A car/vehicle sales receipt is a written record proving the sale of a vehicle occurred between the seller and a buyer. It includes identifying information about the vehicle, seller, and buyer. It also has a breakdown of charges. Sellers can use it to record a down payment on a car or as a paid-in-full receipt.
Any vehicle merchant can use this receipt, including formal dealers and individual private sellers. Depending on where the buyer lives, they may need to submit the receipt to their local DMV with the vehicle’s registration paperwork and the Car (Vehicle) Bill of Sale. This document allows buyers and sellers to negotiate the terms and conditions of a sale before ever exchanging money for the vehicle.
What to Include
- Buyer information (name, address, phone, email)
- License number;
- Odometer reading;
- Payment method (cash, check, credit card, other);
- Receipt number;
- Seller information (name, address, phone, email);
- Signatures of both parties;
- Summary of charges:
- Cost of the vehicle,
- Cost of add-ons (if applicable),
- Quantities of add-ons,
- Subtotal,
- Tax rate,
- Total taxes due,
- Total amount due,
- Amount paid, and
- Outstanding balance (if applicable);
- Transaction date;
- Vehicle description (make, model, year, color, condition, additions); and
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).