Often no title โ so the document is everything
Practice varies widely. Some states title off-road vehicles, some only register them for trail use, and some do neither. Where there is no title, the bill of sale is the ownership record โ the thing you produce if the machine is ever stopped, recovered or claimed.
That makes two details non-negotiable: the full VIN or serial number, and both parties' real names and addresses. A bill of sale for an untitled machine with no serial on it proves almost nothing.
What to record
- VIN or serial number โ on the frame, usually on the left front frame rail or under the seat.
- Year, make and model, plus engine size in cc and whether it is 2WD, 4WD or AWD.
- Hours or miles. Most utility ATVs track hours; sport quads often track neither, in which case say so.
- Sale price, date, an as-is clause, and both signatures.
There is no federal odometer disclosure for off-road machines, because they are not highway motor vehicles. Our form leaves it out rather than asking you to certify something that does not apply.
Stolen off-road vehicles are common
ATVs and UTVs are stolen at high rates and are easy to move because so many are untitled. Before you pay: check the serial number is present and has not been ground off or altered, ask for the original purchase paperwork, and be wary of a seller who cannot produce any document at all.
A price well under market on a machine with no paperwork and a scratched serial plate is not a bargain.