“Why doesn’t your site have a boat bill of sale form?” “When I go to your site, I can’t find a bill of sale. What’s up with that?” Those are some of the most common questions we’re asked about bill of sale forms. And, it’s true: if you go to our vessel documentation site, you won’t find any “bill of sale” form. There’s a very good reason for that: a bill of sale is only for undocumented vessels. As we’re exclusively a vessel documentation site (we are “U. S. Vessel Documentation Online LLC,” after all) we don’t handle these kinds of forms. However, we can tell you what goes into such a form so you can make one, as well as what the documented equivalent is.
Boat Bill of Sale Form Basics
Simply put, a bill of sale is for a boat sale between a private buyer and seller. The boat can be a sailboat, powered boat, or anything else – so long as it isn’t documented. Now, a bill of sale may not be required by law in a given state to legally complete the sale. That said, you’re better off having a bill of sale than not. If nothing else, it shows that the sale happened. That way, should the other party try to do something unscrupulous down the line (say that the sale didn’t take place, blame you for something you didn’t do, etc.) the bill of sale will exist to refute their chicanery.
What It Should Contain
Your name, and the name of the other party (which means you should have the name, contact information, and address of the seller and the buyer). Beyond that, you’re also going to want a detailed description of the vessel itself. That means the length of the vessel, the make and model, the brand, when it was manufactured, the HIN, and similar. Basically, if you’re asking “what information about the vessel should I put in,” just put it in. Including the state registration number isn’t a bad idea, either. If the trailer is going to be included, put that in as well.
What to Do if You Have a Documented Vessel
Again, the above covers a bill of sale for undocumented vessels. If your vessel is documented, then you’re going to want the “Transfer” form at our site. There, you’ll be able to sell or buy the vessel, all while staying in compliance with the authorities. You can’t use this form if your vessel is undocumented, but if it is, it has what you need.
All the Forms You Might Need
Speaking of “having what you need,” there are other forms of vessel documentation at our site. For example, once you’ve purchased the vessel, you can acquire and/or renew vessel documentation at our site. Additionally, you can set up getting a mortgage, complete the process of satisfying one, and so much more. You can see everything we have to offer at our site and fill out our contact form to speak to an expert.
