Boat Bill of Sale Forms by State

What Is a Boat Bill of Sale?

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A Boat Bill of Sale - also known as a Vessel Bill of Sale or a Sales Slip - is used to record the purchase of a vessel of any type. The form records the transfer of a used boat (in this case the contract will be called a Used Boat Bill of Sale) or a new boat from a seller to a buyer. A document of this kind protects both parties of the deal, in case any issues of illegal nature occur in the future. The form serves primarily as proof that the vessel was paid for in full. It also gives all the necessary details, such as the time and place of the transaction, as well as information on both parties. Moreover, in many states, this document will be needed to register and insure the newly bought boat.

Use our version of a customizable Boat Bill of Sale template or select your state from the list below for more information on how to title and register a boat in your state of residence.

AlabamaHawaiiMassachusettsNew MexicoSouth Dakota
AlaskaIdahoMichiganNew YorkTennessee
ArizonaIllinoisMinnesotaNorth CarolinaTexas
ArkansasIndianaMississippiNorth DakotaUtah
CaliforniaIowaMissouriOhioVermont
ColoradoKansasMontanaOklahomaVirginia
ConnecticutKentuckyNebraskaOregonWashington
DelawareLouisianaNevadaPennsylvaniaWest Virginia
FloridaMaineNew HampshireRhode IslandWisconsin
GeorgiaMarylandNew JerseySouth CarolinaWyoming

How to Sell a Boat?

If you don’t know how to sell a boat, don't worry. Selling a boat is very much like selling a car, although the procedure includes some specific features:

  1. First of all, make sure you’ve got all the necessary documents, including registration, and other papers that the buyer might request.
  2. Then, think about the price, i.e. the lowest price you would accept. Don’t forget to include the expenses, such as advertising and the cost of cleaning, for instance.
  3. Before advertising the boat, it is necessary to check whether everything functions properly and ensure that all the parts are in order.
  4. The next step is cleaning, waxing, and spraying. Make sure your vessel looks its best both from the outside and from the inside;
  5. Now that your boat is shiny and clean you can take pictures, to get ready for advertising. Make sure you take high-quality photos that show all the features and the shortcomings of your vessel;
  6. When the documents, photos, and the boat itself is ready for the sale, it’s time to decide whether you want to sell the vessel yourself, or if using a broker or dealer is a better option for you. You can choose to sell your boat through a boat listing website, or use any of the old-fashioned methods (like posting in a local newspaper, if that appeals to you). You can also use social media groups designed for this purpose, or use all these means simultaneously. Don’t forget to include your boat details: its length, model, color, and other features.
  7. After you started advertising the boat, potential buyers will write to you with questions. That is why you have to write your ad description as detailed as possible. But, of course, you will still have to respond and negotiate. Get ready to speak about the delivery option and the price, so you’d better think about answers to these questions in advance.
  8. You will also need to find the time to show and test the boat. If your schedule does not allow this, hiring a professional would help. This will also secure you from fraud. Professional dealers can easily identify a suspicious buyer. But if you decide to perform the transaction yourself, beware of any person who does not ask questions, except for monetary ones, and do not trust those who are ready to close the deal before seeing the vessel.
  9. Once you found a real buyer, it is time to create a Boat Bill of Sale summarizing the information about the vessel and both of the participating parties. Contact the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) to make sure your documents meet the requirements.

Before transferring ownership, make sure you actually own the vehicle and no debts remain on the boat.

How to Write a Boat Bill of Sale?

The requirements for Bills of Sale differ from state to state. That is why, when buying or selling a vessel you should check your local DMV or Division of Fish and Wildlife to make sure you have an accurate document that meets the law requirements.

In most situations, the form will act as a receipt, however, the information included is generally more detailed. A Vessel Bill of Sale should provide the following information:

  • The seller's contact information;
  • The buyer's contact information;
  • Date of purchase;
  • Purchase price;
  • A full description of the watercraft giving all the details, such as make, model, year, color, previous color, condition, hull identification number (HIN), etc;
  • Information on what is sold along with the boat;
  • If there is an outboard motor or a trailer, you should also state this and include all the information on it;
  • Warranty information;
  • Three signatures: the seller's, the buyer's, and notary's (if required by your state law).

How to Get a Title for a Boat with a Bill of Sale?

When the deal is complete, the new owner must register the boat. To apply for a legal title the buyer has to go to the DMV or another state agency that deals with boat registrations. In each state, however, the requirements concerning fees and forms are different. Having a Bill of Sale will prove the act of purchase and allow you to get the title.


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This is an official state form you must complete when selling or buying a boat in the state of Kansas. It contains important information about the seller, the buyer, and the boat you purchase, as well as the details of the transaction.

Get this official Utah Bill of Sale that allows a seller and purchaser to exchange a certain amount of money for a motor vehicle. This document is suitable for the sale or purchase of a car, motorcycle, truck, snowmobile or boat in the state.

Use this official state-issued form to record the transfer of a watercraft and motor from a seller to a buyer. This document supports the fact of the sale and provides basic details of the deal. This document was released by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

This document is used for transferring ownership of a vessel (boat) in Citrus County, Florida. It serves as a legal proof of the sale and provides details about the buyer, seller, and the vessel being sold.

This form is used for reporting the casual or isolated sale of a vessel or boat in the state of Tennessee.

This document is used to officially transfer ownership of a watercraft in Barton County, Kansas. It ensures that both the buyer and seller have a record of the sale and includes important details about the watercraft, such as the make, model, and hull number.

Fill out this form if you wish to buy or sell a boat in the state of North Carolina. It allows you to record important details pertinent to the watercraft transfer. The document is accepted by all government bodies in North Carolina as proof of sale.

Use this document if you need to buy or sell a vehicle, mobile home or a vessel in the state of Florida. This form serves both as a bill of sale and notice of sale and is required during the vehicle's registration. It is an important document for the seller and the buyer.

This document is used for recording the sale of a vessel or trailer in Lee County, Florida. It includes details of the buyer, seller, and the vessel/trailer being sold.

This is the official state form you must complete when selling or buying a vehicle or boat in the state of Massachusetts. It is issued by the Massachusetts Division of Law Enforcement and contains important information about the seller, buyer, and the vehicle or boat you are purchasing, as well as details of the transaction.

This is a legal form used during the sale or purchase of a watercraft. It is an important document you will need to record the transfer of ownership and make your transaction legitimate.

Download this official Nebraska document that outlines the details of the sale and purchase of a vehicle from the seller to the buyer. You can also use this form as a Watercraft Bill of Sale for motorboats.

Fill out this legal document if you wish to buy or sell a boat in the State of Hawaii. The form allows you to record important details pertinent to a watercraft transfer. The document is accepted by all government bodies in the state as a proof of sale.

This form is used for requesting a change of status in Hawaii. It is used to inform the authorities about any changes in your personal or professional circumstances that may affect your current status.

This is a state official form issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR Services) that you must complete when selling or buying a boat in the state of Maryland. It contains important information about the parties of a transaction, as well as about the vessel being purchased.

Download this bill of sale in order to document the transfer of a vessel from the seller to the purchaser in Oregon. It is used to prove ownership of the sold boat and to release the previous owner from the liability for the watercraft.

Download this official state-issued form in order to document the transfer of a vessel from the seller to the purchaser. It is required to prove ownership of the sold boat and to release the previous owner from the liability for the boat.

This document is used to transfer ownership of a motor boat in Limestone County, Alabama. It serves as a legal proof of the transaction.

This document is used for transferring ownership of a motor boat in Morgan County, Alabama. It is a bill of sale that serves as legal proof of the sale transaction.

This document is used for transferring ownership of a boat in Shelby County, Alabama. It contains all the necessary information about the buyer, seller, and the boat itself.

Download this form if you need to sell or purchase a watercraft in the state of Delaware. This form is equally important for both the seller and the buyer. Its main purpose is to serve as proof of payment of the boat transfer.

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This document is a Bill of Sale specifically for a boat purchase in Manatee County, Florida. It serves as proof of ownership transfer and outlines important details about the boat transaction.

An Alabama Boat Bill of Sale is a legal document that the seller will provide to the buyer at the time of purchase to prove the change in ownership of a vessel.

Download this document to prove the fact of a boat purchase in the state of Alaska. You have to prepare this form to serve as a purchase receipt and as written proof of the purchase.

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Use this document if you are buying or selling a boat in order to transfer the ownership of the vessel in exchange for monetary compensation. You can use this document for purchasing of used, new, or handmade boats.

This form is a document you use to substantiate the transfer of a motor vehicle or watercraft from the seller to the buyer. This state-approved document helps to record the transaction information and serves as proof of purchase.

If you need to sell or buy watercraft in the state of Illinois, you are welcome to use this template. It contains a section on personal details that identify both parties of a sale, the description of the boat, and the terms of the purchase.

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Download this document to formalize your purchase of a watercraft. This form is one of the key documents that makes the transaction legitimate. It proves the agreement of the parties took place, which can protect the seller and the buyer from any conflicts that may occur in the future.

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This document is used for recording the sale and transfer of ownership of a watercraft in Coffey County, Kansas.

This document is used for buying or selling watercraft in Butler County, Kansas. It serves as proof of ownership transfer and includes information about the buyer, seller, and the watercraft being sold.

Use our template in the event you need to sell or buy watercraft in the state of Kentucky. Enter your personal details that allow the identification of both parties of the sale, the description of the boat, and the terms of the purchase.

This template generally includes information about parties of a transaction, as well as details about the boat and constitutes a legally binding agreement between a seller and a buyer. It can be used in the state of Maine to transfer ownership of a boat.

This document is used for transferring ownership of a boat in Franklin County, Massachusetts. It contains important details about the sale, including the buyer and seller information, boat description, price, and signatures.

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