Virginia Boat (Vessel) Bill of Sale Form

Virginia requires boat owners to apply for a certificate of title at the same time they apply for watercraft registration through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

• Application for Watercraft Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number
• Bill of Sale, dated and signed by the registered owner(s), if the boat was previously registered but not titled.
• Manufacturer’s or Importer’s Certificate of Origin, if the boat is new.
• Original Certificate of Documentation, Abstract of Title, or Letter of Deletion, if the vessel was documented with the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Original Certificate of Title, properly assigned, if the boat was previously titled.
• Payment for registration/title fees and watercraft sales tax.
• Sales invoice, if purchased from a dealer.

Out-of-State Purchase

• Original out-of-state title, properly assigned, if the boat was titled in another state.
• U.S. Coast Guard documentation, Abstract of Title or Letter of Deletion, and Bill of Sale, if the vessel was federally documented.

If a used watercraft has valid current registration, the buyer may operate it for 30 days from the purchase date while carrying a dated bill of sale and the former owner’s valid registration card.

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (Registering & Titling Your Watercraft)