Hawaii doesn’t require a bill of sale. However, it does require documentation to prove that you own the boat. When first purchasing the ship, a bill of sale establishes that you bought it before registration and titling. Hawaii also requires every ship to have a hull identification number that has 12 letters and numbers.
You can only purchase or sell a boat with a hull identification number. If someone removed the hull number, it was destroyed, or you built a vessel yourself, DOBOR must assign it a hull identification number.
Hawaii considers removing or destroying a boat’s hull number a crime.
Hawaii Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
The Hawaii boat bill of sale sometimes called a Hawaii Vessel Notice of Sale, is required and must be notarized.
Registering a Boat
When registering a boat in Hawaii, you must provide proof of ownership to receive a vessel number. Proof of ownership includes a Hawaii vessel title or an out-of-state vessel title. If you still need a title, contact the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBAR), who will work with you to determine your necessary paperwork.
We recommend completing a Hawaii bill of sale, whether the vessel has a title or not, as it will simplify the registration process.
Where to Register Your Boat in Hawaii
DOBAR handles registration for boats. The online system is currently down for renovations. Until the online system is completed, you must register or renew your vessel in person at the nearest Neighbor Island District Office or the O’ahu office.
- Ke’ehi Small Boat Harbor, O’ahu District: 4 Sand Island Access Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96819
- Hawaii District: Honokohau Small Boat Harbor, 74-380 Kealakehe Parkway, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
- Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor, Kaua’i District: 2494 Niumalu Road, Lihue, Hawaii, 96766
- Maui District: Ma’alaea Small Boat Harbor, 101 Ma’alaea Boat Harbor Road, Wailuku, Hawaii, 96793
Documents Needed to Obtain Title and Registration
If the title does not have the following information about the boat you are trying to register, you will need documentation showing the following:
- The date the vessel entered Hawaii.
- The date the vessel first operated in Hawaii.
- U.S. Port of importation.
- Date of duty payment.
- Entry number.
- State of principal operation.
Fees
The fees required to title and register a boat in Hawaii include the following:
- To obtain a new certificate of title: $20
- To transfer ownership: $30
- New registration for vessels under 20 feet: $25
- New registration for vessels 20 feet and longer: $40
- Renewal for vessels under 20 feet: $20
- Renew for vessels 20 feet and longer: $35
- Launch ramp use: $75
- To replace a certificate of title: $50
- To replace a registration card, registration decals, or a ramp decal: $10
Exemptions
Hawaii does not require you to register the following vessels:
- Manually propelled boats.
- Boats that are 8 feet or less long if they are sailboats.
- Certain public vessels.
- Federally registered vessels.
- Any foreign vessel or from another state if the boat stays in Hawaii’s waters for less than 60 days.
- A ship’s lifeboat as long as they are used only for lifesaving purposes.
Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to be Notarized in Hawaii?
The Hawaii boat bill of sales needs to be notarized. You can still apply for a registration number if you own an exempt boat.
Hawaii Boat Bill of Sale Sample
Below, you can download our free Hawaii boat bill of sale template in PDF or Word format:
