Texas Boat Bill of Sale Template

What makes a boat different: A boat is not titled or registered through the motor vehicle agency in most states, so a bill of sale drafted for a car sends the buyer to the wrong counter. Vessels are handled by the state boating or natural resources authority, registration is usually keyed to hull length rather than weight or age, and a trailer sold with the boat is a separate titled item that needs its own paperwork.

Identifying the boat: Record the hull identification number, a 12-character mark on the transom, and not a vehicle identification number. Record the make, model year, length, and the engine serial number separately, because on a boat the hull and the motor are frequently sold, insured, and stolen apart from one another.

Mileage and hours: No odometer disclosure applies to a vessel. That federal requirement is written for motor vehicles, so the equivalent for a boat is an honest statement of engine hours, which is what a marine surveyor and any later buyer will ask for.

Notarization: not required for private-party vehicle sales, but a notarized bill of sale strengthens documentation and may be required for vessels and certain high-value transactions.

Both signatures: The document should be signed by seller and buyer and a copy kept by each, since it is the only record either party holds if the transfer is later questioned.

Sold as seen: A private sale in Texas carries no implied warranty unless the parties write one in, so state plainly whether the boat is sold as-is.