An Arkansas boat bill of sale is a written record that a boat changed hands from a seller to a buyer. It names both parties, describes the boat and states the price. The buyer still has to apply for a new certificate of title after the sale.[1.2] Use the free template below to build one online or download the PDF.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Arkansas law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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A boat bill of sale is signed by the buyer and the seller when a boat changes owners, and it also works as a receipt for both sides. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says it must describe the boat, state the amount of sale, be dated and be signed by the buyer and seller.[2] The table shows each item and where it sits on the FormsPal template. For other kinds of sales, see our boat bill of sale guide.
Item
What Arkansas says
Where it is on the template
Boat description
Hull identification number, year, make and horsepower
Section 3, Boat or Watercraft Description
Amount of sale
The amount of sale
Section 4, Purchase Date, Purchase Price and Method
Date
The bill of sale is dated
The date line on page 1 and the purchase date in section 4
Signatures
Signed by the buyer and seller
Section 6, Signatures
The template has checkboxes for a boat, a trailer and up to two motors. One document can cover a boat, its trailer and its motors when they are sold together.
Create a free high quality Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale online now!
Build the Arkansas boat bill of sale template online, or download the printable PDF and fill it in by hand. More options are in our Arkansas bill of sale forms. For a general overview, read this article on how a bill of sale works.
Titling and Registering a Boat in Arkansas
Buying a boat in Arkansas leaves the new owner with two jobs, registering the boat and getting a title in the owner's name. Each job has its own deadline, so the buyer should plan for both from the day of the sale. After a boat sale, the buyer must apply for the boat's registration within 30 days of the date of purchase.[2]
The buyer must also apply for a certificate of title. That application is due within 30 days after the date of the transfer when no lien exists.[1.1] You can count the days with our deadline calculator.
If a prior lienholder held a lien on the boat, the title deadline does not start on the sale date. The 30 days start on the date the lienholder releases the lien.[1.1]
To get the new title, the buyer does these things at the same time:[1.2]
Presents the certificate of title, properly endorsed and assigned, to the office of motor vehicle
Applies for a new certificate of title for the motorboat
Obtains the new certificate of title
How to Fill Out an Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale
To fill out an Arkansas boat bill of sale, work through the 14 parts of the FormsPal template from top to bottom. Use the online builder above, or download the PDF and complete it in the PDF editor before you print and sign it. Each step names the part of the template and shows where the answer goes.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Arkansas boat bill of sale template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
Date line: Enter the date of the transaction on the DATE line at the top of page 1.
Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Seller's information: Enter the seller's name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number and email address.
Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Buyer's information: Enter the buyer's name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number and email address.
Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Boat description: party names: Write the seller's name and the buyer's name again on the two lines of the agreement sentence in section 3.
Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Boat details (check all that apply): Tick Boat, then enter the make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN).
Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Boat hours and value: On page 2, enter the boat's hours on the Odometer line and its value in U.S. dollars.
Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Trailer and motors: Tick Trailer and fill in its make, license plate, color, VIN, year and value if one is sold. Tick Motor and enter make, horsepower, serial number and value, using the second Motor block for a second motor.
Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Purchase date and price: Enter the purchase date and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.
Step 8: sample entries, not a real document.
How the price is paid: Tick one option: all at once on the purchase date, a deposit with the balance due on a later date (fill in the amounts and dates), or a gift with no consideration paid.
Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Payment method: Select one method: Cash, Check (add the check number), Cashier's check or Money Order.
Step 10: sample entries, not a real document.
Taxes: On page 3, tick whether applicable taxes are included in the purchase price or are not included.
Step 11: sample entries, not a real document.
Signatures: Seller, buyer and witness each sign, print their name and enter the date on their own line. Read section 5, Miscellaneous Provisions, above the signature block before signing.
Step 12: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: state and county: On page 4, fill in the county, the date, the name and title of the officer and the name of the person who personally appeared.
Step 13: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: signature line: If you complete the acknowledgment on page 4, sign it in front of the notary. The notary then signs the Signature (seal) line.
Step 14: sample entries, not a real document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arkansas sets a 30-day deadline to apply for a boat's registration, counted from the date of purchase. The state's motor boat registration page also lists what a bill of sale must contain: the boat description, the amount of sale, the date and both signatures.[2]
What do you need when selling a boat in Arkansas?
The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration says a boat bill of sale must be signed by the buyer and seller. It must also describe the boat, state the amount of sale and be dated.[2]
Is a bill of sale required to sell a boat in Arkansas?
Arkansas has no statute that requires a bill of sale for a boat sale.
How long does a buyer have to register a boat in Arkansas?
The owner of a motorboat that requires registration must apply for the registration within 30 days of the date of purchase.[2]
Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.
