Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your state. About half of U.S. states issue titles for recreational boats; the other half do not. In states without boat titles, a bill of sale and current registration serve as proof of ownership. Check your state's guide for the specific requirement.

The HIN is a 12-character serial number assigned to every boat manufactured or imported after November 1, 1972. It's located on the upper starboard (right) side of the transom (stern). The HIN is used to identify the vessel on titles, registrations, and lien searches — similar to a VIN on a car.

A proper bill of sale should include: the Hull Identification Number (HIN), make, model, and year; the sale price and date; full legal names and addresses of buyer and seller; an "as-is" statement (unless warranty is offered); and signatures of both parties. Some states require notarization.

Use your state's official lien search tool — linked on each state's guide on this site. For USCG-documented vessels, search the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) at nvdc.uscg.mil. An abstract of title from the NVDC shows all recorded mortgages and encumbrances.

USCG (U.S. Coast Guard) documentation is a federal form of vessel registration administered by the National Vessel Documentation Center. It's optional for recreational boats but required for commercial vessels on navigable waters. Benefits include international recognition, preferred ship's mortgages for financing, and a federal lien search system. Most useful for vessels over 26 ft used offshore.

Yes — personal watercraft are treated as vessels in most states and require a bill of sale for title transfer. Include the Hull Identification Number (HIN), make (Sea-Doo, WaveRunner, Jet Ski brand), model, year, sale price, date, and both parties' signatures. If the trailer is included, create a separate bill of sale covering the trailer VIN.

Sales tax on boats varies by state from 0% (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon) to 7%+ (Mississippi, Rhode Island, Tennessee). Some states cap the tax — Florida caps at $18,000, North Carolina at $1,500, South Carolina at $500. Check your state's guide for the exact rate and any caps.

For transactions over $5,000, use a third-party escrow service like Escrow.com. Funds are held by the escrow provider and released to the seller only after the buyer confirms receipt of the title. This eliminates the risk of fake cashier's checks — the most common fraud in private boat sales.

Yes. You'll need to title and register the vessel in your home state once you return. Most states give you 15–60 days to do this. You may owe use tax to your home state even if you paid sales tax in the purchase state. Check your state's "out-of-state title" section for specifics.

Yes — if you establish residency in a new state, you must re-title and re-register the RV there, usually within 30–90 days. Bring the original title, bill of sale, and proof of residency to the new state's DMV.

Titling establishes legal ownership — the title is a document proving you own the vessel. Registration is an annual or biennial process that allows the boat to be operated legally on state waters. Some states do both; some states only register boats (no title). For USCG-documented vessels, documentation replaces the state title but registration may still be required.

This varies by state — typically 15 to 60 days from the date of sale. Missing this window can result in late fees or penalties. Check your state's guide for the exact deadline.