A Georgia boat bill of sale is a written record of a boat sale that names the seller, the buyer and the vessel. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lists a copy of the previous owner's bill of sale as a required document for a transfer of ownership.[2] This free boat bill of sale GA template from FormsPal covers the parties, the boat, the price and the signatures.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Georgia law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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You might also read our guide to refresh your memory on the basics of bills of sale.
Georgia Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
Georgia asks for a bill of sale when a boat changes owners. The Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division lists it as a required document for a transfer of ownership.[2] The application also asks for proof of the chain of ownership and, for some boats, the title. The list below shows the papers it names.
A copy of the bill of sale from the previous owner of record, with the vessel and buyer and seller information.[2]
Any earlier bills of sale and the original registration cards that show the chain of ownership.[2]
If the boat has a Georgia paper title issued, the original transferred title must be submitted.[2]
Use a boat bill of sale form that lists both the seller and the buyer. The seller's information is required, not only the buyer's.[2]
Georgia also has a titling rule. This is the statute:
Every vessel using the waters of this state shall be titled unless it is exempt from the numbering requirements of subsection (a) of this code section or exempt under code section 52-7-7.
In plain words, a boat used on Georgia waters needs a title unless it is exempt from the numbering rules in § 52-7-4(a) or exempt under § 52-7-7.[3] Check both sections if you think your boat may qualify.
A bill of sale does not have to be witnessed or notarized, although this is acceptable.[1] The FormsPal template has a witness line and a notary block, so you can use them if both sides want to.
Make a signed copy for each side. The buyer will want one on hand when the Georgia DNR paperwork is filled in.
Create a free high-quality Georgia Boat Bill of Sale online now!
How to Write a Georgia Boat Bill of Sale
The FormsPal Georgia boat bill of sale template has 14 parts, from the date line on page 1 to the notary acknowledgment on page 4. Work through them in order. If you download the PDF first, you can fill in the PDF with our online editor.
Page 1 holds the date, the seller, the buyer and the boat description.
Page 2 covers engine hours, the trailer and motor boxes, the purchase date, the price and the payment method.
Page 3 has the taxes line, the miscellaneous provisions and the signatures.
Page 4 is the optional notary acknowledgment.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Georgia 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 of the bill of sale. Type the date of the transaction on the DATE line under the Georgia Boat Bill of Sale heading.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 or watercraft description: names. Write the seller's name and the buyer's name again in the two lines that say the seller agrees to sell and the buyer agrees to purchase.Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Check the Boat box and describe the boat. Tick Boat, then enter the make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN).Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Boat engine hours and value. On page 2, enter the hours shown on the boat (the form's Odometer line is in hours) and the boat's value in U.S. dollars.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Trailer and motor details. Tick Trailer and fill in make, license plate number, color, VIN, year and value if a trailer is sold. Tick Motor and enter make, horsepower, serial number and value for each motor. The form has two Motor boxes, so leave unused boxes empty.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Purchase date and total 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 to be paid. Tick one option: all at once on the purchase date, a deposit with the balance due on a later date (fill in the deposit amount, deposit date and balance date), or a gift with no consideration paid.Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Payment method. Select one: 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. Read Section 5, Miscellaneous Provisions, above the signature lines. Then the seller, the buyer and the witness each sign, print their name and date their line.Step 12: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment: county, date and names. If you use the acknowledgment on page 4, sign before the notary. The block takes the county, the date, the name and title of the officer, and the name of the person who appeared.Step 13: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment signature and seal. The officer signs on the signature line at the bottom of page 4 and adds the seal.Step 14: sample entries, not a real document.
What to Check Before You Sign
Read the finished boat bill of sale line by line with the other side before anyone signs. The checks below come from the parts of the template, not from a state rule.
Compare the Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the form with the one on the boat.
Use the full legal name of each person or business, and make sure the addresses are complete.
Check the sale date, the total price, how the price is paid and whether taxes are included.
If a trailer or motor goes with the boat, list each one in its own box. A trailer sold alone can use a Georgia trailer bill of sale.
These answers cover the paperwork for a Georgia boat sale. The legal points come from the Georgia DNR documents and the state code listed under Sources, so check them for the latest wording.
Do You Need a Bill of Sale for a Boat in Georgia?
Yes, for a transfer of ownership. The Georgia DNR application lists a copy of the bill of sale from the previous owner of record among its required documents.[2]
What Paperwork Is Needed to Sell a Boat in Georgia?
The DNR application names a copy of the previous owner's bill of sale, plus any earlier bills of sale and original registration cards that show the chain of ownership. A boat with a Georgia paper title also needs the original transferred title.[2]
How Do I Transfer Ownership of a Boat in Georgia?
Ownership moves to the buyer with the documents the DNR lists for a transfer of ownership.[2]
A copy of the bill of sale from the previous owner of record.
Any earlier bills of sale and original registration cards that show the chain of ownership.
If the boat has a Georgia paper title, the original transferred title.[2]
What Does a Georgia Boat Bill of Sale Include?
The DNR asks for vessel and buyer and seller information on the bill of sale.[2] The FormsPal template adds the sale date, the price, how it is paid, taxes, the signatures and an optional notary block.
Is the Seller's Information Required on a Georgia Boat Bill of Sale?
Yes. The DNR asks for a copy of the bill of sale with vessel and buyer and seller information, so the seller's details belong on the form next to the buyer's.[2]
Does a Boat Need a Title in Georgia?
Every vessel using Georgia waters must be titled unless it is exempt from the numbering requirements of § 52-7-4(a) or exempt under § 52-7-7.[3] If your boat already has a Georgia paper title, the original transferred title goes with the application.[2]
What Is a Georgia Boat Bill of Sale?
A Georgia boat bill of sale is a written record of a boat sale. The boat bill of sale names the seller and the buyer and describes the boat, the price and the sale date. The FormsPal form follows the same order, so each part of the bill of sale is easy to find.
Can I Fill In a Georgia Boat Bill of Sale Online?
Yes. Use the FormsPal online builder, or download the boat bill of sale in PDF format and fill in the PDF. Either way you complete the same 14 parts, from the date line to the optional notary acknowledgment.
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.
