Lost bill of sale: 3 steps to take to replace it.
What to do if you lose your bill of sale.
A bill of sale is a crucial legal document that certifies ownership transfer between a seller and a buyer. The seller is responsible for drafting the document, and the buyer typically keeps the original copy for future actions. However, both parties involved in the transaction should retain this document. It protects sellers from liability, it provides buyers with proof of ownership, and it helps settle any disagreements that might arise in the future. So what do you do if you lose yours?
What to do if you lose your bill of sale.
Your first step is to check with the relevant department in the state in which your item is registered. Typically, this would be your state’s department of motor vehicles, or DMV, since bills of sales are most commonly used for vehicle ownership transfers.
You may be able to provide the following to help recreate the payment arrangement and provide proof of ownership:
- Find your record of payment. Search for the check or credit card receipt used, to prove the payment was processed.
- Get information from the prior owner. Follow up with the previous owner to request documentation they may have filed to relinquish legal ownership.
- Follow the communications trail. Check emails and texts between you and the seller to evidence the transaction.
After you have proof of any of the above, you can visit your local DMV field office and request printed copies of the bill of sale.
Do you need the bill of sale if you have the title?
If you have a lost bill of sale, you may be wondering if you actually need it if you have the title. The answer depends on what state you’re in and what purpose you need the copies of bill of sale for.
The bill of sale doesn’t technically serve as ownership. That’s what the title is for. However, you may need the bill of sale to show that the transfer has occurred, and to limit your liabilities after the sale.
So, if you’re looking to prove that the sale happen, you may need your bill of sale for the car. However, if you’re trying to show ownership, we recommend getting a copy of the title.
Create your bill of sale document.
The seller is responsible for drafting the bill of sale. With an electronic bill of sale, such as those you can put together, you have a virtual paper trail and can easily resend the document to the buyer if they’ve lost it — or reprint it if you’ve lost it. Explore how you can create, store, password protect important documents and safeguard your bill of sale with Adobe Acrobat Sign.
