An Alabama boat bill of sale is considered a legal contract to record a transaction between a buyer and seller of a watercraft.
In Alabama, if a boat is new, you only need a bill of sale to register the ship properly. The bill of sale and the last boat registration are required if the boat is used.
The bill of sale details essential information, including the boat’s make, the year, the hull ID, the motor model, and the vessel’s condition.
Alabama Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
As stated above, each county in Alabama has its bill of sale form, and most counties allow you to use the same form for vessels that are used for vehicles. If you want to draft your own or use our boat bill of sale template, include what your county deems necessary. That said, almost all vessel bills of sale in Alabama will contain the following:
- The names and contact information (no P.O. boxes) of both the buyer and seller (if this is a dealer, the licensed name must be listed)
- The hull identification number or HIN
- The make, model, and year the vessel was built
- The series number
- The buyer’s signature
- The seller’s notarized seller
- The sales date
- The purchase price
County-issued bills of sale in Alabama do not carry penalties of perjury on them, though many state-issued DOR forms do. However, Alabama takes perjury seriously, as stated in Alabama Code Section 13A-10-102, which says, “A person commits the crime of perjury in the second degree when he swears with intent to mislead a public servant in the performance of his duty, and his false statement is material to the action, proceeding or matter involved.” The crime is considered a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $6,000.00.
Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to be Notarized in Alabama?
No, a boat bill of sale must not be notarized in Alabama. Note that particular bill of sale templates offer an option to have the document notarized in place of two non-relative signatures.
After Purchasing a Vessel
Dealership Sales
For buyers:
- Once you purchase a new vessel, you must register it within the first 72 hours that you own it.
Private Sales
For buyers:
- In Alabama, you must register your vessel with the Alabama Marine Patrol Division (AMP) if it is a sailboat, a mechanically propelled vessel, or a boat for hire. Exemptions include ships registered in other states that will not use Alabama waters for more than 90 days, government-owned vessels, lifeboats, commercial boats registered as such with the U.S. Coast Guard, boat trailers, and any boats, besides sailboats and boats for hire, that are not mechanically-propelled.
- Once you purchase a used vessel with a current Alabama registration, you have 15 days to register it in your name. If the boat has no current registration, you must register it before using it.
- To register your vessel in Alabama, you must go in person to see your local county probate judge or license commissioner and bring an Application for Boat Registration, Transfer, & Replacement, the current registration, a completed bill of sale, and proof of paid sales taxes, as well as money for payment of additional applicable fees. You will receive your registration, which must be aboard the vessel at all times, and your decal, which should be placed on the vessel’s bow.
- The fees associated with vessel registration include a registration certificate replacement fee of $3, a transfer fee of $3, an application fee of $5, and an issuance fee of $2. Fees for the actual registration depend on the vessel’s length. They are as follows:
- 16 feet: $18
- 16 feet to 26 feet: $23
- 26 feet to 40 feet: $73
- 40 feet and longer: $98.
Alabama Boat Bill of Sale Sample
Below, you can download an Alabama boat bill of sale in PDF or Word format:
