Everyday · British Columbia
Bill of sale, with a lawyer behind it.
A bill of sale is a written record of a private sale: who sold what to whom, the price, and the condition. It is often used for a used vehicle, a boat or other goods.
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What a bill of sale is
A bill of sale is a document signed by the seller and the buyer. It names both and describes what is sold. For a vehicle, that includes the VIN and the odometer reading. It sets out the price and how it is paid, and when ownership passes. It records what the seller promises about ownership and about the goods' condition. It can say the sale is "as is", if both sides clearly agree.
No law in British Columbia requires a bill of sale to be witnessed or registered. For a vehicle, it does not transfer the registration. Both people sign ICBC's own transfer form, and the buyer files it within 10 days.
Why you'd need one
A private sale gives a buyer fewer protections than a sale by a dealer. Putting the deal in writing records what was agreed if a disagreement comes up later. Under the Sale of Goods Act, a seller must have the right to sell the goods, and they must match their description. They must also be free of undisclosed charges.
A bill of sale does not show that a vehicle or other item has no loan or lien against it. A search of the Personal Property Registry can show registered claims. Above $1,500, a buyer of goods for personal use may take them subject to a registered claim, which is why a search matters.
When to see a lawyer instead
A bill of sale is for a private sale between individuals. It does not fit a seller who is in business, such as a dealer. A seller in business generally cannot sell "as is". A party under 19 may not be bound. It also does not fit a seller who is not the owner, or goods with their own transfer rules, such as aircraft, registered vessels or firearms.
Talk to a lawyer if a loan is still owing on the item, if the price will be paid over time, or if the sale involves a company or takes place outside British Columbia.