City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a tractor in San Francisco, 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
California DMV – San Francisco
Address
1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117
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
8.625%
Base Registration Fee
$46.00
California state rate 7.25% + San Francisco district taxes 1.375%
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
San Francisco County Registrar-Recorder
Phone
(415) 557-4114
Website
https://www.sfassessor.orgThe most common tractor makes in private-party sales are John Deere, Kubota, New Holland, Massey Ferguson, Case IH. Average private-party tractor prices range from $5,000–$50,000. Tractors average 1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Hydraulic System, PTO Shield, Electrical.
Before completing a tractor bill of sale in California, verify these safety items:
Farm tractors are typically covered under a farm liability policy, not auto insurance. Standalone tractor insurance averages $200–$600/year. Tractors hold value exceptionally well — John Deere and Kubota models retain 60–80% after 10 years. Peak season for private tractor sales is late winter to early spring ahead of planting season, with an average of 40 days on market.
Tractors are classified as "Farm equipment (exempt from standard vehicle registration in most states when used for agriculture)" for registration purposes. Tractors are measured by PTO horsepower rather than weight. On-road operation may require slow-moving vehicle (SMV) signage. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to tractors.
San Francisco residents completing a tractor 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 tractor makes in California include John Deere, Kubota, New Holland.
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 Francisco is in San Francisco County. Title transfers are handled by the California DMV – San Francisco at 1377 Fell St, San Francisco, CA 94117. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (Thu until 6:00 PM). Phone: (800) 777-0133.
The combined rate is 8.625%. California state rate 7.25% + San Francisco district taxes 1.375%.
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 8.625% is collected at the time of title transfer.