Free Indiana Vehicle Bill of Sale Form (BMV State Form 44237 PDF)

Q: Is a bill of sale required to register a car in Indiana?

Yes, in many common scenarios. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) requires a Bill of Sale (State Form 44237) whenever the Certificate of Title lacks a dedicated purchase price or odometer field, when the vehicle was purchased out-of-state, or to verify sales tax calculations under IC 6-2.5-3. Even on titled transfers, both parties should retain a copy to prove ownership transfer and establish the date of sale.

Q: What is Indiana BMV State Form 44237?

State Form 44237 is the official Bill of Sale approved by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. It documents the transfer of motor vehicles, watercraft, and trailers between private parties, recording the transaction date, purchase price, vehicle specifications, and certified odometer disclosures.

Q: How long do you have to transfer a car title in Indiana?

Under Indiana Code § 9-18.1-4-4, an Indiana resident purchasing a vehicle has strictly 45 calendar days from the date of purchase to apply for a Certificate of Title and register the vehicle at an Indiana BMV branch before an administrative late fee of $15 is assessed.

Q: Do license plates stay with the vehicle in Indiana?

No. Under Indiana Code § 9-18.1-4-5, license plates remain the personal property of the seller and must be removed prior to releasing the vehicle to the buyer. The seller may transfer the plates to another vehicle they own or return them to the BMV.

Q: What is the sales tax on used cars in Indiana?

Indiana charges a flat 7.0% state sales and use tax on private party motor vehicle purchases under IC 6-2.5-3. The buyer pays this tax directly to the Indiana BMV when applying for the Certificate of Title based on the total purchase price listed on this bill of sale.

FORM SBF-IN-44237 Statutory Year: 2026

IC §§ 9-17-3-3.4, 9-18.1-4-4 & State Form 44237

STATE OF INDIANA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale & Federal Odometer Disclosure Statement

Compliant with Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) State Form 44237 Standards

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the motor vehicle described below, to have and to hold forever.

SECTION A: JURISDICTION & LOCATION OF SALE

State:

Indiana County *:

SECTION B: COMPLETE MOTOR VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

Model Year *

Make *

Model *

Body Style

Color

IN Plate # (Seller Retains)

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN - 17 Characters) *:

SECTION C: IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES (TRANSFEROR & TRANSFEREE)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

IN Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

SECTION D: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION, PAYMENT TERMS & FEDERAL ODOMETER DISCLOSURE

Total Price (USD) *:

Date of Sale *:

Paid by: Cash Cashier's Check Wire Gift/Trade

Federal & Indiana Odometer Disclosure Statement (49 U.S.C. § 32705 & IC § 9-17-3-3.4) Federal and state law requires odometer disclosure. False statements incur statutory civil and criminal penalties.

Odometer Reading:

Miles

1. Actual Mileage: Reflects actual vehicle mileage to the best of knowledge. 2. Exceeds Mechanical Limits: Mileage exceeds mechanical odometer limits (rollover). 3. Warning — Not Actual Mileage: Odometer reading is NOT actual mileage (discrepancy).

STATUTORY "AS-IS" DISCLAIMER (INDIANA UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE IC 26-1-2-316): This motor vehicle is sold strictly in "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT. The Seller expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Seller assumes no responsibility for mechanical failures, post-sale repairs, or roadworthiness inspections. Buyer acknowledges having had the full opportunity to inspect, test-drive, and mechanically examine the vehicle, or has knowingly waived this right. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Indiana law (IC 35-44.1-2-1) that Seller is the lawful owner with clear title free of all liens.

SECTION E: AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES & AFFIDAVIT

Seller (Transferor) Signature

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

SECTION F: STATE OF INDIANA NOTARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT

STATE OF INDIANA COUNTY OF:

On this _____ day of ________________, 2026, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government-issued photo identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) are subscribed to this vehicle bill of sale, and acknowledged executing the same for the purposes and consideration expressed.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here Indiana BMV Form 44237 Compliant

FORM SBF-IN-44237 (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com IC §§ 9-17-3-3.4, 9-18.1-4-4 • Indiana BMV State Form 44237 PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Indiana BMV 3-Step Vehicle Title Transfer Guide

Complete your private party motor vehicle transfer in Indiana cleanly and legally, comply with Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) State Form 44237, and avoid late registration penalties under IC § 9-18.1-4-4.

Execute Title & Form SBF-IN-44237

The seller signs the assignment section on the original Indiana Certificate of Title with purchase date, price, and certified odometer reading. Both parties complete and sign this 1-page statutory Bill of Sale (State Form 44237 compliant) to establish proof of purchase price.

Mandatory Plate Removal

Under Indiana Code § 9-18.1-4-5, license plates DO NOT transfer with the car. The seller must remove and retain their license plates prior to releasing the vehicle to avoid liability for toll violations, automated camera tickets, or infractions.

BMV Branch Title Transfer

Within 45 calendar days (IC § 9-18.1-4-4), the buyer visits an Indiana BMV branch with the signed title, this Bill of Sale, and proof of Indiana auto insurance to pay the flat 7.0% state sales/use tax and obtain their new Certificate of Title and license plates.

Statutory Summary

Indiana Motor Vehicle Sale Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Certificate of Title Assignment	IC § 9-17-3-3.4	Mandatory	Primary legal document transferring ownership; seller completes assignment on the reverse of the title.
BMV State Form 44237 Bill of Sale	IC § 9-17-3-3.4	Essential	Proves purchase price for Indiana 7.0% sales tax calculation, records terms, and establishes AS-IS warranty waiver.
Mandatory License Plate Removal	IC § 9-18.1-4-5	Mandatory (Seller)	Plates remain property of the seller and must never be transferred to the buyer on private sales.
45-Day Titling Deadline	IC § 9-18.1-4-4	45 Calendar Days	Statutory window within which buyer must submit title transfer application to the BMV to avoid a $15 administrative late fee.
Indiana Sales / Use Tax (7.0%)	IC § 6-2.5-3	Mandatory (Buyer)	Flat 7.0% state tax assessed on the gross purchase price, payable directly to the BMV upon title transfer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Indiana Vehicle Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Is a bill of sale required to register a car in Indiana?

What is Indiana BMV State Form 44237?

How long do you have to transfer a car title in Indiana?

Do license plates stay with the vehicle in Indiana?

What is the sales tax on used cars in Indiana?

Free Indiana Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale Form

STATE OF INDIANA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE