District of Columbia Bill of Sale for WaterCraft or Boat

If you decide to sell your boat/vessel, you need to: Give the Certificate of Ownership to the person who buys it. Make sure you sign the certificate on the front. Contact the DMV within five days of the sale and fill out a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) form.

Once the sale is complete, the buyer must apply for legal title with the state agency that handles boat registration.Each state will have its own requirements about forms and fees, but, in general, you will be able to use your bill of sale as proof of purchase to obtain the title from the state.

Applying for Vessel Registration When applying for registration, the owner must establish proof of ownership by submitting an executed bill of sale, a builder's contract, a manufacturer's statement of origin, a federal marine document or another document acceptable to the FLHSMV.

If a certificate of title is lost, destroyed or mutilated, the titled owner can obtain a duplicate by submitting a completed Form HSMV 82101 and $6 fee to the county tax collector.

So back to the original question, how to register boat without title? Check with your state's boating website to learn the exact paperwork to register a boat without a title. There are will be replacement title forms to fill out and submit along with some form of proof of ownership.

Proof of ownership through executed bill of sale. Builder's contract. Manufacturer's statement of origin. Federal marine document or other acceptable documentation. Boat title.

Applying for Vessel Registration When applying for registration, the owner must establish proof of ownership by submitting an executed bill of sale, a builder's contract, a manufacturer's statement of origin, a federal marine document or another document acceptable to the FLHSMV.

A notarized bill of sale is required with the registration to transfer ownership. If a title is available, it and Department of Highway Safety Motor Vehicle (DHSMV) form 82040 (title application form) must be completed for processing.

Do Boats Have Titles? A boat title is a legal document that proves ownership. Any boat can be voluntarily titled but not all boats require it.