Updated May 31, 2023
A Virginia boat bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of a vessel in the State of Virginia. The bill of sale will identify the buyer and the seller, describe the boat changing hands, and recount the terms of the exchange. This document may be required as a part of the registration process, and it can be useful in subsequent transactions or permit applications.
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Registering a Boat
Boats driven on Virginia waters must be registered. (Visitors to the state may use a boat registered in another state for 90 consecutive days or without registering). The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources allows a boat to be operated for 30 days with its former registration, so long as it carries aboard a copy of the previous registration and the bill of sale. The boat’s registration will endure for three years, at which point the buyer may renew either through the mail or online.
Where to Register
Registration may be completed in person or by mail at one of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) locations
Required Documents
- An Application for Watercraft Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number (Registration)
- If transferred within Virginia, the preexisting title statement
- Buyers of boats being registered for the first time will need an Original Manufacturer’s or Importer’s Certificate of Origin completed by the dealer; those of boats being brought from other states will need the previous title, or possibly the previous registration
- A Bill of Sale
- Receipts showing payment of taxes and fees.