehicles need inspection testing every other year in New Jersey. New cars have slightly different requirements, requiring a five (5) year inspection. Certain automobiles have an “exempt” status, meaning they do not require testing.

The date listed on the windshield’s sticker indicates when the owner needs to have it retested. Owners can have the vehicle inspected up to two (2) months before the sticker expires. Inspections can occur at a state-listed facility or through a certified private company.

Individuals must bring their driver’s license, car registration, and proof of insurance to their appointment. The owner does not need to attend the inspection; however, the individual must be seventeen (17) years or older with a valid driver’s license.

Vehicles that fail inspection receive a red sticker on the windshield. Law enforcement can ticket individuals driving cars with this sticker. Therefore, owners must take action immediately to resolve the issue and pass inspection. The state provides information on the steps to take after it fails and how to have it reinspected.

Step 3 – Title & Registration

The company takes care of the associated paperwork when a New Jersey resident purchases a car from an in-state dealership. In other words, the customer does not need to take the documentation to their local agency to obtain a title and registration. Instead, they provide their salesperson with the applicable information and payment, who sends it to the agency. The new owner receives their title and registration by mail after the state processes it.

Deals that occur via private sale require the buyer to take care of titling and registration. They must make an appointment with their nearby agency to provide paperwork and payment. The documentation needed depends on where the previous owner titled and registered it.

Most titling and registrations request the information listed below; however, the state requires additional paperwork if the seller previously owned it in another state. Vehicles from a state that issues titles require dealership reassignment documentation (if applicable) and a purchase order if the title does not have a New Jersey Dealer Tax Stamp.

Cars previously owned in a non-title state need a signed, notarized statement from the seller to the buyer. It must have a vehicle description, including its manufacture year, make, VIN, purchase date, and sale price. The new owner must also submit a printed photo of the VIN or a pencil tracing and the most current registration card from the seller in their name.

Step 4 – Renew

New Jersey vehicles require annual registration renewals. Reapplication can happen online, in person, or by mail.

Residents renewing online can obtain a same-day registration by following the required steps. They must have their registration renewal form, their current insurance information, and a valid credit card. After completion, the state mails the official registration to the customer. In the meantime, the individual must print the renewal certificate to use it as proof.

Car owners who cannot renew online (or do not want to) can make an appointment at a motor vehicle agency. They must bring their 1) registration renewal notice or VIN, 2) license plate number, 3) proof of identification, 4) payment (cash, money order, check, or debit or credit card), and 5) Application for Vehicle Registration (Form BA-49). Agents renewing for the owner must also provide a signed power of attorney. During the appointment, the owner or agent submits or completes the registration renewal document and pays the required fees.

Residents who prefer to renew through the mail must pay by check (made out to “NJMVC”) or money order. Otherwise, they must use the online service or visit a physical location. This method requires the owner to complete the Registration Renewal Notice sent by the state. They must submit it in the provided return envelope with the correct payment amount.