City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a suv in Los Angeles, California. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
DMV Los Angeles – Downtown
Address
3615 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone
(800) 777-0133
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Thu until 6:00 PM)
Title Transfer Fee
$15.00
Sales Tax Rate
10.25%
Base Registration Fee
$46.00
Los Angeles city rate: 9.50% state + county base plus 0.75% city district tax
California does not require notarization for a standard vehicle bill of sale; a REG 135 or written bill of sale with both signatures is sufficient.
County Clerk / Recorder
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder
Phone
(562) 462-2177
Website
https://www.lavote.govThe most common suv makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep. Average private-party suv prices range from $8,000–$45,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent suv models is 4.3 out of 5 stars. Suvs average 3.4 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Airbags, Power Train, Electrical.
Before completing a suv bill of sale in California, verify these safety items:
SUV insurance costs 5–15% more than sedans due to higher repair costs. Luxury SUVs can cost significantly more. Mid-size SUVs hold value well — Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, and Lexus GX retain 65–75% after 5 years. Peak season for private suv sales is late summer to early fall as families prepare for school year and winter weather, with an average of 19 days on market.
SUVs are classified as "Passenger vehicle (same as car in most states)" for registration purposes. Most SUVs fall under passenger vehicle registration. Full-size SUVs over 6,000 lbs GVWR may qualify for Section 179 business deductions. Federal odometer disclosure is required for suvs under 20 years old.
Los Angeles residents completing a suv bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to California state rules. The state sales tax rate is 7.25%, 7.25% base; county/city adds 0.25–3.25% (total up to 10.75%). The most popular suv makes in California include Toyota, Honda, Ford.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 14,217 bill of sale documents for California transactions, with 382 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
Los Angeles is in Los Angeles County. Title transfers are handled by the DMV Los Angeles – Downtown at 3615 S Hope St, Los Angeles, CA 90007. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Thu until 6:00 PM). Phone: (800) 777-0133.
The combined rate is 10.25%. Los Angeles city rate: 9.50% state + county base plus 0.75% city district tax.
No. California does not require notarization for a standard vehicle bill of sale; a REG 135 or written bill of sale with both signatures is sufficient.
Title transfer fee: $15.00. Base registration fee: $46.00. Sales tax at 10.25% is collected at the time of title transfer.