The Connecticut bill of sale is a document used to record the details of the personal property ownership transfer. These details often include:
Mandatory Information
Names and addresses of the parties to the bill of sale
Description of item that is being transferred
Purchase price and payment method
Disclosures of the parties
Place and date of the signature
Signatures of the parties
The bill of sale is, in most cases, required by the local DMV for registering the motor vehicle, vessel, trailer, and other vehicles. The DMV often provides the bill of sale form for the parties to fill out.
For any other types of items, you can draft your own bill of sale. Creating your own bill of sale is also an option if you want to include additional details that are not provided in the bill of sale form.
Connecticut Bill of Sale Parties
The bill of sale is usually signed between the seller and the buyer. In exceptional cases or when required by law, the witnesses can also sign the bill of sale to confirm the document’s authenticity.
Seller
A seller is a person transferring the ownership of their personal property to the buyer. They are often referred to as the transferor in the bill of sale.
Buyer
The person obtaining ownership over the seller’s property is called the buyer. In the bill of sale, they are also named the transferee.
Buyer And Seller Disclosure
The bill of sale often includes the “as is” condition. That means the buyer agrees to buy the item with all the damages and flaws. This condition is typically included when transferring used items. The “as is” condition protects the seller from liability in case any malfunctions appear after the purchase.
Therefore, the seller must properly disclose any damages in the bill of sale. Any undisclosed or hidden damages enable the buyer to raise the claim, regardless of the “as is” condition.
Connecticut Bill of Sale Description of Goods
This section contains all the relevant information about the transferred item. This section looks very different depending on the type of item the seller and buyer are transferring.
For example, the description of the goods section for the motor vehicle includes the following:
Mandatory Information
Made and model of the vehicle
Vehicle identification number (VIN)
Year and color of the vehicle
Vehicle horsepower
Odometer reading
Description of any damages (for the used vehicle)
For other types of items, the description should contain all the relevant information that can individualize the item and differentiate it from other items of the same kind.
Lastly, you should always include an item in the description if it has a serial number.
Connecticut Bill of Sale Purchase Price
The purchase price is the compensation the buyer gives to the seller in return for the transferred item. Below are the three most commonly used ways of compensation.
#1. Payment
With this method of compensation, the buyer transfers a certain sum of money to the seller in return for the purchased item. The payment can be done in cash or using a bank transfer, debit or credit cards, or checks.
#2. Trade
Here, the buyer also transfers the item in their possession to the seller and exchanges it for the seller’s item. In certain cases, the buyer will also pay an additional sum to compensate for the difference in value between the two items that are exchanged.
#3. Gift
If the item is transferred to the buyer as a gift, there is no compensation due to the seller. This method is often used for transferring ownership between family members. However, the estimated value of the item should be entered in the bill of sale for tax reasons.
Connecticut Bill of Sale for Motor Vehicles (Cars) Requirements
The Connecticut DMV is a governmental body in charge of motor vehicle registration. If you buy a new vehicle in Connecticut and want to register it, you must bring the bill of sale and other paperwork to your local DMV office.
Out-of-State Vehicles
If you purchased a vehicle outside of Connecticut, you might need to submit the title to the local DMV, depending on the state you purchased your vehicle from.
Abandoned or Junk Vehicles
A motor vehicle that is damaged to the point that the cost of the vehicle repair is higher than the vehicle value can be declared as salvage.
To transfer such a vehicle, you can use the general bill of sale.
Vehicles Sold by Dealers
When buying a motor vehicle from the dealership, they often include the service of managing all the documents on your behalf, including the vehicle registration and drafting the bill of sale.
Vehicles Sold by Private Parties
When the vehicle is being transferred between the two private parties, they can draft their own bill of sale and include all the relevant information.
Connecticut Bill of Sale for Boats (Vessel) Requirements
You can use an out-of-state vessel or boat within Connecticut for up to 60 days without registering it. However, after this period, all the boats and vessels must be registered if they are to be operated in Connecticut.
When registering the vehicle, you must submit the bill of sale and the application form. The bill of sale doesn’t have to be notarized.
Connecticut Bill of Sale for Firearms Requirements
To purchase a firearm in Connecticut, you must have an eligibility certificate for a firearm and a pistol permit. (§ 29-37a)
The buyer must submit the bill of sale with the application to the Special License and Firearms Unit (SFLU). When you buy a firearm from a dealer with a federal license, they will issue you a bill of sale and handle the registration on your behalf.
Connecticut Bill of Sale for Horses Requirements
The state of Connecticut doesn’t require any registration for the horses. Therefore, having the bill of sale is not explicitly required by any law in Connecticut.
However, by having a bill of sale, both parties secure their rights and protect their interests. The seller will have proof that the ownership is transferred and will have no liability over the horse anymore. On the other side, the buyer has proof of ownership over the horse they have bought.
Connecticut Bill of Sale for Trailers (RVs) Requirements
Connecticut state laws require every trailer to be registered. When submitting the application to register your trailer or RV, you should also submit the bill of sale.
If you have a tow dolly, you don’t have to register it in Connecticut. However, you should still have the bill of sale as proof of ownership.
Connecticut Bill of Sale Other Requirements
As the bill of sale form is flexible in Connecticut, you can draft it in any language that both the seller and buyer can understand. However, bear in mind that for registration, you must submit a bill of sale drafted in English.
You can also submit a draft in another language as long as an official English translation is attached to it.
Each party to the bill of sale should have at least one copy for their records and additional copies that must be submitted for the item registration.
Connecticut Bill of Sale Taxes
The sales tax in Connecticut is calculated based on the value of the vehicle that is being registered. Therefore, having the bill of sale can serve as proof of the purchase price, based on which the sales tax can be calculated.
Connecticut Bill of Sale FAQ
The handwritten bill of sale is also a legitimate form in Connecticut.
The only requirement is that it contains all the required elements, like information about the seller and buyer, details about the item, and the purchase price.
The state-provided bill of sale forms for motor vehicle registration in Connecticut don’t include the signature section for the buyer.
However, when drafting your own bill of sale, you should always include the signatures of all the relevant parties when possible.
You can fill out the bill of sale form provided by the state. However, if you want a customizable bill of sale for the items the state doesn’t provide the form for, you can download one of the bill of sale templates available on our website.
The seller benefits from the bill of sale by limiting its liability for the item after it is transferred to the buyer. The benefit for the buyer is that they can use the bill of sale as proof of ownership over a purchased item if there is no title.