A Michigan boat bill of sale is not required for any specific transaction; however, if the buyer or seller wants a legal record of the exchange, one is recommended.
To be valid, a Michigan bill of sale for boats and other water vessels must have the seller’s and the buyer’s information, the date of the transaction, the description of the item being transferred, and the price of the transaction. Both buyer and seller must sign.
Michigan Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
Though not a requirement for all vessel sales, a boat bill of sale works to prove ownership if a vessel’s title or registration is missing and destroyed. A form for non-titled watercraft is provided on the SOS website. All bills of sale should contain the following:
- The year, make, model
- The serial number
- The hull identification number or HIN
- The MC Registration number (if available)
- The year of the last decal
- The date of sale
- The purchase price
- The buyer’s and seller’s names, contact information, and signatures
In Michigan, a penalty of perjury statement is not listed on SOS documents, including vehicle and vessel sales and registration.
However, by MCL Sec. 423 (1), “Any person authorized by a statute of this state to take an oath, or any person of whom an oath is required by law, who willfully swears falsely regarding any matter or thing respecting which the oath is authorized or required is guilty of perjury, a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 15 years.”
It goes on to state that “(this) applies to a person who willfully makes a false declaration in a record that is signed by the person and given under penalty of perjury” and defines a “record” as “information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.”
Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to be Notarized in Michigan?
Michigan does not require a boat bill of sale to be notarized. However, it must have both the buyer’s and the seller’s signature to be a valid form.
After Purchasing a Vessel
For sellers:
- Not all vessels require a title in Michigan. If your boat has no title, you must only complete the back of the registration to transfer ownership. If there is no registration card, you may complete a Bill of Sale (see above for requirements). A court order or a surety bond can prove ownership in extreme cases.
- Alternatively, you may acquire a duplicate title or registration from the SOS office or via the ExpressSOS option online.
For buyers:
- If your vessel is 16 feet or shorter, propelled by paddles or oars, not used for rental or commercial purposes, or registered in another state and only temporarily used in Michigan, it will not require registration. Vessels under 20 feet do not require a title unless they contain a permanently affixed motor.
- Visit the local SOS office with a completed Application for Michigan Watercraft Title, Form WR-11L, the current registration, or a bill of sale (Form TR-207) if there is no registration and the signed-over title. Registration numbers cannot be transferred to other watercraft.
- You must pay the fees and sales tax or provide a sales receipt showing payment. If you were gifted or sold the vessel by an immediate family member, you are exempt from taxes. Transfer fees include a boat title fee of $5, a transfer of ownership fee of $2, a registration certificate fee of $2, and a title fee of $15. Registration fees for vessels are determined by length and propulsion and are as follows:
- Canoes and kayaks – $5
- Other non-motorized watercraft – $9
- Motorized canoes – $14
- Motorized motorboats under 12 ft. in length – $14
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 12 feet but under 16 feet – $17
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 16 feet but under 21 feet – $42
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 21 feet but under 28 feet – $115
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 28 feet but under 35 feet – $168
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 35 feet but under 42 feet – $244
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 42 feet but under 50 feet – $280
- Motorized vessels measuring at least 50 feet and longer – $448
- Pontoons – $23
Michigan Boat Bill of Sale Sample
Below, you can download our free Michigan boat bill of sale template in PDF or Word format:
