A bill of sale is the receipt for the boat. The registering agency reads it to see who sold to whom, and what changed hands at what price. Sales tax is worked out from the price on it, so the boat, the engines and the trailer each get their own line.
What states ask for
| State | Titles boats | Bill of sale must show | Notary | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | All motorboats, outboards separately | Date, price without trailer, description with serial number, buyer's name, seller's signature | Not required | 45 working days |
| Florida | Most motorboats | Purchase of the boat and trailer; the title's transfer section shows price and date | Only to fix an altered title | Late fee after 30 days |
| Tennessee | No | Date, price, year, make, model, HIN, both parties' names, addresses, phones and signatures | Not mentioned | Not stated |
| Alabama | Only some new boats | HIN, year, make, model, motor serial and horsepower, price, date, both names, addresses and signatures | Seller's signature | 15 calendar days |
| South Carolina | Motorboats and outboards of 5 hp and up | On the SCDNR application | When a title is missing or altered | Late fee after 30 days |