If you dont 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: First of all, make sure youve got all the necessary documents, including registration, and other papers that the buyer might request. Then, think about the price, i.e. the lowest price you would accept. Dont forget to include the expenses, such as advertising and the cost of cleaning, for instance. Before advertising the boat, it is necessary to check whether everything functions properly and ensure that all the parts are in order. The next step is cleaning, waxing, and spraying. Make sure your vessel looks its best both from the outside and from the inside; 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; When the documents, photos, and the boat itself is ready for the sale, its 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. Dont forget to include your boat details: its length, model, color, and other features. 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 youd better think about answers to these questions in advance. 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. 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.

Boat Bill of Sale Forms by State

What Is a Boat Bill of Sale?

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.

Alabama	Hawaii	Massachusetts	New Mexico	South Dakota
Alaska	Idaho	Michigan	New York	Tennessee
Arizona	Illinois	Minnesota	North Carolina	Texas
Arkansas	Indiana	Mississippi	North Dakota	Utah
California	Iowa	Missouri	Ohio	Vermont
Colorado	Kansas	Montana	Oklahoma	Virginia
Connecticut	Kentucky	Nebraska	Oregon	Washington
Delaware	Louisiana	Nevada	Pennsylvania	West Virginia
Florida	Maine	New Hampshire	Rhode Island	Wisconsin
Georgia	Maryland	New Jersey	South Carolina	Wyoming

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:

First of all, make sure you’ve got all the necessary documents, including registration, and other papers that the buyer might request.
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.
Before advertising the boat, it is necessary to check whether everything functions properly and ensure that all the parts are in order.
The next step is cleaning, waxing, and spraying. Make sure your vessel looks its best both from the outside and from the inside;
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;
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.
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.
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.
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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