Florida titles most boats, and the county tax collector handles the transfer for the state's motor vehicle department. On a boat already titled in Florida, the transfer is mostly done on the title itself.
Which boats need a title
Palm Beach County lists the boats that don't:
- Non-motor-powered boats under 16 feet.
- Boats used only on private lakes and ponds.
- Federally documented boats.
- Boats owned by non-residents and in Florida waters for under 90 days.
Everything else, which means almost any used motorboat a buyer looks at, needs one.
What the buyer takes to the tax collector
Palm Beach County's checklist for a boat already titled in Florida:
| Document | What it shows |
|---|---|
| The Florida title | "Transfer of Title by Seller" section filled in: buyer's name and address, date, price, seller's signature |
| Form 82040 | Application for a certificate of title, signed by every buyer |
| Bill of sale | The purchase of the boat and the trailer |
| ID | Passport or US driver licence or ID card |
| Trailer weight slip | If the registration doesn't list the trailer's weight |
Sarasota County adds two rules on signatures. If the owners on the title are joined by "and", both sign; if by "or", one is enough. And any cross-out, white-out or erasure may void the title, in which case the seller signs a notarized or perjury clause bill of sale, form 82050.
A boat from another state comes with its out-of-state title, or its last registration if that state doesn't title boats.
Tax and fees
- Sales tax: 6% of the purchase price, plus the county surtax. Sarasota's fee chart adds 1% county tax, capped at $50.
- Itemize: Sarasota taxes only the boat's price when the bill of sale lists the boat and the outboard separately.
- Title fee: $5.75 for a boat titled in Florida, $9.75 for one titled in another state, on Sarasota's chart.
- Late fee: $5 if the application isn't in within 30 days of the purchase.
The seller's side
Palm Beach County asks sellers to notify the office within 30 days of a sale, which limits their civil liability for a boat they no longer operate. Ownership doesn't change until the buyer is issued a new title.
Before you sign
Get the boat surveyed before the price goes on paper. See the pre-purchase survey for what it covers, and use the free boat bill of sale template to give the trailer its own line, apart from the boat and engines.