A Missouri boat bill of sale is a written record of a boat sale that names the seller, the buyer, the boat, the price and the date. Use this free form as a Missouri watercraft bill of sale for a boat, a trailer and motors, online or as a PDF.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Missouri law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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What a Missouri Boat Bill of Sale Is and What the Template Records
A Missouri boat bill of sale is a written record of a boat sale. The FormsPal template gives the seller and the buyer one record of the sale, so both can point to the same terms later. It is built for a boat, and it has room for a trailer and for motors that are sold along with the boat. The template records these items.
The seller and the buyer, with their addresses and contact details
The boat, including its make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN), plus the odometer reading in hours
The trailer and the motors, when they are part of the sale
The purchase date, the total price, how the price is paid and the payment method
Whether the applicable taxes are included in the price
The seller's confirmation of ownership and no liens, and the terms that the boat is sold as is
Signatures for the seller and the buyer, a witness line and a notary acknowledgment block
Missouri Boat Bill of Sale and Title Rules
Missouri asks for a bill of sale showing the full purchase price when the price is not on the assigned ownership document.[1.2] The table below sets out the other points the state sources cover for a boat that changes hands.
Topic
What Missouri says
Bill of sale
If the purchase price is not on the assigned ownership document, submit a bill of sale showing the full purchase price.[1.2]
The seller's part
When a certificate of ownership or manufacturer's statement of origin has been issued, the holder endorses an assignment on it. The assignment carries a warranty of title and a statement of all liens or encumbrances, and the holder delivers it to the buyer when the boat is delivered.[3.2]
The buyer's deadline
The owner of a vessel acquired or brought into the state files an application for title within sixty days after acquiring it or bringing it into the state.[3.1]
Identifying the boat
The title application contains a full description of the vessel, its factory number or serial number, and a statement of the applicant's source of title and of any liens or encumbrances.[4]
Lien release
The state asks for a notarized lien release, if applicable.[1.1]
These practical points help both sides get the paperwork right on the day of the sale.
The seller signs over the title, or the manufacturer's statement of origin for a new boat, and hands it to the buyer
The seller brings a lien release when a lien is on the boat
Both sides copy the Hull Identification Number or serial number exactly as it appears on the title
Both sides write the full price on the bill of sale
This template also works as a vessel bill of sale or a watercraft bill of sale. It has optional lines for a trailer and for a second motor, so one document can cover the whole sale.
The Department of Revenue's own bill of sale form puts the signing rule in these words.[2]
The seller must complete all applicable information and sign this form.
A lien release is a separate document from this bill of sale. When a lien applies to the boat, the state asks for a notarized lien release.[1.1]
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How to write a Missouri Boat Bill of Sale
These steps follow the FormsPal Missouri boat bill of sale template, part by part, in the order the form shows them. The form runs four pages and covers the parties, the boat, the price and payment, the signatures and a notary acknowledgment. Fill in every part that applies to your sale. To complete the downloaded file on screen, use our online PDF editor.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Missouri 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 at the top. Enter the date of the transaction on the DATE line at the top of page 1.Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 1, 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.
Section 2, 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.
Section 3, Seller and buyer names. In the sentence that opens paragraph 3, write the seller's name and the buyer's name again on the two lines provided.Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 3, Boat details. Tick the Boat box, then enter the make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN).Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 3, Odometer and value. At the top of page 2, enter the odometer reading in hours and the boat's value in U.S. dollars.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 3, Trailer and motors. If a trailer is sold, tick Trailer and fill in its make, license plate number, color, VIN, year and value. If a motor is sold, tick Motor and enter its make, horsepower, serial number and value. A second Motor box covers a second motor.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 4, Purchase date and price. Enter the purchase date (day, month and year) and the total purchase price in U.S. dollars.Step 8: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 4, To be paid. Tick one option: all at once on the purchase date, a deposit with the balance due on a later date (enter the deposit amount, the deposit date and the balance date), or a gift with no consideration paid.Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 4, Payment method. Select one method: Cash, Check (enter the check number), Cashier's check or Money Order.Step 10: sample entries, not a real document.
Taxes. On page 3, tick one box: taxes are included in the purchase price, or taxes are not included in the purchase price. Paragraph 5, Miscellaneous provisions, follows on the same page and has nothing to fill in.Step 11: sample entries, not a real document.
Section 6, Signatures. The seller and the buyer each sign, print their name and date their line. The form also has a witness signature line with a printed name and date.Step 12: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment, State of Missouri. Page 4 holds the notary acknowledgment block. It has lines for 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 and seal. The officer who completes the acknowledgment signs on the Signature line and adds the seal. This is the last line of the form.Step 14: sample entries, not a real document.
After everyone signs, give the original to the buyer and keep a copy for your records.
Most problems with a boat bill of sale come from blank or mismatched lines. Check the finished form against the title and against itself before anyone signs. These are the mistakes to watch for.
A Hull Identification Number or serial number that does not match the title
A price that is missing or written differently in two places
A trailer or motor that is sold with the boat but not ticked or described
A payment option that is not ticked, or a check number left off
A missing signature, or a witness line left half filled
No copy kept for the seller's records
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover whether a Missouri boat sale needs a bill of sale, what the seller does with the title, how long the buyer has to apply for a new one, and what the title application must identify. They rest on the state sources listed at the end of this page.
Do you need a bill of sale in Missouri for a boat?
Sometimes. The Department of Revenue asks for a bill of sale showing the full purchase price when the price is not on the assigned ownership document.[1.2] A written bill of sale also gives both sides a record of the sale, even when the title already shows the price.
What does the seller do with the title when selling a boat in Missouri?
The seller signs the title over to the buyer and delivers it. When a certificate of ownership or manufacturer's statement of origin has been issued, the holder endorses it and delivers it to the buyer when the boat is delivered.[3.2] The endorsement carries these items.
An assignment of the certificate
A warranty of title
A statement of all liens or encumbrances on the boat
How long does the buyer have to apply for a Missouri boat title?
Sixty days. The owner of a vessel acquired or brought into the state files an application for title within sixty days after acquiring it or bringing it into the state.[3.1]
What must the boat title application identify?
The boat itself. The application contains a full description of the vessel and its factory number or serial number, together with a statement of the applicant's source of title and of any liens or encumbrances.[4]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Sources
Each bracketed number in the text above points to a Missouri source listed here. Open the link to read the provision in full, and check the current text and forms before you rely on them.
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.
