A bill of sale for a boat in Washington is a legal document created to help record and lay out the transaction conditions between the two parties involved.
In Washington, a boat bill of sale is used to help prove purchase by one party from the other, to help ensure that the change of ownership has been dually documented, and to ensure that both parties are made aware of the terms of the sale.
Washington Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
The same official form is used for vessel bills of sale in Washington, and as such, any of the hand-drafted or online boat bill of sale samples must contain the same criteria listed above. That includes:
- The names, contact information, and signatures of both the buyer and the seller
- The make, model, and year the vessel was built
- The decal numbers
- The registration number
- The hull identification number (HIN)
- The sales date
- The purchase price
The Vehicle/Vessel Bill of Sale, or Form TD-420-065, does not contain a penalty of perjury statement, though most other Washington DOL forms do. However, Washington takes the perjury crime seriously, as discussed in RCW 9A.76.175, when it states, “A person who knowingly makes a false or misleading material statement to a public servant is guilty of a gross misdemeanor. ‘Material statement’ means a written or oral statement reasonably likely to be relied upon by a public servant in the discharge of their official powers or duties.”
Does a Boat Bill of Sale Have to Be Notarized in Washington?
If you are going to register your boat in person, therefore coming to the office and showing the official documents, you do not have to have the bill of sale notarized. If you are registering by mail, you do have to have the bill of sale notarized.
After Purchasing a Vessel:
Dealership sales:
For buyers:
- Your dealer should complete a Vessel Title Application for you, along with all the paperwork needed to register and title your vessel.
Private sales:
For sellers:
- You must fill out and submit a Vessel Report of Sale to inform the DOL within five days if you have sold, donated, disposed of, or gifted your vessel or traded it to a dealership. There is no fee for filing the report, but it must include the date of transfer, the vessel registration number, the HIN, the make, model, year built, and the name and contact information of the transferee. This protects you from liability but does not transfer ownership of the vessel.
For buyers:
- To register and title your vessel in Washington, a bill of sale must be brought to your local licensing office along with the original title, signed by the owner, the initial registration, proof of sales tax paid, and the completed Vessel Title Application. Everyone listed as an owner on the title must sign the application, either in the presence of a licensing agent or notarized. You must also pay the required taxes and fees. Once registered, you will get your new registration and state decals.
- Registration fees differ depending on where you live and specifics regarding the vessel. You can find out the fee amounts by either visiting a licensing center or by using the calculator provided by the DOL.
- All vessels in Washington must be titled and registered unless the ship is a canoe, kayak, or any boat that is human-propelled, less than 16 feet in length with a motor of less than ten horsepower, registered in another state or country, and uses state waters for 60 days or fewer, a military vessel, a government vessel, a charter vessel, or actively engaged in commerce.
- If you are new to Washington, you have 60 days to register your vessel. If you resided in Washington and bought your boat in a different state, you will have 15 days to write it.
Washington Boat Bill of Sale Sample
Below, you can download our free WA boat bill of sale template in PDF or Word format:
