Free Delaware Boat Bill of Sale Form (DNREC Compliant PDF)

Q: Do boats have titles in Delaware?

Yes. Under 23 Del. C. § 2301, all motorized vessels and boats principally operated on Delaware waters are legally required to be titled through the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Q: Is a bill of sale required to register and title a boat in Delaware?

Yes. When purchasing a vessel from a private individual or out-of-state owner, DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife mandates a signed Bill of Sale itemizing the vessel purchase price, hull identification number (HIN), outboard motor serial number, and trailer details alongside the assigned Certificate of Title.

Q: Does Delaware charge sales tax on boats?

No. The State of Delaware does not impose any state sales tax, use tax, or documentation transfer surtax on vessel or watercraft purchases.

Q: Which state agency handles boat registration in Delaware?

Vessel titling and registration are administered exclusively by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Division of Fish & Wildlife Boat Registration Office in Dover, or through authorized private licensing agents (not the DMV).

Q: Where do you register a boat trailer in Delaware?

Unlike the boat and outboard motor, boat trailers must be titled and registered with the Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

FORM SBF-DE-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

23 Del. C. §§ 2113, 2118 & 2301 (DNREC)

STATE OF DELAWARE STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Delaware DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife Standards

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the vessel, outboard motor, and boat trailer described below, to have and to hold forever.

SECTION A: JURISDICTION & LOCATION OF SALE

State:

Delaware County *:

SECTION B: COMPLETE VESSEL (HULL) DESCRIPTION

Year Built *

Make / Builder *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft/In) *

Hull Material *

Vessel Type *

DE Reg # (DL Prefix) *

Hull Identification Number (HIN - Exactly 12 Characters) *:

SECTION C: OUTBOARD MOTOR & BOAT TRAILER SPECS

1. Outboard / Inboard Marine Motor

Motor Make

Year

Motor Serial Number *

2. Boat Trailer Specifications Included in Sale

Trailer Make

Year

Weight

Trailer VIN (17 Digits) *

SECTION D: IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES (TRANSFEROR & TRANSFEREE)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

DE Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

SECTION E: FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION & ITEMIZED PRICE BREAKDOWN

Vessel (Hull) Price

Motor Price

Boat Trailer Price

Total Purchase Price (USD) *

Date of Sale *:

SECTION F: MARINE "AS-IS" WARRANTY DISCLAIMER & AFFIDAVIT

STATUTORY AS-IS DISCLAIMER (6 DEL. C. § 2-316): The vessel, outboard motor, and trailer (if included) are bargained, sold, and conveyed strictly in "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT. The Seller expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any warranty of merchantability, seaworthiness, or fitness for any particular marine purpose. Buyer acknowledges having conducted a thorough marine survey and sea trial, or having knowingly waived the right to do so. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Delaware law (11 Del. C. § 1221) that Seller is the lawful owner with clear legal title free from all maritime liens, encumbrances, or security interests.

SECTION G: SIGNATURES & NOTARY PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Seller (Transferor) Signature

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF DELAWARE COUNTY OF:

On this _____ day of ________________, 2026, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer, known or proven through government-issued photo identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) are subscribed to this vessel bill of sale, and acknowledged executing the same for the purposes therein contained.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here DNREC Compliant

FORM SBF-DE-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com 23 Del. C. §§ 2113, 2118 & 2301 • DNREC Division of Fish & Wildlife PAGE 1 OF 1

Official DNREC Process

Delaware DNREC 3-Step Private Boat Transfer & Registration Guide

Follow Delaware statutory requirements to legally transfer vessel title, register your outboard motor, and license your boat trailer without administrative delays.

Execute Title & Form SBF-DE-BOAT

The seller signs the assignment section on the original Delaware Certificate of Title. Both buyer and seller execute this statutory Form SBF-DE-BOAT Bill of Sale itemizing the hull, motor, and trailer values.

Submit to DNREC Fish & Wildlife

Under 23 Del. C. § 2301, within 30 calendar days of transfer, the buyer submits the assigned title, Bill of Sale, and DNREC Boat Registration Application to the DNREC Boat Registration Office in Dover or an authorized private agent.

Register Trailer Separately at DMV

Delaware does not assess state sales tax or documentation transfer surtaxes on boats. However, the boat trailer must be taken to the Delaware DMV for inspection, titling, and plate issuance.

Statutory Summary

Delaware Boat Transfer Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Delaware Certificate of Title	23 Del. C. § 2301	Mandatory	Primary legal document of ownership; required for all motorized vessels on Delaware waters.
Form SBF-DE-BOAT Bill of Sale	23 Del. C. § 2118	Essential	Proof of purchase price, transfer of title, and As-Is marine warranty disclaimer.
Hull Identification Number (HIN)	33 C.F.R. Part 181	Mandatory	Exact 12-character federal hull identifier permanently affixed to the starboard transom.
Delaware Vessel Sales Tax	Delaware Code Title 30	0% Tax Rate	Delaware levies zero sales tax, zero excise tax, and zero transfer surtax on vessels.
Boat Trailer DMV Registration	21 Del. C. § 2101	Mandatory (DMV)	Handled through Delaware DMV; trailers must undergo inspection and receive DMV plates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Delaware Boat Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Do boats have titles in Delaware?

Is a bill of sale required to register and title a boat in Delaware?

Does Delaware charge sales tax on boats?

Which state agency handles boat registration in Delaware?

Where do you register a boat trailer in Delaware?