Easy Bill of Sale

West Virginia Boat Bill of Sale

For a boat, jet ski or other watercraft sold in West Virginia. Boats are registered with West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles; the trailer goes through West Virginia DMV. Fill in the hull ID, motor and trailer below, then print two copies.

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West Virginia: filed with West Virginia DMV. The seller's signature on the title must be notarized.State rules

1 Seller and buyer

2 The vessel

Optional. The photo is read by AI and not stored.

12 characters on the upper right of the transom.

3 Price and terms

Original · Seller

Boat Bill of Sale

State of West Virginia

I, __________________________ ("Seller"), of ________________________________, in exchange for the sum of $____________ (______________________________ dollars), paid by cash, the receipt of which is acknowledged, sell and transfer to __________________________ ("Buyer"), of ________________________________, the following vessel:

Year______________
Make______________
Model______________
Length (ft)______________
Hull material______________
Hull ID (HIN)____________________________
State registration no.______________
Motor (make, HP)____________________________
Motor serial no.______________
Trailer included (make, VIN)____________________________

Terms

The vessel is sold "as is, where is", with no warranty, express or implied, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The Buyer has had the opportunity to inspect it and accepts it in its present condition.

The Seller states that they are the lawful owner, that the vessel is free of all liens, loans and encumbrances, and that they have the right to sell it.

Signed on ____________________.

Seller signatureBuyer signature
Seller printed nameBuyer printed name

How to fill out a West Virginia boat bill of sale

  1. Find the HIN on the upper starboard corner of the transom and compare it with the registration card. The form checks it is 12 characters.
  2. Describe the boat: year, make, model, length and hull material.
  3. List the motor (make, horsepower, serial number). Some states register outboards separately.
  4. Add the trailer VIN if the trailer is included.
  5. Enter the price. If your state taxes boat, motor and trailer differently, write the split in special terms.
  6. Sign and date, both of you, and each keep a copy.

What to bring

Boats in West Virginia are registered with West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

  • This bill of sale, signed by both parties
  • The seller's registration card, and the title if the boat is titled
  • Your photo ID
  • Payment for registration and any sales or use tax

Source: West Virginia official boat registration page. Rules change, so confirm fees and deadlines there before you file.

Vehicle or other sale? See the West Virginia bill of sale page.

West Virginia boat bill of sale questions

Who registers boats in West Virginia?

West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles. Take the signed bill of sale, the previous owner's registration card or title (if the boat is titled), and your ID. Ask the agency about its deadline for transferring registration after a purchase.

What must a West Virginia boat bill of sale include?

The 12-character hull identification number (HIN), year, make, length and hull material; the outboard or inboard motor make and serial number; the trailer VIN if it is part of the sale; the price; the date; and the names, addresses and signatures of both parties.

Does a West Virginia boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

Most boating agencies, including West Virginia's, accept an un-notarized bill of sale for a registered boat. Some ask for notarization when the boat has no title or prior registration, so check before the sale if the paperwork is incomplete.

Is the boat trailer registered separately?

Usually yes. Trailers are road vehicles, so in West Virginia the trailer is titled or registered as a vehicle with West Virginia DMV, in a separate transaction from the boat. List the trailer VIN on the bill of sale and sign its title over if it has one.

What if the boat is federally documented?

Coast Guard documented vessels change hands with form CG-1340 (Bill of Sale) filed with the National Vessel Documentation Center. A state bill of sale can still record the price for sales or use tax.

Boat bill of sale in other states