Do you need a bill of sale to register a boat in Florida?

Yes. When transferring ownership of a vessel in Florida, both the buyer and seller should execute an official Bill of Sale (such as Form SBF-FL-VESSEL or FLHSMV Form HSMV 82050) in addition to signing the Florida Certificate of Title. The bill of sale provides legal proof of purchase price for calculating Florida's 6.0% sales tax and establishes the exact transfer date for liability relief.

Does a Florida boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

Under Florida Statutes Chapter 328, notarization is not strictly mandated by the state if both parties sign the Certificate of Title and the transfer is registered in person at the County Tax Collector's office. However, having Section G notarized provides conclusive legal evidence of identity, prevents fraudulent claims, and is strongly recommended by FLHSMV and marine lenders.

How much is boat sales tax in Florida?

Florida levies a 6.0% state sales and use tax on vessel purchases pursuant to Florida Statutes Chapter 212, plus any applicable county discretionary sales surtax (ranging from 0.5% to 1.5%). The tax is assessed on the total purchase price of the vessel, motor, and trailer, payable directly to the local County Tax Collector within 30 days of sale.

What is the Florida boat sales tax cap?

Under Florida Statutes § 212.05(1)(a)2, Florida imposes a statutory cap of $18,000 on the state sales and use tax for any single vessel sale. This means buyers of high-value vessels and yachts never pay more than $18,000 in Florida state sales tax, regardless of the purchase price.

Does Florida issue separate titles for boat trailers and outboard motors?

Florida does not title outboard motors separately (unlike Texas). However, boat trailers with an empty weight of 2,000 pounds or more require a Certificate of Title. Trailers weighing under 2,000 pounds are exempt from titling but must be registered with license plates. Itemizing the vessel, motor, and trailer prices on the bill of sale ensures accurate sales tax calculation.

Free Florida Boat Bill of Sale Form (FLHSMV 82050 PDF)

FORM SBF-FL-VESSEL Statutory Year: 2026

Florida Statutes Chapter 328 • FLHSMV Form HSMV 82050 Compliant

STATE OF FLORIDA STATUTORY VESSEL / BOAT BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement • Marine Transfer Record

Compliant with Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) 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 trailer described below, to have and to hold forever.

Section A: Jurisdiction & Location of Sale State of Florida

State:

Florida County *:

Section B: Complete Vessel (Hull) Description FLHSMV Primary Vessel Record

Year Built *

Make / Manufacturer *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft & In) *

Hull Material

Propulsion Type

Primary Use

FL Reg. # (e.g. FL 1234 AB)

Hull ID Number (HIN - Exactly 12 Characters) *

Section C: Outboard Motor & Boat Trailer Specifications Florida Sales Tax & Registration Breakdown

Outboard Motor Make

Motor Year

Horsepower (HP)

Motor Serial Number *

Trailer Included

Trailer Make

Trailer Year

Trailer VIN / Serial #

Empty Wt (Lbs)

Section D: Identification of Parties (Transferor & Transferee) Must Match Florida Vessel Title Records

1. SELLER (Transferor Information) Physical Address Only

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

FL Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For County Tax Registration

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section E: Financial Consideration & Itemized Price Breakdown Florida 6.0% Sales Tax (Fla. Stat. Chapter 212)

Vessel (Hull):

Outboard Motor:

Trailer:

TOTAL PRICE *:

Date of Sale *:

Payment Method: Cash Cashier's Ck Personal Ck Wire Gift/Trade

Section F: Statutory Marine "AS-IS" Warranty Disclaimer & Notice of Sale Affidavit Fla. Stat. § 672.316 • Fla. Stat. § 328.46 Liability Release

SOLD STRICTLY AS-IS, WHERE-IS: The Buyer agrees that this vessel, outboard motor, trailer, and accessories are purchased in their present "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 672.316, the Seller disclaims all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, seaworthiness, or fitness for any particular navigational purpose. Seller assumes no post-sale liability for repairs, engine condition, or hull integrity. Buyer acknowledges having inspected the vessel or having waived this right. NOTICE OF SALE (Fla. Stat. § 328.46): Seller certifies ownership transfer. Filing Form HSMV 82050 relieves Seller of civil liability for future marine infractions. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Florida law that Seller is lawful owner with clear title free of all liens.

Section G: Authorized Signatures & Florida Notary Acknowledgment FLHSMV Title Transfer Compliance

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must match Florida title

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature For Form HSMV 82050

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF:

Before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government photo ID to be the person(s) subscribed hereto, and acknowledged executing same for the purposes and consideration expressed.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here

FORM SBF-FL-VESSEL (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com Florida Statutes Chapter 328 & § 328.46 • Compliant with FLHSMV Form HSMV 82050 PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

FLHSMV 3-Step Private Vessel Title Transfer Guide

Follow Florida statutory procedures under Florida Statutes Chapter 328 to execute your private boat transaction correctly, calculate sales tax accurately, and eliminate civil liability for the seller.

Sign Title & Form SBF-FL-VESSEL

The seller endorses the original Florida Certificate of Title with purchase price, transfer date, and buyer details. Both parties complete this 1-page statutory Bill of Sale with itemized vessel, motor, and trailer valuations.

Seller Files Notice of Sale (HSMV 82050)

Within 30 calendar days of the sale, the seller submits Form HSMV 82050 (or a certified copy of this Bill of Sale) to their local Florida County Tax Collector to cancel registration and permanently extinguish civil liability.

Buyer Registers & Pays Florida Sales Tax

Within 30 days, the buyer visits the County Tax Collector's office with the signed title, Bill of Sale, and pays Florida's 6.0% state sales tax plus county discretionary surtax (capped at $18,000 maximum state tax under Fla. Stat. § 212.05).

Statutory Summary

Florida Vessel Transfer Legal Requirements

Quick reference table outlining Florida statutory rules, agency jurisdictions, and titling standards under Florida Statutes Chapter 328.

Requirement / Element	Florida Statutory Standard	Legal Authority
Governing Agency	Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)	Fla. Stat. § 328.01
Hull Identification Number (HIN)	Mandatory 12-character format compliant with U.S. Coast Guard standards (33 CFR § 181.25)	Fla. Stat. § 328.07
Outboard Motor Titling	Florida does NOT issue separate titles for outboard motors (itemized on bill of sale for tax)	FLHSMV Guidelines
Boat Trailer Titling & Reg.	Trailers 2,000+ lbs empty weight require title; trailers <2,000 lbs require registration only	Fla. Stat. § 319.20 & § 320.08
State Sales & Use Tax	6.0% state tax + county discretionary surtax (0.5%–1.5%); max state tax capped at $18,000	Fla. Stat. § 212.05(1)(a)2
Transfer Deadline	30 calendar days from the date of purchase (delinquent fee applies thereafter)	Fla. Stat. § 328.01
Seller Liability Release	Seller relieved of civil liability upon filing Form HSMV 82050 with County Tax Collector	Fla. Stat. § 328.46

Frequently Asked Questions

Florida Boat Bill of Sale & Title Transfer FAQs

Direct legal answers to common questions regarding private boat sales, FLHSMV registration, and marine tax compliance in Florida.

Free Florida Boat & Vessel Bill of Sale Form

STATE OF FLORIDA STATUTORY VESSEL / BOAT BILL OF SALE