A jet ski bill of sale is an essential document used in the sale or purchase of a jet ski. It discloses details including the names of both parties, terms, signatures, and transaction date.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
While you can sell your watercraft without the legal documents, it is much safer to include the bill of sale. You need to keep a record of the sale in case the customer comes back later to sue you for an illegal deal. It is an insurance that protects both parties involved in the purchase agreement.
Since it acts as evidence of transfer of ownership, the seller cannot revoke the agreement when the jet ski fails to perform later after finalizing the deal.
After putting your jet ski up for sale, a customer will request an inspection before making a purchase. While selling a watercraft may seem easy, a bill of sale protects you just as it does when you sell a car.
A signed bill of sale does two jobs:
| Document Name | Jet Ski Bill of Sale Form |
| Other Names | PWC Bill of Sale, Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 12 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 63 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word |
In 32 of the 49 jurisdictions FormsPal's verified state data covers (48 states and DC), a rule calls for a bill of sale when a vessel is sold. In 15 of the 49 jurisdictions covered, there is no statute on whether a bill of sale is required. The answer depends on where the jet ski is registered, so a written bill of sale is the safe choice whatever the local rule is.
These are the items the rules name for the paperwork. Each count is out of the 49 jurisdictions covered.
Rules differ from place to place. Before you sell, check the requirements of the agency that registers your jet ski.
If you want to sell your personal watercraft, have a PWC bill of sale ready. It is a vital document that proves the act of sale. While you can buy it from lawyers, you will have to dig deeper into your pockets for the legal document.
Why pay extra when you can download a bill of sale template from our site free of charge? Enter your details on the form – the names of seller, model, purchase, and other relevant information, and generate a highly customized document.
You can also download the form and print it to fill it out manually. It is simple and convenient, saving you hours of meetings with legal officers. Get a template and finalize your sale with no pressure.
You do not need special skills to sell your jet ski. You just need a good strategy and buyers will be gathering to buy it. If you want to sell your jet ski, you can follow the guideline below:
Step 1. Prepare the Jet Ski
Make sure that your jet ski is in the best state. If it has any faults, create time to repair and bring it back to its brand new condition. No one wants to buy an old product that looks like it will break down in the next minute. Potential buyers would rather go for a new jet ski rather than buying and taking it for repairs. Also, ensure that all of the legal documents for the jet ski are available.
Step 2. Market Your Jet Ski
After revamping your jet ski, embark on serious marketing. Use social media platforms and put up your advertisements all over. Here’s a website that specializes in PWC trading – PWCTrader. You can also talk to your friends and family to help you spread the ad by word of mouth. Don’t forget about your local newspaper, either.
Step 3. Negotiate With Potential Buyers
When you have customers lining up to buy your jet ski, ensure that you have a reasonable bargain price. Do not exaggerate your prices because you might chase away serious buyers. Have a low and a high limit cost and start negotiating from there. Settle with someone who is willing to offer you the best price. If you do not meet your target, adjust your price and go back to the marketing drawing board.
If you land a good deal, proceed to the next step of completing a jet ski bill of sale.
Step 4. Fill out the Jet Ski Bill of Sale
After reaching a consensus, start filling out the bill of sale for the jet ski. Ensure that all of the documents are available before the agreement. Fill out the following details in the sale form.
Step 5. Complete the Advance Payment (Optional)
To book the jet ski, the buyer can produce an advanced payment in line with the price stipulated in the bill of sale agreement. The buyer can inspect the jet ski on an agreed date and at an agreed place with a qualified technician. If everything is clear, then both parties can finalize the deal.
Step 6. Seal the Deal
The transaction will be rendered complete if the customer makes the final payment as per the sale form. The new owner then receives all of the documents – title, registration number, and the original copy of the jet ski bill of sale.
It is important to note that you must keep the form as proof of transfer of ownership in case of any disputes in the future.
Down below, you can take a look at the instructions written by using the template for jet ski’s made by our team. However, make sure you consider the standard form if it’s available from the local authorities.
Step 1: Specify the date when document is created.
Step 2: Enter the details of all parties (buyer and seller).
Step 3: Identify the jet ski being sold.
Copy the hull identification number (HIN) straight from the jet ski, not from old paperwork. A single wrong digit makes the bill of sale hard to match to the vessel.
Step 4: Select the way the purchaser will buy the jet ski and for what amount of money.
This step also involves providing the date of the transaction and the total sum decided upon by all parties of the deal. You will have to also indicate the selling method the buyer will opt for:
Your next step is deciding on the type of payment:
As a final point, indicate if the purchase cost includes all applicable taxes.
Step 5: Go through standard terms and make sure that both sides have an understanding of them.
The seller confirms that they are indeed the owner of the jet ski described in the document and they have the right to sell it based on the price in the form. The seller also confirms that there are no liens on the jet ski and that the information provided in the Bill of Sale is true, accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge.
The “as-is” provision indicates that the property owner gives no warranty and is not liable for maintenance after the transfer.
Step 6: Sign the bill of sale form.
The purchaser is usually not required to sign the document. Nonetheless, you will be more protected from legal complications if both parties sign the form. Just to be on the safe side, the parties may find a person who will witness the transaction and sign the document as well.
Step 7: Notarize the document
In this way, you will have more legal protection. Nonetheless, this is normally entirely elective.
In 3 of the 49 jurisdictions FormsPal's verified state data covers, a rule calls for a notarized bill of sale or form, at least in some situations. In 2 of the 49 jurisdictions covered, a rule says notarization is not required.
The buyer needs to own the original document as it’s often required during the title change. As a seller, you could either make a copy and keep it or have two identical forms signed and filled out by both parties.
In 31 of the 49 jurisdictions FormsPal's verified state data covers, a rule calls for a transfer of title or registration when a vessel is sold. The bill of sale is your record of the sale, so keep a signed copy with the other paperwork for the jet ski.
No. A title is the official record of who owns the jet ski, and a bill of sale is the written record of a sale between the two parties. Keep both when you sell or buy.
In 19 of the 49 jurisdictions FormsPal's verified state data covers, a rule calls for a signature on the sale paperwork. The FormsPal form has lines for both parties and for witnesses.
In 13 of the 49 jurisdictions covered, a rule calls for a release from the lienholder. Ask your lender how to release the lien before you hand over the jet ski.
Yes, you can print the blank form and complete it by hand, or fill it in online first and then print the finished copy.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
