North Carolina Boat Bill of Sale: What You Need
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North Carolina at a glance
| Question | Answer | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) handles vessel registration and titling. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Bill of sale rule / state form | For transferring a non-titled vessel between individuals, a notarized bill of sale is the required proof of ownership. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Notary / witness rule | NCWRC requires the seller's signature to be notarized on the bill of sale when a non-titled vessel is transferred. | ncwildlife.gov |
| HIN, title, and registration notes | Any motorized vessel or sailboat 14 feet or longer, and all personal watercraft (jet skis), must be titled at the time of registration. | ncwildlife.gov |
| Sales / use tax | North Carolina imposes a 3% state sales and use tax on the purchase price of a boat, with a maximum of $1,500 per article. | ncdor.gov |
| Agency seller / buyer steps | NCWRC registration and titling page (buyer and seller steps, VL-1 form, bill of sale form): https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling — Register online at GoOutdoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail, or in … | ncwildlife.gov |
1. Agency
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) handles vessel registration and titling. Applications are submitted online at GoOutdoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail, or in person at a local Wildlife Service Agent.
Agency text: “The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission offers various services to vessel owners to promote safety, establish ownership, and ultimately support the public's enjoyment of water sports and recreation. This site provides information about vessel registration and titling requirements, fees and frequently asked questions.”
Source: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
2. Bill of sale rule / state form
For transferring a non-titled vessel between individuals, a notarized bill of sale is the required proof of ownership. NCWRC provides a Bill of Sale for a Vessel form (revised 6/2023), but use is optional — any written bill of sale is accepted as long as it includes the registration number, hull ID number, vessel description, names of seller and purchaser, and a notarized seller signature. For titled vessels, the buyer receives the properly assigned and notarized original title. NCWRC also requires a completed VL-1 Application form for all transfers.
Agency text: “If the seller is an individual and the vessel is registered in North Carolina or another state, but not titled, a notarized 'Bill Of Sale' is proof-of-ownership. A 'Bill-Of-Sale' can be typed or handwritten on plain paper. It must include the registration number, the hull ID number, and a vessel description. It must also include the name of the seller(s) and purchaser(s), and must include notarization of the seller's signature(s).”
Source: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
3. Notary / witness rule
NCWRC requires the seller's signature to be notarized on the bill of sale when a non-titled vessel is transferred. The NC Bill of Sale for a Vessel form (6/2023) includes a printed notarization block that reads 'Notarization of Seller's Signature (required): Sworn to and subscribed before me...' For titled vessels, the seller's signature in the title's assignment section must also be notarized.
Agency text: “Notarization of Seller's Signature (required): Sworn to and subscribed before me this [day] in the year [year]. Witness my hand and official seal. Notary Public.”
Source: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/bill-sale-form-6-2023pdf/download?attachment. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
4. HIN, title, and registration notes
Any motorized vessel or sailboat 14 feet or longer, and all personal watercraft (jet skis), must be titled at the time of registration. Vessels manufactured or imported after 1972 must have a 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN). The HIN is formatted per U.S. Coast Guard standards and uniquely identifies the hull — similar to a VIN on a car. On most sport and fishing boats, the HIN is on the back right (starboard) outside corner of the transom. The HIN must appear on any bill of sale or proof-of-ownership document. Non-motorized boats under 14 feet, canoes, kayaks, and vessels on private ponds are generally exempt from registration.
Agency text: “Anyone who purchases or transfers a motorized vessel or sailboat 14 feet or longer or who owns a personal watercraft (jet ski), will be required to title the vessel effective Jan.1, 2007. The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies a vessel and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. The HIN is similar to a VIN on a car.”
Source: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
5. Sales / use tax
North Carolina imposes a 3% state sales and use tax on the purchase price of a boat, with a maximum of $1,500 per article. Boats are not subject to local or transit rates of sales and use tax. A boat trailer is treated as a separate article from the boat and is subject to the highway use tax (not the 3% boat rate), paid to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles when the trailer title is applied for. This is why separate lines for boat price and trailer price are useful on a bill of sale.
Agency text: “The 3.00% rate of sales and use tax applies to the sales price or purchase price of a boat, with a maximum tax of $1,500 per article. Boats are not subject to the local and transit rates of sales and use tax. A boat trailer is a motor vehicle that is exempt from sales and use tax and subject to the highway use tax imposed under Article 5A of Chapter 105 of the North Carolina General Statutes.”
Source: https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/boats. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
6. Agency seller / buyer steps
NCWRC registration and titling page (buyer and seller steps, VL-1 form, bill of sale form): https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling — Register online at GoOutdoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail, or in person at a Wildlife Service Agent. Seller must provide the buyer with proof of ownership at the time of sale. The buyer submits the VL-1 Application along with proof of ownership to complete the transfer.
Agency text: “The seller of a vessel must provide the purchaser with a 'proof of ownership' document at the time of sale. The purchaser cannot get a vessel registered in his/her name without submitting the proper 'proof of ownership' documentation. You may register and title your vessel online at GoOutdoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail, or in person at a local Wildlife Service Agent.”
Source: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling. Last checked: 2026-10-14.
The state’s own form
North Carolina publishes Bill of Sale for a Vessel (6/2023). Open it on the agency site. If the agency asks for its own form, use that form. Our PDF records the same facts (HIN, motor serial, trailer VIN, prices, names, date, signatures) and is useful as the bill of sale between the parties, but we do not claim the agency will accept it in place of its form.
Example: a filled North Carolina boat bill of sale
Names, numbers and the HIN below are made up.
BOAT BILL OF SALE
Sources
- https://www.ncwildlife.gov/boating/registration-and-titling
- https://www.ncwildlife.gov/bill-sale-form-6-2023pdf/download?attachment
- https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/sales-and-use-tax/boats
Last checked: 2026-10-14. Laws and forms change. Check the agency page before you sign or file. Not legal advice.