Is a bill of sale required to sell a boat?

It depends on the state, and on whether the boat has a title. Some states write the bill of sale into their own forms — Florida’s HSMV 82050 covers vessels, California’s REG 135 is a vehicle/vessel form, New York’s MV-912 lists boats and hull numbers — and Texas Parks & Wildlife says a signed bill of sale or invoice is required for every transfer of ownership, though a tax affidavit the seller completes and signs on the PWD 143 application counts in its place. Even where it is optional, it is the buyer’s proof of what was paid and the seller’s proof of when they stopped owning the boat.

Does a boat bill of sale transfer the title?

No. Where a boat is titled, the title is transferred by assigning it (or by the state’s title application); the bill of sale records the sale and supports that application. Where a boat is only registered, the registration is transferred with the state’s application form and the bill of sale is the proof of ownership behind it.

Where do I find the Hull Identification Number?

The HIN is the 12-character code moulded or stamped on the outside of the transom, usually on the upper starboard side. Copy it exactly — it is the boat’s equivalent of a VIN and is what the registration and title are keyed to.

Should the motor and trailer be on the same bill of sale?

You can list them on the same document — this generator gives each its own line — but price them separately. In Texas the outboard motor is titled separately on form PWD 144, and Texas Parks & Wildlife requires the price of the trailer to be separated from the price of the boat and motor, because a trailer is taxed as a motor vehicle through the county tax office. In Florida an itemized bill of sale that separates the boat from the motor means sales tax is calculated only on the boat.

Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

Rarely as a state rule. California’s DMV states a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed, and the official bill of sale forms we read for Washington, Nevada and California carry buyer and seller signatures only. Some states do require the title assignment itself to be notarized, so check the rule for the state where the boat is registered — the state pages linked below cite each source.

What does “as-is” mean for a used boat?

The buyer accepts the boat, motor and trailer in their current condition, with no warranty from the seller about seaworthiness, the engine or anything else. It does not excuse the seller from stating what they know to be true — a false description or a hidden lien is still the seller’s problem.

Is this legal advice?

No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Boat titling and registration rules are set by each state; consult a licensed attorney for advice about your specific situation.

Boat Bill of Sale — Free Template & Generator

Fill in a boat bill of sale with the hull identification number, registration or documentation number, engine hours, and separate lines for the motor and trailer — then download it as PDF or Word. Generated on your device, no signup.

Free
No signup
Word & PDF
HIN, motor & trailer lines

How it works

01
Describe the vessel
Year, make, model, length, the Hull Identification Number and the state registration or USCG documentation number.
02
Add the motor and trailer
Two optional lines — make, horsepower and serial number for the motor; year, make and VIN for the trailer — so each item is identified on its own.
03
Set price, payment and as-is
Sale price, how it was paid, and whether the boat is sold as-is with no warranty (the usual private sale).
04
Download Word & PDF
A signed-ready boat bill of sale generated on your device — nothing is uploaded.

What a boat bill of sale must include

Identify the vessel, the motor and the trailer — separately

A boat sale is often three items with three paper trails: the hull, an outboard motor and a trailer. The government sample forms that rank for this search (Texas Parks & Wildlife, Massachusetts, county tax offices) all ask for the same core facts, and this generator puts each on its own line:

Hull Identification Number (HIN) — the 12-character code on the transom, entered exactly.
State registration number or USCG documentation number — e.g. the “TX 1234 AB” bow number or the Coast Guard documentation number for a documented vessel.
Vessel description — year, make, model, length, hull material and color.
Motor — make, horsepower and serial number. Many states title or register an outboard motor separately from the hull, so its serial number should appear on the sale document.
Trailer — year, make and VIN. A trailer is a road vehicle and is usually titled or registered through the motor-vehicle office, not the boating agency.
Price, date and payment method, the seller’s and buyer’s names and addresses, and both signatures.
As-is terms and a title warranty — the seller confirms they own the boat free of liens, and the buyer accepts it in its current condition.

State notes, cited to the source

Texas: Texas Parks & Wildlife states that “a signed bill of sale or invoice is required for every transfer of ownership”, and accepts three documents for it: a hand-written receipt or sales invoice, a Vessel/Boat Application (PWD 143) on which the seller has completed and signed the tax-affidavit section, or the back of a brown TPWD title. A hand-written receipt must show the date of sale, the sales price not including the trailer, a description of the vessel and outboard motor (make, model year, and the TX number or serial number), the purchaser’s name and the seller’s signature — and PWD 143 requires an original signature, not a copy. The outboard motor is titled separately on form PWD 144, and the price of the trailer must be separated from the price of the boat and motor, because a trailer is taxed as a motor vehicle through the county tax office. On the deadline: boat and boat motor sales tax is due on the 45th working day after the boat is delivered to the buyer — Texas Tax Code §160.041(c), amended in 2019 from the older 20-working-day rule — and an application filed later carries tax penalties and interest. Titling has its own, separate deadline: Parks & Wildlife Code §31.046 gives the purchaser 45 calendar days from the sale, and §31.037 gives the seller 20 days to notify the department of the transfer. Texas Parks & Wildlife — Tax and Bill of Sale Requirements; form PWD 143 instructions Texas Tax Code ch. 160 §160.041 — when the tax is due
Florida: Within 30 days of selling a vessel the seller must complete the Notice of Sale — on the back of the title or on form HSMV 82050, which covers motor vehicles, mobile homes, off-highway vehicles and vessels — and submit it to the tax collector or FLHSMV. If you sell a boat and motor (other than an inboard) with an itemized bill of sale that lists each price separately, sales tax is calculated only on the price of the boat. Sarasota County Tax Collector — Selling Your Vessel
California: The DMV’s Bill of Sale (REG 135) is a vehicle/vessel form with a line for the CF number, and any bill of sale that identifies the vessel is acceptable. It is not required to be notarized or witnessed. CA DMV Registration Procedures Manual §1.020
New York: The Vehicle Bill of Sale (MV-912) is used for boats as well as cars: an acceptable bill of sale states the year and make of the boat, the hull identification number, the date of sale, the purchase price, and the names and signatures of buyer and seller. The original goes to the DMV with the registration application. NY DMV — Buy, Sell, or Transfer Vehicle Ownership
Washington: The Department of Licensing’s Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale (TD-420-065) is one form for either; completing it does not transfer the title or act as a Report of Sale. The seller submits a Vessel Report of Sale within 5 days of the sale, and the buyer must apply for the new title within 15 days or pay a late fee that starts at $50 and rises to $125. WA DOL form TD-420-065

The Florida, California, New York and Washington notes were read from the cited government page or form on September 4, 2026. The Texas note was checked the same day against an archived capture of the Texas Parks & Wildlife page and of form PWD 143, and against the text of the Texas Tax Code and Parks & Wildlife Code, because tpwd.texas.gov was not reachable from here; the “20 working days” figure an earlier version of this page carried was the superseded pre-2019 rule and has been corrected to 45 working days. Rules change — confirm the current requirement with your state’s boating or motor-vehicle agency before you rely on it.

FAQ

Boat bill of sale questions

Is a bill of sale required to sell a boat?: It depends on the state, and on whether the boat has a title. Some states write the bill of sale into their own forms — Florida’s HSMV 82050 covers vessels, California’s REG 135 is a vehicle/vessel form, New York’s MV-912 lists boats and hull numbers — and Texas Parks & Wildlife says a signed bill of sale or invoice is required for every transfer of ownership, though a tax affidavit the seller completes and signs on the PWD 143 application counts in its place. Even where it is optional, it is the buyer’s proof of what was paid and the seller’s proof of when they stopped owning the boat.
Does a boat bill of sale transfer the title?: No. Where a boat is titled, the title is transferred by assigning it (or by the state’s title application); the bill of sale records the sale and supports that application. Where a boat is only registered, the registration is transferred with the state’s application form and the bill of sale is the proof of ownership behind it.
Where do I find the Hull Identification Number?: The HIN is the 12-character code moulded or stamped on the outside of the transom, usually on the upper starboard side. Copy it exactly — it is the boat’s equivalent of a VIN and is what the registration and title are keyed to.
Should the motor and trailer be on the same bill of sale?: You can list them on the same document — this generator gives each its own line — but price them separately. In Texas the outboard motor is titled separately on form PWD 144, and Texas Parks & Wildlife requires the price of the trailer to be separated from the price of the boat and motor, because a trailer is taxed as a motor vehicle through the county tax office. In Florida an itemized bill of sale that separates the boat from the motor means sales tax is calculated only on the boat.
Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized?: Rarely as a state rule. California’s DMV states a bill of sale is not required to be notarized or witnessed, and the official bill of sale forms we read for Washington, Nevada and California carry buyer and seller signatures only. Some states do require the title assignment itself to be notarized, so check the rule for the state where the boat is registered — the state pages linked below cite each source.
What does “as-is” mean for a used boat?: The buyer accepts the boat, motor and trailer in their current condition, with no warranty from the seller about seaworthiness, the engine or anything else. It does not excuse the seller from stating what they know to be true — a false description or a hidden lien is still the seller’s problem.
Is this legal advice?: No. Free Contract Generator provides self-help templates and general information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Boat titling and registration rules are set by each state; consult a licensed attorney for advice about your specific situation.