InstantBillOfSale

Free Boat Bill of Sale: Printable PDF Generator

Fishing boat, pontoon, PWC or sailboat: build a signed-ready bill of sale with two copies, with the HIN recorded properly. Nothing is uploaded.

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100% freeNo accountPrint-ready PDFHIN and motor fields

Selling the boat with its trailer? Make a second document with the trailer generator so both registrations transfer cleanly.

Selling a boat: why the paperwork is different

Boats do not live in the DMV world. Most states register vessels through the wildlife, natural resources or parks agency, some states title larger boats, and small craft often carry no title at all. Wherever titling is thin, the bill of sale is the backbone of the transfer: it is what the registration office uses to move the vessel into the buyer's name, and what the seller keeps as proof the boat left their hands.

A boat sale also tends to be a bundle: hull, outboard motor, trailer, sometimes electronics. The clean way to handle it is one bill of sale for the boat (with the HIN), one for the trailer (with its VIN), and the motor listed with its serial number wherever it belongs. Bundling everything into one vague document is how buyers end up unable to register the trailer in spring.

What to include

After the sale: who does what

PartyTo-do
BuyerTransfer or apply for vessel registration with the state boating agency, pay any tax, and register the trailer separately at the DMV.
SellerKeep a signed copy, remove or cancel the registration where the state provides for it, and notify the agency of the sale if a seller's notice exists.
BothSign both copies on the day of sale; verify the HIN together before money changes hands.

Last reviewed September 2026. Agencies and deadlines vary by state; confirm with your boating authority.

Boat bill of sale: FAQ

Do I need a bill of sale to sell a boat?
Yes, practically everywhere. Boats are registered (and in many states titled) through agencies that want proof of the sale, and for smaller vessels the bill of sale is often the only ownership record. It should list the Hull Identification Number (HIN), the price, the date and both signatures.
What is the HIN and where do I find it?
The Hull Identification Number is the boat equivalent of a VIN: a 12-character code molded or stamped into the transom on the starboard (right) side, usually at the upper corner. Copy it exactly; registration offices match it character by character.
Does the trailer come with the boat?
Legally they are separate items. The boat is registered with one agency and the trailer with the DMV, so write a separate bill of sale for each, with the boat HIN on one and the trailer VIN on the other. Our trailer generator handles the second document.
Should the outboard motor be listed separately?
If the motor is a significant part of the value, list it with its serial number, either as a line in the boat bill of sale or as its own document. Some states title outboard motors separately.
Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized?
Usually not, but the same handful of states that expect notarized vehicle transfers (Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, West Virginia, sometimes Maryland) apply here too. The generator warns you based on your state.

Related guides

Trailer Bill of Sale Florida HSMV 82050 (covers vessels) Car Bill of Sale