A Michigan boat bill of sale is a legal record that a boat or other watercraft was sold. It names both parties, describes the vessel, and states the date of the sale and the full purchase price. Michigan's rules call for the date and the price, and the seller must deliver the certificate of title to the buyer.[1][2] This page has a free template and a guide to fill it in.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Michigan law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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Under Rule 281.2206 of the Michigan Administrative Code, the date of the sale must be stated. The full purchase price or retail dollar value of the sale must be stated too. That price includes the value of an outboard motor or other item attached to or kept on the boat and sold with it.[1]
A bill of sale is a natural place to record both details, together with the names of the parties and a description of the watercraft. It gives the buyer and the seller one document that shows the agreement they reached. The FormsPal template below provides a line for each piece of information.
Describe every accessory that goes with the boat, such as a motor or a trailer, so the record of the transaction is complete and nobody has to guess later what was included.
Title Transfer and Liens for a Michigan Boat
Under Section 324.80304(1) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, a person must not sell or otherwise dispose of a watercraft without delivering a certificate of title to the buyer. The title must carry the assignment needed to show title in the buyer.[2]
A lien is a creditor's legal claim on the boat as security for a debt. Under Section 324.80312(4) of the Michigan Compiled Laws, the Secretary of State examines its records when a title is requested. If the records show a lien and the applicant gives no satisfactory evidence that it is extinguished, the certificate of title states the lien.[3]
Before you pay, ask the seller whether a lender holds a lien on the boat. Ask to see the certificate of title too.
This free FormsPal template is a PDF with lines for the date, both parties, the vessel, any trailer and motors, the purchase price, how the price is paid and taxes. It also has signature lines for the seller, the buyer and a witness, plus an acknowledgment block. FormsPal has other bill of sale forms for each state.
Create a free high-quality Michigan Boat Bill of Sale online now!
Once you download the PDF, you can fill it in with our online PDF editor. You can also use a different template, as long as it covers the date, both parties, the vessel and the full price.
How to Write a Michigan Boat Bill of Sale
These 14 steps follow the parts of the template in the order they appear on the form. Fill in the lines that apply to your sale and leave the rest blank.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Michigan 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.
Enter the date of the bill of sale. Write the date on the date line at the top of the first page, since this is the date the agreement is made.
Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Fill in Section 1, Seller's Information. Enter the seller's full name, street address, city, state and zip code, together with a telephone number and an email address.
Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Fill in Section 2, Buyer's Information. Enter the same contact information for the buyer, in the same order as the seller's block above it.
Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Name the seller and buyer in Section 3. Write the seller's name where the form says the seller agrees to sell, and write the buyer's name where it says the buyer agrees to purchase.
Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Describe the boat. The form says to check all that apply, so check Boat and then enter its make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN), which is the identification number stamped on the hull.
Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Enter the boat's hours and value. At the top of page 2, add the reading in operating hours and the value of the boat in U.S. dollars.
Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Add the trailer and motors, if they are sold with the boat. Check Trailer and enter its make, license plate number, color, VIN, year and value, then check Motor and enter its make, horsepower, serial number and value. The form has two Motor lines, and any item that is not part of the sale can stay unchecked.
Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Fill in Section 4, 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.
Choose how the price is to be paid. Check one box to show whether the price is paid all at once on the purchase date, paid as a deposit with the balance due in full on a later date, or given as a gift.
Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Select the payment method. Select one method of payment, which can be cash, a check (add the check number), a cashier's check or a money order.
Step 10: sample entries, not a real document.
Mark the Taxes box. At the top of page 3, check whether the applicable taxes, including state, local, municipal and sales taxes, are included in the purchase price.
Step 11: sample entries, not a real document.
Read Section 5 and sign Section 6. Section 5 is text only and has no fields to complete. In Section 6, the seller, the buyer and the witness each sign on their own line and add a printed name and the date. Fill in the witness line if a witness signs.
Step 12: sample entries, not a real document.
Complete the acknowledgment details. If the signers appear before a notary or other officer, the acknowledgment on page 4 takes the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared.
Step 13: sample entries, not a real document.
Sign and seal the acknowledgment. The officer signs on the line marked "(seal)" under "WITNESS my hand and official seal".
Step 14: sample entries, not a real document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I transfer ownership of a boat in Michigan?
To transfer ownership of a boat in Michigan, the seller delivers the certificate of title to the buyer. The title carries the assignment needed to show title in the buyer.[2] The sale record states the date and the full purchase price.[1]
What are the requirements for registering a boat in Michigan?
When a boat changes hands, Michigan's rules name three items:
The certificate of title, delivered by the seller with the assignment that shows title in the buyer.[2]
The full purchase price or retail dollar value, including an outboard motor or other item sold with the boat.[1]
Do you need a bill of sale for a boat in Michigan?
Michigan has no statute that requires a bill of sale for a boat sale. The FormsPal template on this page records the date of the sale and the purchase price in one document.
Does Michigan require a notarized bill of sale?
Michigan has no statute that requires notarization or witnessing for a vessel transfer. The FormsPal template still has a witness line and an acknowledgment block, so you can use them if you want.
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.
