A Wisconsin boat bill of sale is a written record of a boat sale. It names the seller and the buyer, describes the boat, and states the price and the date. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does not require one. However, it may be needed for tax purposes.[1] Use the free template below to document the sale of a boat, a trailer or a motor.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Wisconsin law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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A bill of sale is not required by the DNR to sell a boat in Wisconsin. However, it may be needed for tax purposes.[1] A written bill of sale is still the clearest record of who sold the boat, who bought it, for how much and on what date.
Wisconsin has no statute that sets what a boat bill of sale must contain. In practice, a bill of sale usually covers:
The names of the seller and the buyer
A description of the boat, such as the make, year and Hull Identification Number (HIN)
Keep the signed bill of sale with your other boat papers. A written record of the price and the sale date is useful if a tax question comes up later.
Wisconsin Boat Title Transfer
If an owner transfers a titled Wisconsin boat, the owner must execute an assignment and warranty of title to the transferee (the buyer) at the time of delivery. The owner also delivers the certificate of origin and the certificate of title.[3] A boat that is less than 16 feet in length is exempt from the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements.[2]
Boat Bill of Sale and Title Rules in Wisconsin
Topic
Rule
Bill of sale
Not required by the DNR, but it may be needed for tax purposes.[1]
Boats under 16 feet
Exempt from the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements if the boat is less than 16 feet in length.[2]
Transfer of a titled boat
The owner signs an assignment and warranty of title to the buyer and delivers the certificate of title.[3]
Download a Free Wisconsin Boat Bill of Sale Form
FormsPal offers a free Wisconsin boat bill of sale template. Fill it out online and download it as a PDF, or print the blank PDF and write in the details by hand. The FormsPal template has sections for the seller, the buyer, the boat, an optional trailer and motors, the price, payment, taxes, signatures and a notary section.
Create a free high-quality Wisconsin Boat Bill of Sale online now!
These 14 steps follow the FormsPal template in the order the form presents its parts. Fill in only the boxes that apply to your sale, such as the trailer or a second motor, and leave the rest blank.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Wisconsin 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. Enter the date of the bill of sale on the line at the top of page 1. Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Seller's information. Enter the seller's name, street address, city, state and zip code on the one combined line, telephone number and email address. Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Buyer's information. Enter the same items for the buyer: name, street address, city, state and zip code, telephone number and email address. Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Names in the sale statement. Write the seller's name and the buyer's name again in the sentence that begins Section 3, so the statement reads as an agreement between the two. Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Describe the boat. Tick Boat, then enter the make, title number, year, color and Hull Identification Number (HIN) from the boat itself. Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Boat hours and value. At the top of page 2, enter the hours shown on the boat (the form asks for hours, not an odometer reading) and the value of the boat in U.S. dollars. Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Trailer and motors. Tick Trailer and fill in its make, license plate number, color, VIN, year and value if one is sold. Tick Motor and enter the make, horsepower, serial number and value. The form has room for two motors. Leave unused boxes blank. Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
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.
How the price will be paid. Tick one option: all at once on the purchase date, a deposit with its amount, its date and the date the balance is due, or a gift with no payment. Step 9: sample entries, not a real document.
Payment method. Tick one payment method: cash, check (and write the check number), cashier's check or money order. Step 10: sample entries, not a real document.
Taxes. At the top of page 3, tick whether applicable taxes are included in the purchase price or not included. Step 11: sample entries, not a real document.
Signatures and dates. Read Section 5 above the signature lines. It covers the seller's ownership statement, the as-is sale with no warranties and the entire agreement. Then the seller and the buyer each sign, print a name and add a date. The form also has a witness line. Step 12: sample entries, not a real document.
Acknowledgment. Page 4 has an acknowledgment block for a notary. If you use it, sign in front of the notary. The county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the name of the person who appeared go on its lines. Step 13: sample entries, not a real document.
Notary signature and seal. The notary signs on the signature line and adds the seal. This line is for the officer, not for the seller or the buyer. Step 14: sample entries, not a real document.
Make a signed copy for each party. The buyer and the seller then each hold the same record of the sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover common questions about a Wisconsin boat sale. They explain whether a bill of sale is required, which boats need a title, and what one document can list.
Do you need a bill of sale for a boat in Wisconsin?
No. A bill of sale is not required by the DNR, however it may be needed for tax purposes.[1] Many sellers and buyers still sign one so both sides have a written record of the sale.
Does a boat under 16 feet need a title in Wisconsin?
No. A boat is exempt from both the certificate of origin and certificate of title requirements if it is less than 16 feet in length.[2]
Can one bill of sale cover a boat, trailer and motor?
With the FormsPal template, yes. It has boxes for a boat, a trailer and up to two motors, so one document can list everything in the sale. Tick only the boxes that apply and leave the others blank.
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.
