Boat Bill of Sale Requirements by State
Read each state agency's requirements and the exact context of any notarial certificate. A title rule is not a universal private-sale rule.
“Not stated” means the reviewed source does not establish a universal rule. It does not mean every transaction is exempt.
| State | Sale record | Execution context | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama’s accepted vessel ownership proof depends on the title, origin document and vessel’s circumstances. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Alaska | Alaska distinguishes boat registration from title requirements; a bill can support registration but does not automatically transfer a titled vessel. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Arizona | Arizona’s boat-registration rules describe a written bill from the seller as ownership evidence in the listed circumstances. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Arkansas | Arkansas accepts current registration or a bill containing the boat description, HIN, year, make, horsepower, price, date and buyer and seller signatures. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| California | California’s vessel-registration process needs the appropriate ownership documents; a private-sale bill supports the applicable transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Colorado | Colorado Parks and Wildlife accepts a signed bill as boat ownership evidence under its registration instructions. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Connecticut | Connecticut’s boat process distinguishes vessels that need a title from those using other accepted ownership evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Delaware | Delaware requires the ownership evidence listed for the vessel; a notarized bill is specified when an existing title is unsigned, for a non-title-state registration or for federal documentation. | The DNREC application calls for a notarized seller bill in the listed unsigned-title, non-title-state and documented-vessel routes. | Source Source |
| District of Columbia | DC’s harbor-registration guide describes the ownership evidence and registration process for a boat used in the District. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Florida | Florida statute 328.46 gives a vessel purchaser limited temporary use of a sale record with the specified contents; registration is still required. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Georgia | Georgia DNR uses the bill and the applicable prior ownership evidence for a vessel registration transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Hawaii | Hawaii DLNR says a bill alone cannot transfer an already titled vessel under its vessel-title process introduced in July 2021. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Idaho | Idaho’s private-party watercraft sale instructions require a bill of sale for the transaction evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Illinois | Illinois DNR lists different ownership and tax documents for dealer, private, new and out-of-state boat transactions. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Indiana | Indiana’s watercraft-title instructions explain when an older untitled boat transfers on a bill and the purchaser then applies for a title. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Iowa | Iowa’s boat-transfer checklist uses a bill and the applicable title, registration and application through the county recorder. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Kansas | Kansas boat-registration instructions accept the specified bill and prior ownership evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Kentucky | Kentucky requires its title or accepted non-title-state evidence for a boat transfer. A non-title-state transfer uses the registration and a bill notarized for both parties. | Kentucky’s non-title-state transfer route requires a bill notarized for both buyer and seller. Use the official transfer documents for a titled boat. | Source Source |
| Louisiana | Louisiana LDWF’s boat or motor transfer checklist uses the required original sale record and prior title or registration. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Maine | Maine’s boat-registration instructions require the applicable ownership, sales-tax and excise evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Maryland | Maryland DNR B-118 records the sale of a vessel or motor with the seller’s signed certification. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts boat-registration guidance calls for the bill, tax evidence and applicable ownership documents. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Michigan | Michigan distinguishes titled watercraft from non-titled registration transfers. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Minnesota | Minnesota’s 2026 boating guide describes the bill and any applicable title for a watercraft ownership transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Mississippi | The reviewed Mississippi business watercraft application includes sale certification witnessed or notarized, with buyer and seller details. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Missouri | Missouri’s watercraft instructions require the applicable title or origin document with the application; a bill is accepted only in its specified ownership routes. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Montana | Montana’s title manual contains a separate vessel transfer process with its accepted ownership evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Nebraska | Nebraska’s vessel title statutes distinguish the assigned-title route from the accepted documents for a vessel not previously titled. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Nevada | Nevada’s wildlife agency uses assigned titles for already titled vessels and the listed original evidence for new or previously non-titled boats. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire’s published municipal checklist identifies the boat sale and description details needed for registration. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New Jersey | New Jersey MVC distinguishes titled boats from non-titled or documented ownership routes. | MVC calls for the prior registration and a notarized bill for the specified boat arriving from a non-title state. | Source Source |
| New Mexico | New Mexico’s vessel manual uses a bill and the appropriate title or ownership chain. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| New York | New York uses a title plus a bill for the listed titled boats and a transferable registration plus a bill for the specified older or smaller boats. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| North Carolina | North Carolina’s June 2023 bill is intended for a non-titled vessel and expressly requires notarization of the seller signatures. | North Carolina’s June 2023 non-titled-vessel bill expressly requires notarized seller signatures. Use the agency form where appropriate. | Source Source |
| North Dakota | North Dakota’s current boating guide uses a signed detailed bill and applicable registration evidence for a vessel transfer. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Ohio | Ohio’s dealer temporary-registration provision permits the qualifying bill and application for its limited period; it is not a universal private-sale title substitute. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma separately titles and registers boats and the covered outboard motors. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Oregon | Oregon requires the applicable releases of interest and title application for a titled used boat. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania’s powered-boat process accepts the listed title, registration and bill evidence according to the boat’s prior ownership. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island DEM’s used-boat checklist calls for a notarized bill or gift statement with the applicable ownership documents. | Rhode Island DEM’s used-boat route requires the specified notarized bill or gift record with the applicable ownership documents. | Source Source |
| South Carolina | South Carolina DNR requires the applicable assigned ownership evidence and separate records for titled outboard motors. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| South Dakota | South Dakota’s boat checklist uses the applicable title, origin or other accepted sale evidence with the title-and-registration application. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Tennessee | Tennessee’s boat-registration process uses the county-clerk certified application and a bill; the state does not issue boat titles. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Texas | Texas Parks and Wildlife requires a bill for a boat or covered motor sale in addition to the properly assigned ownership document. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Utah | Utah’s boat process uses the applicable ownership document and application; title eligibility depends on the listed model-year and exemption rules. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Vermont | Vermont’s motorboat registration instructions use a bill identifying year, make, HIN, price, date and seller signature. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Virginia | Virginia DWR uses the applicable title, origin or purchase evidence for boat registration and titling. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Washington | Washington’s vessel registration process uses the applicable ownership document, application and purchase-price evidence. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| West Virginia | West Virginia’s boat process has separate existing-title and legacy-registration transfer routes. | West Virginia’s notarized-bill rule applies to the specified low-price existing-title or legacy non-title ownership route. | Source Source |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin DNR’s buyer checklist says a bill is not required, but recommends one for documenting price and the transaction. | The reviewed agency source does not establish a universal notary or witness rule for a separate private-sale bill. Title, application, special-ownership and other documents can have their own execution requirements. | Source Source |
| Wyoming | Wyoming’s March 2025 boat rule lists alternatives for temporary proof of ownership, including a notarized private-sale bill or a properly transferred title. | Wyoming’s temporary-proof rule includes a notarized private-sale bill as one alternative; a properly transferred title is another. | Source Source |