A car sale receipt is a short record that a car changed hands: who sold it, who bought it, which car, the mileage and the price. In the UK and Australia, a sale record like this is usually called a receipt.
What it is
A car sale receipt is a short document that the seller and the buyer both sign. It names the people, describes the car with its registration number, make, model, year, colour and mileage, states the price and how it was paid, and says whether the car was sold as seen or with a warranty. It supports the official paperwork and does not replace it. In the UK, the seller needs to tell DVLA about the sale. Elsewhere, the vehicle registry has its own steps, so check with yours.
What to include
- The names and addresses of the seller and buyer.
- The registration number, make, model, year and colour.
- The mileage shown on the dashboard on the day of sale.
- The price, any deposit and how it was paid.
- The date and, if useful, the time of handover.
- Whether it is sold as seen or with a warranty.
- Whether any finance is outstanding.
- Signatures from both people.
How to fill it in
- Choose your region so the labels fit.
- Enter the date of the sale and the price. If a deposit was paid, enter it.
- Fill in the seller and the buyer.
- Enter the registration number, the make, model, year and colour.
- Enter the mileage from the dashboard.
- Choose sold as seen or a warranty, and answer the finance question.
- Check the preview, download the file, print two copies and sign both.
- Tell the registering authority about the sale, and keep your copy.
Common mistakes
- Writing the V5C document reference number on the receipt.
- Describing the car better than it is, even when it is sold as seen.
- Guessing the mileage instead of reading the dashboard.
- Not recording a deposit and the balance.
- Forgetting to tell DVLA or your road authority about the sale.
- Not mentioning that finance is still owed.
Selling or recording something else?
Frequently asked questions
Should I write down the deposit separately?
Yes. If the buyer paid a deposit when they agreed to buy, record the deposit, the date it was paid and the amount still owed at handover. The receipt then shows exactly how the full price was reached, which helps if either of you needs to check it later.
Do I need a receipt when I sell a car privately?
It isn't the official transfer, but it is good proof of the price, the date and the condition, and it helps if a fine or a dispute turns up later. Both people should keep a copy.
What do I do about the logbook in the UK?
Tell DVLA you've sold the vehicle using the official service on GOV.UK. It also explains what to do with the V5C logbook.
Should I put the V5C reference number on the receipt?
There is no need to. Keep that number private.
What does sold as seen mean?
The buyer accepts the car as it is. It doesn't excuse a seller from describing the car honestly, so say what you know.
Is this the same as a bill of sale?
It does the same job. In the US a bill of sale is the usual name, and Quicklet has a car bill of sale for that.
Does this work in Australia?
The layout works. The rules for telling the road authority about a sale differ by state and territory, so check with yours.
Official sources
Last reviewed October 5, 2026
Spotted a mistake on this page? Tell us
Quicklet provides general document templates, not legal advice. Rules about selling a car and notifying the sale vary by country and region.
Quicklet provides general document templates, not legal advice. Laws vary by location.