Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale Form

For other paperwork, see all Louisiana bill of sale forms, or read the basics in our bill of sale guide.

Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale Requirements

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires a bill of sale when a boat changes owners. Its transfer of ownership instructions say the bill of sale includes the LA registration number, the hull identification number (HIN), and the signatures of the seller and the buyer.^[1] Louisiana has no statute that lists what a boat bill of sale must contain.

Before you sign, check that the form shows:

• The LA registration number of the boat
• The HIN, which is the hull identification number
• A signature from each seller and each purchaser

If the boat already has a title, or a lien-holder holds the title, the title must be surrendered at the time of registration.^[1] A lien is a lender's claim on the boat, and the lien-holder is that lender. The Department publishes the boat registration and title application, and its page on how to title or register your boat explains how to register a boat.

You must register a motorized boat with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries if you use it on Louisiana waters. To register it, you complete the Boat Registration/Boat and Motor Title Application and submit it with original documents that show you own the boat. If you buy a new boat from a dealer, you submit the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin and a copy of the dealer invoice. You also submit proof that Louisiana state and local taxes were paid on the invoice, or a completed Tax Payment Certification Form from the Louisiana Department of Revenue.^[2]

A bill of sale is a plain record of the sale. It works like a receipt when you are transferring a boat. It records the names of both parties, a description of the boat, and the amount paid.

A free vessel bill of sale template covers these basics. If you sold the boat, keep a signed copy as proof that you handed it over.

Download a Free Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale Form

Download the free Louisiana boat bill of sale as a PDF, or create it online and print it. The form has lines for the date, the seller and the buyer, the boat, any trailer and motor, the price and payment method, and the signatures. You can also fill in or edit the PDF with the FormsPal PDF editor before you print it.

Create a free high quality Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale online now!

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How to Fill Out the Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale Form

These steps follow the content of the FormsPal Louisiana boat bill of sale form from the first page to the last. Fill in each part in order, and skip any box that does not apply, such as the trailer or the motor. Once the form is completed, read it through before you sign. The signature and acknowledgment parts come last.

The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Louisiana 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.

1. Enter the date. Type the date in the date line at the top of the form.

   

2. Fill in Section 1, Seller's Information. Enter the name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number, and email address.

   

3. Fill in Section 2, Buyer's Information. Enter the buyer's details in the same order as in Section 1.

   

4. Name the parties in Section 3. Under Boat or Watercraft Description, write the names of both parties in the two blanks.

   

5. Describe the boat. The form says to check all that apply. Tick Boat, then enter the make, title number, year, color, and Hull Identification Number (HIN).

   

6. Add the engine hours and boat value. Still on the Boat line, enter the hours reading in the Odometer field and the value of the boat in U.S. dollars.

   

7. Add the trailer and motors, if included. Tick Trailer and enter its make, license plate number, color, VIN, year, and value. Tick Motor and enter the make, horsepower, serial number, and value of the main outboard motor. The form has room for a second motor, with the same details. Skip any box that does not apply.

   

8. Enter the purchase date and total price. In Section 4, write the date and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.

   

9. Choose how the price is to be paid. Tick one option. All at once means the buyer pays and you hand over the boat on the purchase date. With a deposit means you enter the deposit amount, the deposit date, and the date the balance is due. As a gift means the form records no payment.

   

10. Select the payment method. Tick one: Cash, Check (add the check number), Cashier's check, or Money Order.

    

11. Mark the taxes line. Tick whether applicable taxes are included in the purchase price or not included. Section 5, Miscellaneous Provisions, sits just below. Read it before you sign. It covers the seller's ownership and no-lien statement, the as-is sale, and the entire-agreement clause.

    

12. Sign and date in Section 6. Both parties sign, print their name, and add a date. The form also has a witness line with its own signature, printed name, and date.

    

13. Complete the acknowledgment details. If you use the acknowledgment page, fill in the county, the date, the name and title of the officer, and the name of the person who appeared. That person signs in front of the notary or other officer.

    

14. Add the notary signature and seal. The notary public or other officer signs this line and adds the seal. Leave it blank until you are in front of the officer.

    

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a bill of sale for a boat in Louisiana?

Yes. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries requires one when a boat changes owners. It includes the LA registration number, the HIN, and the signatures of the seller and the buyer.^[1]

What paperwork do I need to sell a boat in Louisiana?

The Department's transfer of ownership instructions list a bill of sale. It includes the LA registration number, the HIN, and the signatures of the seller and the buyer.^[1] You can create one with the free form on this page.

Does the Louisiana boat bill of sale form include a trailer?

Yes. The FormsPal form has separate lines for a trailer: make, license plate number, color, VIN, year, and value. It also has lines for up to two motors, such as a main outboard motor and a second motor, so one form can cover a boat, a trailer, and each motor.

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

1. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Boat Registration and Boat/Motor Title Application (Revised 02.2026), Transfer of Ownership instructions.
2. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Title or Register Your Boat. Accessed October 18, 2026.

Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

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.