Car bill of sale: template and what to record in it

Why it is always worth making a bill of sale

The Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (KKV) advises accepting only a written agreement when buying a car and checking before signing that everything agreed has been recorded. In a dispute, what the paper says is often decisive: what was said about the car's condition, which defects were known and what was promised to be repaired.

Traficom instructs the seller to print the transfer document in two copies, fill it in and sign it together with the buyer, and keep their own copy in case of a dispute. The transfer document proves the transfer of ownership, but the condition, defects and payment terms are best agreed in more detail in a separate bill of sale or on an extra page of the transfer document.

What is recorded in the deed of sale

According to KKV's guidance, the contract must show at least the accessories corresponding to the actual equipment, the items agreed to be repaired and the repair time, known defects that remain the buyer's responsibility, the price of any trade-in car, the purchase price and payment terms, and the terms of any warranty and additional cover. In addition, it is worth including in the bill of sale:

names, addresses and phone numbers of the parties
the car's registration number, make, model and vehicle identification number (VIN)
odometer reading at the time of sale
purchase price, payment method and payment date
handover date and time at which responsibility transfers
keys, tyres and documents to be handed over, such as the service book
information given by the seller on condition and known defects

Condition and defects: record carefully

According to KKV, a used car has a defect if it is in poorer condition than the buyer could have expected, taking into account the car's age, mileage, price and the information given by the seller. The seller is not liable for a defect that was disclosed before the sale and that the buyer accepted. That is why known defects should be listed individually in the bill of sale, for example rust damage on the left front door or an oil leak from the gearbox, rather than with a general mention alone.

KKV also advises taking the car for a test drive and inspecting it visually if possible. If the car has been inspected at a garage or vehicle inspection station, the report can be mentioned in the bill of sale and a copy attached.

Change of owner to Traficom

According to Traficom, the buyer must register the change of ownership within 7 days of the transfer of ownership. The buyer can do this on the basis of the transfer notification made by the seller, the certificate, or the notification section of the registration certificate.

The seller should submit the notice of transfer in Traficom's Oma asiointi service as soon as the sale is confirmed. According to Traficom, the notice of transfer ends the seller's responsibility for the car, and the seller no longer has to pay vehicle tax or other charges. For the electronic notice the seller always needs the buyer's personal identity code or Business ID, so it is worth asking for it when closing the deal and checking the buyer's identity at the same time.

Private sale or car dealer

When you buy a car from a dealer, the Consumer Protection Act applies to the sale and the dealer is liable for defects. If problems arise, you can turn to consumer advice and, if necessary, take the matter free of charge to the Consumer Disputes Board, whose recommendation, however, does not bind the parties in the same way as a court judgment.

The Consumer Protection Act does not apply to a sale between two private individuals. According to KKV, the sale is then governed by the defect provisions of the Sale of Goods Act, unless the parties have agreed otherwise. The Consumer Advisory Service does not handle car sales between private individuals, and the Consumer Disputes Board has no jurisdiction. That is precisely why a careful bill of sale is especially important in a private sale. If the dispute cannot be settled, help is available from, for example, a lawyer or a legal aid office.

Template: car sales contract

The template below is intended for sales between private individuals. Fill in the parts in square brackets, make two copies and have both parties sign.

Template – copy and edit

CAR SALE AGREEMENT

Seller: Matti Meikäläinen, [address], [phone]

Buyer: Maija Meikäläinen, [address], [phone]

Vehicle: [make and model], registration number [ABC-123], serial number [VIN], year of first registration [year]

Odometer reading at the time of sale: [km]

Purchase price: [amount] euros. Payment method: [bank transfer/cash]. Payment date: [date].

Handover: [date] at [time]. Responsibility for the vehicle passes to the buyer at the moment of handover.

Handed over: [number] keys, [summer/winter tyres with rims], service book, [other equipment].

Defects and shortcomings known to the seller: [itemised list or "no known defects"].

Additional information given by the seller: [e.g. latest service, repairs made, collision history].

Agreed repairs before handover: [description and deadline, or "no agreed repairs"].

The buyer has test-driven and inspected the vehicle on [date]. [Inspection report attached / no inspection.]

The seller submits a notice of transfer to Traficom and the buyer registers the change of ownership within 7 days of the transfer at the latest.

The buyer is responsible for the vehicle's motor insurance from the moment of handover.

Place and date: [town, date]

Seller's signature and printed name

Buyer's signature and printed name

If you want to calculate before buying what a car costs per year, Tutkat.fi's paid Car Annual Cost Calculator adds the costs together.

Frequently asked questions

Who files the notification of a change of ownership?

The buyer registers the change of ownership no later than 7 days after ownership passes. The seller should submit the notice of transfer as soon as the sale is confirmed, so that their responsibility for the car ends.

Is a handwritten deed of sale valid?

There is no single mandatory form for a bill of sale. What matters is that the agreed terms are clearly recorded and both parties have signed it.

Does consumer advice help if a car bought from a private seller has a fault?

No. According to the FCCA, consumer advice does not handle car sales between private individuals, and the Consumer Disputes Board has no jurisdiction over them.

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Sources

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.

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