Do I need a bill of sale to sell a moped?

In most states, yes. Even where a moped is exempt from titling, the DMV or BMV usually asks for a bill of sale to register the vehicle, transfer ownership, or calculate sales tax. A bill of sale is also your proof that the deal happened, which protects both parties if a dispute or an unpaid ticket surfaces later.

Does a moped bill of sale need to be notarized?

It depends on the state. Most do not require notarization for a moped bill of sale, but a handful, such as Louisiana, Montana, and West Virginia, require notarized vehicle transfer documents. Even where it is optional, notarizing adds a witnessed date and signature that is hard to dispute if the sale is later challenged.

What is the difference between a moped and a scooter on a bill of sale?

Legally, the term that matters is engine size and top speed, not the label on the body. Many states define a moped as a two-wheeled vehicle with an engine of 50cc or less and a top speed around 28 to 30 mph. A larger scooter may be classified as a motorcycle and require a title. Write the exact engine displacement on the bill of sale so the classification is clear.

Can I sell a moped without a title?

Often, yes. Several states do not issue titles for mopeds under a certain engine size, so a bill of sale plus the previous registration is the standard proof of ownership. Confirm your state rule before the sale, and if a title does exist, sign it over to the buyer along with the bill of sale.

Should a moped bill of sale say "as-is"?

For a used private sale, yes. An "as-is" clause states that the moped is sold in its current condition with no warranty, which shields the seller from claims about problems that appear after the buyer rides off. Both parties should still confirm the moped runs and inspect it before money changes hands.

Moped Bill of Sale Template: How to Write a Moped Bill of Sale

A step-by-step guide to creating a moped bill of sale, covering what to include, low-speed vehicle rules, notarization, and common mistakes to avoid.

Selling a used moped is usually a cash deal between two people who met through a listing, and it can be done in an afternoon. The paperwork is short, but skipping it causes real headaches: an unregistered buyer who never transfers ownership, a seller who keeps getting parking tickets for a bike they sold months ago, or a tax office that has no record of the sale price. A moped bill of sale is the one document that prevents all of that.

This guide walks through what a moped bill of sale is, when you need one, exactly what to put in it, and the state-specific quirks that trip up moped sellers in particular.

What Is a Moped Bill of Sale?

A moped bill of sale is a written record that ownership of a moped passed from a seller to a buyer on a specific date for a specific price. It identifies the vehicle, the two people involved, and the terms of the deal, and both parties sign it.

For cars, the title does most of this work. Mopeds are different. Many states classify a moped as a low-speed or limited-use vehicle and do not issue a title for it at all. In those states, the bill of sale is the primary proof of ownership, so it carries more weight than it would for a car sale. Get it wrong and the buyer may struggle to register the moped, while the seller stays legally tied to a vehicle they no longer own.

The document also matters at the sales-tax window. When the buyer registers the moped, the DMV or BMV uses the sale price on the bill of sale to figure out what tax is owed. No bill of sale often means the office estimates value from a book, which can cost the buyer more.

When You Need One

You should create a moped bill of sale any time money and ownership change hands. The most common situations:

Private used sales. You found a buyer through a marketplace listing, a local ad, or word of mouth.
Selling to or buying from a dealer. Dealers usually supply their own paperwork, but keep a copy.
Gifting a moped. List the price as "$0" or "gift" so the transfer is documented for the DMV.
Trading for goods or another vehicle. Describe the trade in the price field instead of a dollar amount.

Even when your state does not strictly require the form, write one anyway. It costs nothing and it is the cleanest way to prove the sale if a ticket, an accident, or an ownership question comes up later.

What Distinguishes a Moped Legally

Before you fill anything in, know how your state classifies the vehicle, because the classification drives the rest of the paperwork. A "moped" in casual speech might be a genuine moped, a scooter, or a small motorcycle in the eyes of the law.

Most states draw the line using two numbers:

Engine displacement. A common threshold is 50cc or less. Some states use 49cc.
Top speed. Many definitions cap a moped at roughly 28 to 30 mph on a flat surface.

A vehicle above those limits is usually treated as a motorcycle, which means it needs a title, a motorcycle endorsement to ride, and full registration. Below the limit, many states let you ride a moped on an ordinary driver's license with no endorsement, which is part of why people buy them in the first place. Because the body of a scooter and a small motorcycle can look identical, the numbers on the paperwork settle the question. That is why you should always write the exact engine size on the bill of sale rather than relying on the word "moped." If the moped has a VIN, record it; some small mopeds do not have a full 17-character VIN, in which case use the frame or serial number stamped on the body.

Electric mopeds add a wrinkle. A growing number of states classify electric two-wheelers by wattage and top speed instead of engine cc, and some overlap with e-bike rules. If you are selling an electric moped, note the motor's wattage and the top speed on the bill of sale so the buyer's DMV can place it in the right category.

What to Include in a Moped Bill of Sale

A moped bill of sale is short, but every field earns its place. Leave one out and you create the gap that a dispute or a registration clerk will find.

1. Seller and Buyer Information

Full legal names, current addresses, and phone numbers for both people. If two people co-own the moped, list both sellers. Accurate contact details matter more than they seem to: if the buyer never registers the vehicle, the seller may need to prove who they sold it to.

2. Moped Description

Identify the specific vehicle so it cannot be confused with another:

Year, make, and model
Color
Engine displacement in cc (this sets the legal classification)
VIN, or the frame or serial number if there is no VIN
License plate number, if the moped is currently plated
Odometer reading, if the moped has one

3. Sale Price and Payment

State the agreed price in numbers and words, and note how it was paid: cash, cashier's check, money order, or a payment app. If the buyer is paying in installments, spell out the schedule and say clearly whether ownership transfers now or only after the final payment.

4. Odometer Disclosure

Many mopeds have odometers, and some states require an odometer statement on transfer. If yours does, record the mileage and note whether it reflects actual miles or has rolled over or is known to be inaccurate. Even where it is not required, an honest mileage figure protects the seller from a later claim.

5. "As-Is" Clause

For a private used sale, state that the moped is sold as-is, in its present condition, with no warranty of any kind. This tells the buyer they are accepting the vehicle's current mechanical state and blocks a later claim that the seller promised the moped was flawless. If you genuinely are offering a limited warranty, describe exactly what it covers and for how long.

6. Date and Signatures

The sale date, plus signatures from both the seller and the buyer. If your state requires notarization, both parties sign in front of a notary. Give each side a signed copy.

How to Write a Moped Bill of Sale: Step by Step

Step 1: Confirm your state's classification and title rules. Check whether your state titles mopeds and whether notarization is required. A quick search of your DMV or BMV site for "moped registration" answers both questions and tells you what the buyer will need to bring in.

Step 2: Gather the vehicle details. Read the VIN or serial number off the frame, note the engine size, and record the current odometer reading and plate number. Copy them carefully; a transposed digit on the VIN can hold up registration.

Step 3: Fill in both parties' information. Use full legal names and current addresses. Double-check spelling against a driver's license.

Step 4: Record the price and payment method. Write the number and the words, and note how the buyer paid. For a gift, write "gift" or "$0."

Step 5: Add the odometer and as-is language. Include the mileage statement if the moped has an odometer, and add the as-is clause for a used private sale.

Step 6: Sign, date, and split copies. Both parties sign and date. Notarize if your state calls for it. Each person keeps a signed original, and the buyer takes theirs to the DMV to register.

Step 7: Close out the seller's obligations. The seller should cancel or transfer insurance and, if the state uses them, remove the plate or file a notice of transfer so future tickets do not land on the old owner.

Title, Registration, and the Handoff

The paperwork does not end when both parties sign. What happens next depends on your state:

Title states. If your state titles mopeds, the seller signs the title over to the buyer, and the bill of sale rides alongside it. The buyer registers the moped and pays sales tax based on the price you wrote down.
No-title states. Where mopeds are exempt from titling, the bill of sale plus the prior registration is the ownership trail. Keep it safe; there is no title to fall back on.
Registration decals. Many places require a moped-specific decal or license plate. The buyer usually needs the bill of sale to obtain one.

The seller's job is not finished until they have protected themselves from future liability. Cancel the insurance policy only after the sale closes, notify the DMV if your state offers a release-of-liability filing, and keep your copy of the bill of sale for several years. If you want a broader refresher on why this document matters for any vehicle, our guide on whether you need a bill of sale when selling your vehicle covers the ownership-and-liability logic in more depth.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Calling it a "moped" without the engine size. The label is not what the DMV cares about. Write the displacement in cc so the vehicle's legal class is unambiguous and the buyer can register it correctly.

Leaving out the VIN or serial number. Without it, the bill of sale describes "a moped" rather than "this moped." That vagueness is worth nothing if the vehicle is later stolen, ticketed, or disputed.

Skipping the as-is clause. A used moped changes hands in whatever condition it is in. Selling without an as-is clause leaves the door open for the buyer to demand a refund when the carburetor acts up next week.

Assuming no title means no paperwork. A missing title makes the bill of sale more important, not less. It is the only ownership record you will have.

Not keeping a copy. The seller needs proof of the sale date to fight tickets or toll charges that arrive after the handoff. Never give away your only signed copy.

Guessing on notarization. A bill of sale that should have been notarized but was not can be rejected at the registration window, forcing both parties to meet again. Confirm the rule before you sign.

Related Bill of Sale Guides

A moped sale shares the same DNA as other small-vehicle transfers, and the clause language carries over. If you also deal in larger two-wheelers, our motorcycle bill of sale template walks through the extra titling steps that kick in above the moped engine threshold. For off-road machines, the ATV bill of sale template covers similar VIN and as-is considerations. And if you sell through online marketplaces, selling your stuff online safely with a bill of sale is worth a read before you meet a stranger with cash.

Related guides

Generate Your Moped Bill of Sale with Contractable

A moped bill of sale is short, but the details, the engine size, the VIN, the odometer statement, and the right as-is language, are what make it hold up. Contractable builds a customized moped bill of sale in seconds, with the correct fields for your state and your sale, so you can close the deal with paperwork that actually protects you. No legal knowledge required.