Free Boat Bill of Sale TemplateFill in the form, check the preview, then print it or save it as a PDF. No sign-up, and nothing you type is uploaded.
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Whole page · the printed page has no watermark or logo.
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Default layout
ClassicCentred title, seller and buyer side by side, ruled lines for the property.
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BoxedRuled boxes for every detail, like a printed office form.
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NumberedFormal numbered sections in a serif typeface, like a lawyer’s form.
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Notice: Generated via SnapPaperwork. For genuine sales only. A false bill of sale, a wrong price to lower sales tax, or a false odometer statement can be illegal.
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How to make a boat bill of sale
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Describe the boat
Year, builder or make, model, length and color, the 12-character hull identification number (HIN), and the engine or outboard with its serial number.
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Add the seller, the buyer and the price
Both names and addresses, the date, the price in figures and words and how it was paid. List anything sold with the boat, such as a trailer, covers or electronics, under “Also included”.
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Print two copies and sign both
Each of you signs both copies and keeps one. Then follow your state’s steps to title or register the boat in the buyer’s name.
What a boat bill of sale should include
- The full names and addresses of the seller and the buyer
- Year, make or builder, model, length and color of the boat
- The hull identification number (HIN)
- The engine or outboard: make, horsepower and serial number
- Anything included in the sale, such as the trailer (with its own VIN) and equipment
- The price, the date, how it was paid and whether the boat is sold “as is”
- Both signatures with printed names and the date
The hull identification number
Boats built or imported for sale carry a hull identification number. Under federal rules it has twelve characters, without slashes, hyphens or spaces (33 CFR 181.25), and it is shown in two places: on the outside of the transom, on the starboard side near the top, and again somewhere hidden inside the boat or under a fitting (33 CFR 181.29).
Before you pay, check that the HIN on the transom matches the one on the title or registration. A missing or altered HIN is a reason to stop and ask questions.
Title, registration and the trailer
Each state decides how boats are titled and registered, often through the DMV or the state’s wildlife or boating agency, and the rules can depend on the boat’s length and engine. Check your state agency’s website for the forms it wants with a sale.
A boat trailer is usually a separate vehicle with its own VIN, title or registration. If you sell it with the boat, list it under “Also included” and, if your state asks, make a separate trailer bill of sale.
If the boat is documented with the US Coast Guard instead of being titled by a state, the change of ownership is recorded with the Coast Guard, which has its own forms.
Tips for a smooth boat sale
- Have a sea trial or at least run the engine before the sale, and note any known problems in the terms box.
- Hand over the registration card, manuals, spare keys and any service records.
- Remove or cancel your insurance only after the sale is complete.
- Keep your signed copy of the bill of sale with the date of sale.
Checked in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ from place to place and change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a boat?
Many states ask for one when a boat changes hands, and it is the record of the price and date both of you keep. Your state agency may also have its own form; if so, use it as well.
Where do I find the hull identification number?
On the outside of the transom, on the starboard side near the top. It has twelve characters. A second, hidden copy is placed inside the boat.
Should the outboard motor be on the bill of sale?
Yes. Write its make, horsepower and serial number. Some states title or register outboard motors separately, so having them on the bill of sale helps.
Does the boat trailer need its own bill of sale?
Often, yes. A trailer is usually a separate vehicle with its own VIN and title or registration. You can make a trailer bill of sale with the same tool.
Can I sell the boat “as is”?
Yes. The as-is clause is on by default: the buyer takes the boat in its present condition. It does not cover hiding a problem you know about.
Is this boat bill of sale free?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and adds no watermark. What you type stays in your browser.