When should I use the private sale page?
Use this page when your car sale in Indiana fits a private sale scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.
Private sale — Indiana
Complete your Indiana car bill of sale for a private sale transaction. Enter buyer and seller details, vehicle information, and generate a signed PDF in minutes.
You are responsible for disclosing known defects, providing an accurate odometer statement, and delivering a clean title. Once the bill of sale is signed and funds received, remove the vehicle from your insurance and notify your DMV of the transfer.
You are responsible for disclosing known defects, providing an accurate odometer statement, and delivering a clean title. Once the bill of sale is signed and funds received, remove the vehicle from your insurance and notify your DMV of the transfer.
Run a title search or VIN history report (NMVTIS, CARFAX) before handing over funds. Confirm the seller is the titled owner and the title is free of liens. Take possession of the signed title on the day of sale.
Federal odometer disclosure is required for vehicles under 10 years old under 49 CFR Part 580. Most states require a signed bill of sale to complete the title transfer at the DMV. Implied warranty of merchantability under UCC § 2-314 may apply unless the sale is expressly "as-is" under UCC § 2-316.
In Indiana, the title transfer fee is $15 and registration costs $21.35 - $30.35 for passenger vehicles. Car sales are subject to 7% sales tax on purchase price. Indiana does not require notarization for private-party car transfers. Emission testing is required in Indiana — verify the car passes before completing the sale.
Indiana has a 7% state sales tax rate. Flat 7% statewide; no additional local vehicle taxes. Private-party car sales in Indiana are subject to sales tax. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $15.
The most common car makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan. Average private-party car prices range from $5,000–$25,000. The average NCAP safety rating for recent car models is 4.2 out of 5 stars. Cars average 3.1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System.
Before completing a car bill of sale in Indiana, verify these safety items:
Liability insurance required in 49 states (New Hampshire is the exception). Average annual premium: $1,600–$2,200. Cars lose approximately 20% of value in the first year and 60% over five years. Japanese brands retain value best. Peak season for private car sales is spring (march–may) when tax refunds boost demand, with an average of 21 days on market.
Cars are classified as "Passenger vehicle" for registration purposes. Standard passenger cars weigh 2,500–4,500 lbs; no special weight-class registration required. Federal odometer disclosure is required for cars under 20 years old.
For car private sale transactions in Indiana, the buyer must pay 7% sales tax on purchase price and a $15 title transfer fee. Notarization is not required. Odometer disclosure is required.
When completing a private sale car sale in Indiana, always verify the vehicle against NHTSA recall databases. The most common car recall categories are Airbags (Takata), Power Train, Fuel System. Check recalls at NHTSA.gov/recalls before signing the bill of sale.
Use the main Indiana car bill of sale flow when you are ready to generate the completed document.
Open Indiana Car bill of sale17.5M 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
Use this page when your car sale in Indiana fits a private sale scenario. It walks you through the specific disclosures and details that apply to this type of transaction.
Different sale scenarios — such as private party, dealer, or gifted transfers — have different documentation requirements. This page focuses on what buyers and sellers need for a private sale transaction specifically.
Include the buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers, sale price, date, signatures, and any notes specific to the private sale transaction.
Indiana charges a $15 title transfer fee. Registration costs $21.35 - $30.35 for passenger vehicles. Sales tax: 7% sales tax on purchase price. Notarization is not required for most transfers.
The most popular car makes in private-party sales are Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Nissan. Average private-party prices range from $5,000–$25,000.
Indiana has a 7% state sales tax rate. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases
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