As a business and legal template writer with over 12 years drafting thousands of state-specific documents for clients across the U.S., I’ve helped hundreds of Arkansas residents complete private vehicle, boat, trailer, and general property sales quickly and correctly. Today I’m giving you my fully updated, attorney-reviewed Arkansas bill of sale templates – completely free in both PDF and editable Word format.
Whether you’re selling a car in Little Rock, a boat on Lake Ouachita, or a firearm in Fayetteville, having a proper bill of sale Arkansas form protects both buyer and seller. Below you’ll find direct download links, step-by-step instructions, Arkansas-specific requirements, and answers to the questions I hear most often from clients.
Important Disclaimer: This article and the free templates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult a licensed Arkansas attorney or tax professional for your specific situation.
An Arkansas bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of personal property from a seller to a buyer. In Arkansas, it is especially critical for motor vehicles, boats, trailers, and firearms because the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and county revenue offices frequently require a bill of sale to register the property and calculate sales/use tax.
According to the Arkansas DFA, a properly completed bill of sale serves as proof of the purchase price – which directly affects the amount of state and local tax the buyer pays (Arkansas sales tax on vehicles is currently 6.5% state + local rates).
| Property Type | Bill of Sale Required? | Additional Forms Needed | Notarization Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle (Car, Truck, Motorcycle) | Strongly recommended; required if no space on title for sale price on title | Odometer Disclosure, Title Application (Form 10-381) | No (but recommended) |
| Boat / Vessel | Required for registration | Boat Registration Application | Yes (for boats over 16 ft in some cases) |
| Trailer | Required if no title issued | Bill of Sale only if no title | No |
| Firearm | Not required by state law, but highly recommended | N/A | No (but many choose to notarize) |
| General Personal Property (furniture, equipment, etc.) | Recommended for proof of ownership | None | No |
All templates below are 100% free, contain the exact fields required by the Arkansas DFA, and are updated for 2025 law changes.
Here’s exactly how I instruct my clients to complete the Arkansas bill of sale motor vehicle form:
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration does NOT publish an official standardized Arkansas DMV bill of sale form. Many county revenue offices simply accept any document titled “Bill of Sale” that contains:
The free templates I provide above exceed these minimum requirements and are accepted statewide from Bentonville to Pine Bluff.
After completing your Arkansas bill of sale for car or truck:
Source: Arkansas DFA – Motor Vehicle Section
In my 12+ years, these are the top errors I see:
No, Arkansas law does not require notarization for vehicle bills of sale. However, I always recommend it because a notarized document is much harder to challenge in court.
Yes. As long as it contains all required information (parties, description, price, date, signatures), a clean handwritten bill of sale on notebook paper is legally valid.
Not strictly required, but I still provide one to my clients because it protects both parties and makes tax calculation crystal clear.
There is no single “official” form. Use the free templates above or create your own using the guidelines in this article.
Yes if you want to register it for on-road use or prove ownership later.
Don’t risk thousands of dollars in tax mistakes or title problems. Download one of my battle-tested, Arkansas-specific templates, fill it out in minutes, and complete your sale with confidence.
All templates are:
Click any download link above to get your free printable auto bill of sale Arkansas template right now.
Safe selling!
This article was last updated November 2025. Always verify current requirements with your local Arkansas revenue office or visit dfa.arkansas.gov/motor-vehicle.