How it works
You found the car. We handle the paperwork and directions.
FSBO Auto starts when a private deal already exists, wherever you found each other. From the handshake to the completed transfer, you get the right documents for your state, plain-English directions on where to file them, and the facts both sides need to agree a fair price.
What we provide
A bill of sale for your state
Each state gets its own document: that state's required fields, notary or witness rules if it has them, and state-specific clauses, on top of shared protective language (as-is, known defects, odometer, lien, condition snapshot). We never substitute a generic form.
Filing directions: what to file, where, and how
For every filing in the deal: the form, the office or portal, in person or online or by mail with the official link, the fee, and the deadline. We say plainly which steps cannot be done online in your state and what to bring.
A vehicle history report
From a licensed provider, with NMVTIS-sourced fields labelled and the pull date shown. Cached reports are shown with their original date, never as new.
A market value range
Private-party and dealer-retail ranges from a licensed source, labelled as indicative, not an appraisal.
The loose ends
License plates (stay with the seller or go with the car, by state), toll-tag removal and account deactivation, insurance handoff, lien release, and the seller's liability cutoff: the details that get people in trouble after the handshake.
What we are not
Not a dealer
We do not buy, sell, or own vehicles, and we do not take a spread.
Not an escrow agent
We never hold, route, or touch your money. If you choose escrow, you deal with the escrow partner directly, on their terms.
Not your lawyer
Nothing here is legal advice. The documents are templates. If your situation is unusual, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state.
Not a party to your sale
The agreement is between the buyer and the seller. We are not in it, and we do not promise how it turns out.
The dealer spread, and why both sides keep more of it privately
When you trade a car in, the dealer pays you a trade-in value. They recondition it, carry it on the lot, and sell it at dealer retail. The difference is the dealer spread, and it pays for the lot, the staff, the warranty, and the profit.
In a private sale there is no lot. The seller can ask more than trade-in and the buyer can pay less than retail, and both are better off than they would be at the dealer. The private-party range sits between the two. Where you land inside it depends on condition, mileage, history, and how much each side wants the deal, which is exactly what the history report, the value range, and the inspection help you settle.
| Price point | Example | Who it favours |
|---|---|---|
| Trade-in | $12,000 | The dealer |
| Private party | $13,500 – $15,000 | Both of you, split as you agree |
| Dealer retail | $16,500 | The dealer |
What the dealer also gave you was the paperwork done right and a document trail. That part is our job: the same filing done correctly, the same disclosures written down, without the spread.
How both sides get to a fair deal, comfortably
1. The history report
What it can tell you: whether any state ever branded the title salvage, rebuilt, flood, junk, or lemon; odometer readings over time and rollback flags; and, from some providers, reported accidents and open liens.
What it cannot tell you: unreported crashes, current mechanical condition, or whether the seller is who they say they are. That is what the pre-purchase inspection, the title check, and the ID check are for.
2. The value range
Trade-in, private-party, and dealer-retail ranges from a licensed source, labelled with that source and date. They are indicative, not an appraisal. The gap between trade-in and retail is the dealer spread. A private sale lets you land inside it: the seller gets more than trade-in, the buyer pays less than retail.
3. The protective bill of sale
Your state's own document, with the as-is clause, the seller's known-defects disclosure, the odometer statement, the lien declaration, and a dated condition snapshot with photos. It records what both sides saw and agreed, so neither side has to rely on memory later.
Put together: the report tells you what the records say, the range tells you what the market says, and the bill of sale writes down what you two agreed. None of it is a verdict. We do not set or certify your price, and we are not a party to your sale.
What we charge
The guide and the checklist are free to read. The bill of sale and the fair-deal check are priced per deal, and the price is shown before you pay for anything. History reports and valuations are pass-through items from licensed providers. If you use a partner service, that partner charges you under its own terms and may pay us a referral fee; it never changes your price with them.
The full disclaimer
FSBO Auto provides document templates and filing directions for private-party vehicle sales. That is all we provide.
Nothing on this site is legal advice. We are not a law firm and we do not know your situation. If you need legal advice, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state.
We are not a party to your sale. The contract is between the buyer and the seller. We do not buy, sell, inspect, insure, finance, title, or deliver vehicles, and we never hold or move money.
Guidance only. Every state rule on this site carries a verification date and its official sources. Rules, fees, forms, and deadlines change. You are responsible for confirming current requirements with your state DMV or county office before you file.
No outcomes are promised. We do not promise a particular price, a clean title, that a step can be completed online, or that any document will protect you in a dispute. We describe what the state requires and give you a document that records what both sides agreed.
Partner services (history reports, valuations, escrow, inspections, insurance, financing, warranties, transport) are provided by third parties under their own terms. We may earn a referral fee. We are not responsible for their services.
Read the terms of service and the privacy notice.