If you plan to purchase or sell a boat in New York state, make sure you have a New York boat bill of sale. This document transfers ownership of the watercraft and protects the parties.
You must have a New York boat bill of sale to register your vessel. Secure a legitimate New York boat bill of sale pdf beforehand to save time and ensure you stay on the right side legally.
New York Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
A bill of sale and a title transfer indicated on the original title are required to sell a vessel privately in New York legally. The document sufficiently records the transaction between the seller and buyer and helps to prevent fraudulent practices.
New York provides an official document, Form MV-912, on the state’s official DMV website. However, you may legally draft your boat bill of sale, which will be accepted. Notarization is not required by law. Like the official form, it must contain each of the following:
- The vessel’s make, model, and year
- The Hull Identification Number (HIN)
- The seller’s and buyer’s names, contact information, and signatures
- The date of the sale
- The purchase price
While penalty of perjury statements are not pre-printed on New York bills of sale, the state does take perjury on DMV forms seriously. It is considered second-degree perjury, defined by statute as “swearing falsely, under oath, with the intent to mislead a public servant.” It is regarded as a class E felony and is punishable by up to four years in prison.
Language Requirements
Unlike Form MV-902, provided by the state in up to six languages on the official DMV site, the official bill of sale form is only in English. However, you may draft your own in a different language, and the state will permit it if the document is filed with a proper English translation.
Number of Copies
The buyer and seller can make photocopies of the bill of sale for their records since the original must be filed with the local New York DMV branch.
Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to be Notarized in New York?
A New York boat bill of sale does not have to be notarized. Doing this is still a good idea because then you have a level of protection in case someone questions if the document is valid.
After Purchasing a Vessel
Many other documents need to be filed, and actions to take when buying or selling a vessel in New York.
Dealership Sales
For buyers:
- An in-state dealer will provide you with a Dealer’s Bill of Sale, or MV-50, indicating payment. As of summer 2018, you can handle much of this online using a new VERIFI system. Print off your form after completing it and bring it to the DMV. If your dealer is out-of-state, fill out the Sales Tax Exemption Form or DTF-803 found on the Department of Tax and Finance (DTF) website and file it instead. Be sure to include the out-of-state bill of sale to show that you paid tax in the state where the purchase was made, along with the Sales Tax Paid in Another State Form, or DTF-804.
- Without a bill of sale, the dealer must have another document to prove ownership of the vessel. Without a Dealer’s Bill of Sale or MV-50, a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin or a Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin will still legally suffice if the vessel is new, or an old registration will work if the boat is used.
- The dealer will send the applications for your registration and title to the DMV for you and can charge up to $75.00.
Private Sales
For sellers:
- You must provide a signed bill of sale.
- You must complete and sign the transfer portion of the title, even if the vessel is a gift. If the title was previously transferred to you, you could not use the same title to transfer ownership. Instead, you must apply for a new title certificate to transfer using an Application for Title Only, or MV-82TON.
- If you do not have a previous bill of sale, you must present proof of ownership accepted by the state. The original title will do for a vessel model year 1987 or newer or any registered boat at least 14 feet long. Suppose the registration is lost and no duplicate is available. In that case, a Certification of NY State Registration for Transfer of Non-Titled Vehicle, or Form MV-51B, and a $10 fee is required.
- If the vessel is 1986, older, or less than 14 feet long, you will need the original registration or a certified copy.
- You must be the named seller on the proof of ownership document, record the buyer’s name, and sign the applicable transfer section.
- If your registration document is marked “transferable,” you may use it to transfer ownership.
- You must complete and sign a Statement of Transaction or Form DTF-802.
For buyers:
- You must fill out your portion of the Statement of Transaction, or DTF-802, and file it at your local DMV branch, where they will calculate and collect your sales tax and issue a receipt. You must either pay the county use and sales tax, prove it was already paid, or that your registration is exempt.
- If the vessel was a gift, you may file the Statement of Transaction, or DTF-802, to receive a tax exemption and a bill of sale stating a purchase price of $0.
- Sign and submit the bill of sale, even if the vessel was a gift.
- Register the vessel or transfer a registration from another boat you own.
- Submit the completed and signed Application for Title Only, or MV-82TON, or original title, to title the vessel in your name. You can submit a Registration or Title or MV-82 if the title is lost or damaged.
New York Boat Bill of Sale Sample
Below, you can download a New York boat bill of sale in PDF or Word format:
