City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a pickup truck in San Diego, 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 San Diego – Clairemont Mesa Office
Address
4375 Derrick Dr, San Diego, CA 92117
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
7.75%
Base Registration Fee
$46.00
California state base 7.25% + San Diego County district tax 0.50%
California does not require notarization. Seller must sign the title and submit a Notice of Transfer (REG 138) within 5 days of sale.
County Clerk / Recorder
San Diego County Recorder
Phone
(619) 237-0502
Website
https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.govThe most common pickup truck makes in private-party sales are Ford, Chevrolet, RAM, Toyota, GMC. Average private-party pickup truck prices range from $10,000–$55,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent pickup truck models is 4.1 out of 5 stars. Pickup trucks average 3.6 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Power Train, Fuel System, Steering.
Before completing a pickup truck bill of sale in California, verify these safety items:
Pickup truck insurance averages $1,800–$2,800/year. Diesel models and lifted trucks cost more. Full-size pickups are the strongest value holders in the market — many retain 65–75% after 5 years. Peak season for private pickup truck sales is late spring and summer for work and recreation demand, with an average of 16 days on market.
Pickup Trucks are classified as "Light truck (same classification as "truck" in most states)" for registration purposes. Half-ton pickups (1500 series) are under 8,500 lbs GVWR. Three-quarter-ton (2500) and one-ton (3500) models may require commercial plates in some states. Federal odometer disclosure is required for pickup trucks under 20 years old.
San Diego residents completing a pickup truck 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 pickup truck makes in California include Ford, Chevrolet, RAM.
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)
San Diego is in San Diego County. Title transfers are handled by the DMV San Diego – Clairemont Mesa Office at 4375 Derrick Dr, San Diego, CA 92117. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Thu until 6:00 PM). Phone: (800) 777-0133.
The combined rate is 7.75%. California state base 7.25% + San Diego County district tax 0.50%.
No. California does not require notarization. Seller must sign the title and submit a Notice of Transfer (REG 138) within 5 days of sale.
Title transfer fee: $15.00. Base registration fee: $46.00. Sales tax at 7.75% is collected at the time of title transfer.