Free Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale

A Louisiana boat bill of sale evidences a vessel changing hands, and the state is specific about what must appear on it.

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries handles boats here rather than a motor vehicle office. Your bill of sale needs the Louisiana registration number, the hull identification number, the make and model year of the boat, and signatures from both the seller and the purchaser.

Notice the registration number requirement. Many states do not ask for it, so take it off the hull or the seller’s registration card while you are still at the boat.

Wildlife and Fisheries publishes two versions of its bill of sale, one notarized and one simple, which tells you something useful: the right choice depends on the transaction.

Private sales commonly call for the notarized version, and parish offices frequently expect it. A notary costs little and removes an argument before it starts.

Where an estate is involved, a bill of sale from the heirs is required if the boat is being sold by a decedent’s heirs.

Tip: Ask the seller whether the boat is titled. If it is, the title must be surrendered at the time of registration — and if a lienholder is holding it, that is a conversation to have well before you agree a price.

Registration and titling run through Wildlife and Fisheries in Baton Rouge, either in person at headquarters or by post.

A registration card must be carried aboard as proof, and it is valid for three years rather than one. A title is a separate document, purchased once, that proves ownership — lenders often want to see one.

Buying from out of state brings tax paperwork. First-time registration of an out-of-state boat may require a Tax Payment Certification form from the Department of Revenue, and you visit your local taxing authority before Revenue.

Out-of-state boaters may use Louisiana waters on a valid home-state registration for up to 90 consecutive days.

Two Louisiana rules are worth knowing before the handover.

A boat with no hull identification number, or an incorrect one, must be inspected by the department and titled as well as registered when first registered in Louisiana. Homemade boats also need original receipts for building materials showing Louisiana taxes paid, produced at the inspection.

Sellers carry a duty too. You must notify Wildlife and Fisheries in writing within 15 days of the date of sale, and the original registration numbers transfer to the new owner.

Fees and tax rates change, so confirm current figures with the department before you file. Start your Louisiana boat bill of sale now and capture the registration number while the boat is in front of you.