Motor-only sale? Enter the outboard’s serial number in the identification field and describe the motor (make, model, horsepower) in the make and model fields.
Selling an outboard: the paperwork that protects both sides
Outboard motors change hands constantly: repowers, upgrades, winter projects, a bare motor on a stand at the end of a driveway. They are also compact, valuable and easy to steal, which makes the serial number the heart of the document. It lives on a plate or sticker on the transom bracket, and a buyer should match it against the seller’s story before paying, the same way you would treat a VIN.
Paperwork-wise, motors are simpler than boats in most states: no registration of their own, so the signed bill of sale is typically the only ownership record. A few states do title outboards separately, so check your state’s boating agency if the motor is late-model and high-value. When the motor sells together with a boat and trailer, keep the three identifiers separate and explicit: HIN for the hull, serial for the motor, VIN for the trailer.
What to include
- Both parties with full names and addresses.
- Motor description: make, model, horsepower, year and the serial number from the transom bracket, copied exactly.
- What comes with it: controls, cables, propeller, fuel tank, stand; list the extras so the deal is unambiguous.
- Price, date, payment method and an as-is clause; used motors sell as-is, and compression complaints two weeks later are exactly what the clause prevents.
- Signatures on both copies, one for each party.
Guidance last reviewed September 2026. A few states title outboard motors; confirm with your state’s boating agency for late-model motors.
Boat motor bill of sale: FAQ
Do I need a separate bill of sale for the boat motor?
Where is the serial number on an outboard?
How do I handle a boat, motor and trailer sold together?
Does a boat motor bill of sale need to be notarized?
Related guides
Boat Bill of Sale Trailer Bill of Sale Florida HSMV 82050 (covers vessels)