Boat Bill of Sale: What It Must Include (Florida and Texas)
What a boat bill of sale must include, the Florida and Texas forms (HSMV 82040 and 82050, PWD 143 and 144), HIN, outboard titles and title transfer steps.
A boat bill of sale is the signed record that a boat changed hands. At a minimum it shows the date of sale, the price, a description of the boat (including its hull identification number), the buyer's name and the seller's signature. In Texas, the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) lists these as the contents of a valid bill of sale; in Florida, a signed bill of sale with the buyer's name, the price and a full description of the vessel must accompany the title application when a price is stated.
A bill of sale is proof of the sale, not proof of ownership. The title is what moves ownership, so this guide covers both: what to write down, which official forms Florida and Texas use, and the steps to transfer the title. It is information, not legal advice.
What a boat bill of sale should include
There is no single national form. The list below is a plain-text checklist of fields commonly needed, built from the TPWD definition and Florida's title rules. It is not a legal template.
- Date of sale
- Sale price (for Texas, shown without the trailer)
- Seller's full name, street address and signature
- Buyer's full name and street address
- Boat description: make, model, year, length, hull type and color
- Hull identification number (HIN)
- State registration or title number, if there is one
- Motor description: make, year and serial number (and a separate line for each motor)
- Trailer description and VIN, on a separate line or separate bill of sale
- Any lien or loan on the boat, and who will pay it off
- Extra items included in the sale (electronics, spare parts, cover)
- Condition statement, for example "sold as is," if both sides agree
Keep a copy for each party, plus copies of the title, any lien release and your photo ID, and take photos of the hull ID and motor serial number.
The hull identification number (HIN)
The HIN is the boat's serial number. Florida's title statute (section 328.01) requires the application for a vessel title to include the hull identification number. In Texas, an out-of-state or previously untitled boat or motor needs its HIN or motor serial number verified on form PWD 504, using a pencil tracing or a photograph of the hull ID or motor serial plate. Compare the number on the paperwork with the number on the boat before you pay.
Florida: forms and title transfer
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
| HSMV 82050 | Notice of Sale. It is not a bill of sale: it is the form the seller uses to notify the state of the sale of a motor vehicle, mobile home, off-highway vehicle or vessel, and it states that ownership status does not change until the buyer is issued a title. |
| HSMV 82040 | The application for a Florida vessel title, submitted with the signed title and a bill of sale to the county tax collector. FLHSMV procedures say vessel titles have been processed on form 82040 VS since July 1, 2023. |
| Bill of sale | FLHSMV procedure TL-11 says a signed bill of sale from seller and buyer must accompany a title submitted with a selling price, showing the buyer's name, the price and a full description of the vessel. |
Forms and procedures are revised from time to time, so confirm the current versions on the FLHSMV website or with your county tax collector. The steps below follow the rules we could confirm:
- The seller signs the title over to the buyer and gives a bill of sale. Under Florida Statutes section 328.01, the title application must include the HIN, the transferor's name and address, the sales price and the date of transfer, and be accompanied by the title signed by the owner shown on it.
- The seller completes the Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050) so the sale is on record.
- The buyer applies to the county tax collector for a new title and registration. FLHSMV's TL-11 procedure says to apply within 30 days of the ownership change to avoid a penalty.
- If there is a lien, a lien release from the lender is needed before a clear title is issued.
On notarization, we did not find a requirement to notarize a bill of sale in the sources we could read. Ask your county tax collector what your transaction needs. For the rest of the Florida picture, see our page on Florida boating license and registration.
Texas: forms and title transfer
Texas titles more than the boat. TPWD titles all motorized vessels regardless of length, non-motorized vessels 14 feet or longer, and all internal combustion outboard motors. Trailers are not titled by TPWD; they go through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles at the county tax office. Canoes, kayaks, rowboats and other non-motorized boats under 14 feet are exempt, and Coast Guard documented vessels need state registration but not a state title.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PWD 143 | Vessel/boat application. The seller completes the tax affidavit and both parties sign. |
| PWD 144 | Outboard motor application with the same process. Because a motor is titled separately from the boat, it needs its own form. |
| PWD 504 | Affidavit of facts for identification, used to verify the HIN or motor serial number on out-of-state or previously untitled boats and motors. |
| PWD 143M and PWD 144M | Lost or destroyed boat title (143M) or motor title (144M). |
| PWD 403 | Lien release or change of lien. |
TPWD says a valid bill of sale must contain the date of sale, the sales price (excluding the trailer), a description of the vessel and motor (make, year and TX or serial number), the purchaser's name and the seller's signature. This applies when a handwritten bill of sale is used instead of the back of the title or the signed tax affidavit on PWD 143 or 144.
- The seller completes the tax affidavit on the PWD 143 for the boat and the PWD 144 for each outboard motor, then signs it, or uses a valid bill of sale. The seller also gives the buyer the Texas title.
- The buyer applies for the transfer of title in their own name. TPWD says transfer applications are due within 45 working days of purchase, and later filings are subject to tax penalties and interest.
- For boats or motors from out of state, or never titled before, the buyer adds the PWD 504 to verify the HIN or motor serial number.
- The seller notifies TPWD of the transfer within 20 days, either by going to an office with the buyer or through the online Ownership Transfer Notification.
TPWD's page does not require a bill of sale to be notarized. Notarization appears there only for lien releases: the lienholder completes Section N of PWD 403 and has it notarized, or provides a separate notarized release of lien.
Florida versus Texas at a glance
| Florida | Texas | |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | FLHSMV, through the county tax collector | TPWD |
| Form for the buyer's title application | HSMV 82040 (82040 VS) | PWD 143 (boat) and PWD 144 (motor) |
| Seller's notice | HSMV 82050 Notice of Sale | Online Ownership Transfer Notification within 20 days |
| Outboard titled separately? | Not confirmed in our sources; ask the tax collector | Yes, on its own form |
| Deadline to apply | 30 days, per FLHSMV procedure TL-11 | 45 working days, per TPWD |
| Trailer | Ask your county tax collector | Separate, through the county tax office |
Before you hand over the money
- Match the HIN on the boat to the title and the bill of sale.
- Check the title for liens, and get a lien release if one is listed.
- Make sure the seller's name on the title is the name of the person signing.
- If the boat comes with a trailer, write it on its own line and its own price.
- Check how you will pay for it: see boat loan rates and terms. A lender will usually want to be listed as lienholder on the new title.
- Sort out where the boat will live: boat storage options and Florida boat slip prices.
- Look at what the boat is worth: how much is my boat worth.
- Check what you need to operate it: do you need a license to drive a boat.
FAQ
Do I need a bill of sale to buy a boat?
In practice, yes. In Florida, a bill of sale must accompany the title when it is submitted with a selling price. In Texas, a valid bill of sale, the back of the title or the signed tax affidavit on PWD 143 or 144 serves as proof of the sale.
Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized?
TPWD does not require notarization of a bill of sale on its buying and selling page, only for lien releases. For Florida, we did not find a requirement in the sources we read, so ask your county tax collector.
Is HSMV 82050 a bill of sale?
No. HSMV 82050 is a Notice of Sale that tells the state about the sale. The bill of sale is a separate document signed by seller and buyer.
Does a Texas outboard motor need its own title?
Yes. TPWD titles all internal combustion outboard motors, using form PWD 144, separately from the boat.
How long do I have to transfer a boat title?
Texas: 45 working days from purchase, per TPWD. Florida: 30 days of the ownership change, per FLHSMV procedure TL-11. Confirm with your agency.
What is a HIN?
The hull identification number is the boat's serial number. Florida requires it on the title application, and Texas uses form PWD 504 to verify it for out-of-state or untitled boats.
Sources
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Buying or Selling a Boat/Outboard Motor in Texas, accessed October 2026.
- Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Form HSMV 82050, Notice of Sale.
- FLHSMV, TL-11 Transfer of Florida Certificate of Title and VSTL-22 Application for a Certificate of Title for a Vessel.
- Florida Legislature, Florida Statutes section 328.01, Application for certificate of title.
- Marinalo, Florida boating license and registration.