In most cases, a bill of sale does not need to be notarized in Maryland. A signed document between buyer and seller is legally sufficient for everyday personal property like furniture, tools, equipment, or electronics. The main exception is vehicle sales: the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration requires a notarized bill of sale on its own form when a vehicle less than seven years old sells for less than its book value. Boats have their own rule, and it is more flexible than many sellers assume.
The Vehicle Exception
Vehicle transactions are where notarization actually matters. The MVA requires a notarized bill of sale on Form VR-181 when two conditions are both true: the vehicle is seven years old or newer, and the sale price is below the vehicle’s book value.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Buying a Vehicle in Maryland The notarized form documents the actual purchase price so the MVA calculates the 6.5% excise tax on what you paid rather than on a higher book value.
Skip the notarization and the MVA taxes you on book value. Buy a five-year-old car with a $15,000 book value for $11,000, and the tax on book value is $975 versus $715 on the actual price. The notarized form saves $260 in that example.
There is a practical shortcut. If your purchase price is within $500 of book value, the MVA will accept the price written on the title assignment without a notarized bill of sale.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Buying a Vehicle in Maryland The notarization requirement really only bites when the gap between price and book value is meaningful.
You do not need a notarized bill of sale when the vehicle is older than seven years or when the sale price meets or exceeds book value.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Buying a Vehicle in Maryland For vehicles seven years and older, excise tax is calculated on the purchase price or a minimum value of $640, whichever is greater.2Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Title and Registration Information
One more detail on the form itself: the MVA will not accept a generic bill of sale in place of Form VR-181 when the notarization conditions apply. If you want to confirm a vehicle’s book value before deciding, the MVA Customer Service Center is at 1-410-768-7000.
Boats
Maryland requires vessel owners to apply for a certificate of title within 30 days of purchase, and the application must show the date of sale and purchase price. That application has to be either sworn before a notary public or accompanied by a written certification stating the information is true and correct under penalty of perjury.3Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Natural Resources 8-715 – Certificate of Title for Vessels The written certification option means notarization is not strictly required.
Notarization becomes useful for boats when supporting documents are incomplete. If a manufacturer’s certificate of origin or a prior title assignment is missing the buyer’s name, the purchase price, or the seller’s signature, a notarized bill of sale can fill the gap and keep the Department of Natural Resources moving on the title.
Other Personal Property
For anything other than vehicles and boats, Maryland does not require notarization. A signed bill of sale is legally sufficient for furniture, instruments, livestock, and equipment.
One statute is still worth knowing. Maryland’s Uniform Commercial Code requires a written document for the sale of goods worth $500 or more. Without something in writing signed by the party you want to hold to the deal, the contract may not be enforceable in court.4Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Commercial Law 2-201 A bill of sale meets that requirement. Below $500, an oral agreement can be valid, but a written bill of sale is still smart protection.
What to Include in the Document
Maryland does not publish a single list of required elements for every bill of sale, but the following are standard and expected by agencies like the MVA and DNR:
- Full names and addresses of the buyer and seller
- A description of the property, including any VIN, hull identification number, or serial number
- The purchase price
- The date of the sale
- Signatures of both parties
For vehicles requiring notarization, use Form VR-181 rather than a generic template.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Buying a Vehicle in Maryland
How the Notarization Works
When notarization is needed, both parties should appear before the notary together with the unsigned document and valid photo identification. The notary verifies each person’s identity, watches the signatures happen, and applies the official seal. Do not sign in advance; the notary has to witness the signing.
Fees are capped by regulation. An in-person notarial act costs no more than $8 per signature, and additional copies of the same document signed at the same time cost $4 per signature. Remote online notarization is capped at $30.5Maryland Secretary of State. COMAR 01.02.08.02 – Charges and Fees Notaries are available at banks, credit unions, shipping stores, and some law offices, and many charge less than the maximum or waive the fee for account holders.
Notarizing by Video
Maryland permits remote online notarization under ยง 18-214 of the State Government Article. The notary must be physically located in Maryland, but the signer can be anywhere, including outside the United States. The notary verifies identity through credential analysis and identity proofing, records the session on audio and video, and keeps the recording for at least 10 years.6Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code State Government 18-214 One caveat: no person or agency is required to accept a remotely notarized document, so call the MVA or DNR before relying on it for a titled asset.
Notarizing When You Don’t Have To
Even where the law does not require it, notarization can be worth the $8 fee for a high-value private sale. The notary independently confirms the signers’ identities and that they signed voluntarily, and the seal carries weight in court if a dispute arises later over whether a sale happened or whether a signature is genuine. For a $200 end table, that is overkill. For a $5,000 piece of equipment bought from someone you found online, it is cheap insurance.