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Quick overview
What “as is” means
Selling as is means the buyer takes the car in the condition it is in, with its faults, and you don't promise that anything on it works or will keep working.
Nevada's statute covers it in a single sentence. NRS 104.2316 says that, unless the circumstances indicate otherwise, all implied warranties are excluded by expressions like “as is,” “with all faults” or other language that makes plain there is no implied warranty. That is a general rule for sales of goods, not one written only for cars.
Dealers are different. The FTC's Used Car Rule applies to dealers who sell, or offer for sale, more than five used vehicles in a 12-month period, and it has them say on a Buyers Guide whether a car is sold as is or with a warranty. We are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice.
What the Nevada DMV bill of sale does and doesn't say
The VP-104 bill of sale is the form most Nevada sellers use. Three things about it matter here:
- It has no “as is” wording. It identifies the vehicle, the buyer and the price.
- It carries a promise about title. By signing, the seller certifies they are the lawful owner and will warrant and defend the title against claims, except any lienholder noted on the form.
- It can't be altered. The form says changes may not be made once it is signed, and its instructions say alterations or erasures will require additional documentation or verification.
A bill of sale is also not a title. The DMV's Registration and Title Guide says a bill of sale does not replace a Certificate of Title and must be accompanied by the title or other ownership documents. If your title is missing, start with getting a duplicate Nevada title.
How to put “as is” in writing
Because the form has no space for it, keep the VP-104 as the DMV prints it and write a short separate note.
- Leave the VP-104 alone. Fill it in as the DMV asks and don't add lines to it.
- Write a short note. Put the date, the year, make and model, the VIN and the odometer reading. List the problems you know about and have told the buyer. Add a plain sentence, such as “Sold as is, with no warranty.”
- Sign and keep copies. You both sign it, and each of you keeps a copy.
What goes on the VP-104: the vehicle, the buyer, the price, and the seller's promise about title.
What goes on your own note: the vehicle details again, “Sold as is, with no warranty,” and the problems you've told the buyer about.
This is a practical way to record a sale, not a legal requirement and not legal advice. If a sale is large or the car has a serious problem, ask the Nevada DMV or an attorney.
Fix it first, or sell it as is?
If you aren't sure the repair is worth it, the answer depends on the car. Our guides to the check engine light, a blown engine or transmission and a failed smog test each look at fixing versus selling as is.
You can also sell to a buyer instead of a stranger. Four ways to sell a car in Las Vegas, compared sets out the trade-offs.
If you sell it to us
We buy cars you fully own, running or not. You get an offer online in about two minutes, and the offer is firm once you accept it unless the car isn't as described. So describe the car honestly in the quote, including anything that doesn't work.
Common questions
- What does it mean to sell a car as is?
- It means you sell the car in its current condition and aren't promising that it works or will keep working. In Nevada, NRS 104.2316 says expressions like “as is” or “with all faults” exclude implied warranties, unless the circumstances indicate otherwise.
- Do I have to write “as is” on the bill of sale?
- Nothing we found requires it. The DMV's VP-104 bill of sale has no “as is” wording, and its instructions are about identifying the vehicle, the buyer and the price. Putting your own wording in writing is a practical step, not a DMV requirement.
- Can I add “as is” to the VP-104?
- We wouldn't. The form says changes may not be made once it is signed, and its instructions say alterations or erasures require additional documentation or verification. Leave the form as the DMV prints it and put your wording on a separate note that you both sign.
- Is a bill of sale the same as a title?
- No. The Nevada DMV's Registration and Title Guide says a bill of sale does not replace a Certificate of Title, and that it must be accompanied by the title or other ownership documents.
- Does the FTC Buyers Guide apply when I sell my own car?
- The FTC's Used Car Rule applies to car dealers who sell, or offer for sale, more than five used vehicles in a 12-month period. It requires them to say whether a car is sold as is or with a warranty. We did not find that it covers a one-off owner sale, so check the FTC's guidance if you are unsure.
- Should I tell the buyer about problems with the car?
- We could not find a Nevada rule that spells out a duty for private sellers either way, so treat this as practical advice. Listing the problems you know about on the note you both sign is the clearest record of what the buyer was told.
- Can I sell a car that doesn't run as is?
- Yes. You can describe the car's condition honestly and sell it as is. If you'd rather sell to a buyer than to a stranger, we buy cars running or not.
