Free Indiana Boat Bill of Sale Form (BMV State Form 44237 PDF)

Q: Do boats have titles in Indiana?

Yes. Under Indiana Code § 9-31-2-2, all motorized watercraft (regardless of length or horsepower) and all non-motorized sailboats over 12 feet in length operated on Indiana public waters must be titled through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Q: Is a bill of sale required to register a boat in Indiana?

Yes. The Indiana BMV requires a Bill of Sale (State Form 44237) alongside the assigned Certificate of Title to establish legal proof of transfer, document the transaction date, and provide an itemized breakdown of boat, motor, and trailer purchase prices for 7.0% state sales/use tax and annual Watercraft Excise Tax assessment.

Q: What is Indiana BMV State Form 44237 for watercraft?

State Form 44237 is the official Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles Bill of Sale format. It records the complete vessel identification, outboard motor specifications, boat trailer data, and financial consideration required by BMV branches across Indiana.

Q: Which state agency handles boat registration in Indiana?

Unlike many states where boat registration is handled by a department of natural resources or wildlife agency, Indiana watercraft titling, registration, and boat trailer licensing are all consolidated under the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).

Q: How long do you have to register a boat in Indiana after buying it?

Under Indiana Code § 9-31-2-10, an Indiana resident purchasing a watercraft has strictly 45 calendar days from the date of purchase to apply for a title and register the watercraft at an Indiana BMV branch before late titling penalties apply.

FORM SBF-IN-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

IC §§ 9-31-2-2, 9-31-3-2 & State Form 44237

STATE OF INDIANA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) State Form 44237 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:

Indiana County *:

SECTION B: COMPLETE WATERCRAFT (HULL) DESCRIPTION

Year Built *

Make / Builder *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft/In) *

Hull Material *

Vessel Type *

IN Registration # (e.g. IN 1234 AB)

Hull Identification Number (HIN - 12 Characters) *:

SECTION C: OUTBOARD MOTOR & BOAT TRAILER SPECS

1. Outboard / Inboard Marine Motor

Motor Make

Year

Motor Serial Number

2. Boat Trailer Information Trailer Included

Trailer Make

Year

Empty Wt

Trailer VIN / Serial # (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

IN 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 ($)

Trailer Price ($)

Total Purchase Price *

Date of Sale *:

Payment: Cash Cashier's Check Check Wire Gift/Trade

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

STATUTORY MARINE "AS-IS" DISCLAIMER (INDIANA UCC IC 26-1-2-316): This 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, hull integrity, transom strength, or fitness for navigation. Buyer acknowledges having had the full opportunity to inspect, survey, or marine-examine the watercraft or knowingly waived this right. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury (IC 35-44.1-2-1) that Seller is lawful owner with clear title free of all liens.

SECTION G: SIGNATURES & NOTARY JURAT

Seller (Transferor) Signature

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF INDIANA COUNTY OF:

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

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here Indiana BMV State Form 44237

FORM SBF-IN-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com IC §§ 9-31-2-2, 9-31-3-2 • Indiana BMV State Form 44237 PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Indiana BMV 3-Step Vessel Registration & Title Transfer Guide

Follow Indiana statutory requirements to legally transfer watercraft ownership, satisfy Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) mandatory titling thresholds, and properly register both boat and trailer in a single visit.

Execute Title & Form SBF-IN-BOAT

The seller signs the assignment section on the original Indiana Certificate of Watercraft Title. Both parties sign this statutory Bill of Sale (compliant with BMV State Form 44237) providing an itemized valuation of hull, motor, and trailer.

Verify Mandatory BMV Titling

Under Indiana Code § 9-31-2-2, all motorized watercraft and all sailboats over 12 feet must be titled through the Indiana BMV. The seller removes and keeps any trailer license plates (IC 9-18.1-4-5).

BMV Branch Visit & 45-Day Rule

Within 45 calendar days (IC 9-31-2-10), the buyer visits any Indiana BMV branch with the signed title, Bill of Sale, and proof of Indiana residency to pay 7.0% state sales/use tax and annual Watercraft Excise Tax (IC 6-6-11) to receive new title and decals.

Statutory Summary

Indiana Watercraft Transfer Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Mandatory Watercraft Titling	IC § 9-31-2-2	Mandatory	All motorized vessels (gas/electric) and sailboats over 12 feet must possess a formal Indiana Certificate of Title.
BMV State Form 44237 Bill of Sale	IC § 9-31-3-2	Essential	Establishes itemized values for vessel, motor, and trailer to calculate Indiana 7.0% sales/use tax and excise tax.
45-Day Registration Deadline	IC § 9-31-2-10	45 Calendar Days	Buyer must file transfer application with the BMV within 45 days of purchase to avoid administrative late fees.
Consolidated BMV Processing	IC Title 9 & Title 6	Single BMV Visit	Watercraft title, registration, excise tax, and boat trailer licensing are all handled at the same BMV branch.
Watercraft Excise Tax	IC § 6-6-11	Annual Excise Tax	Annual state tax assessed based on watercraft age and original manufacturer value in lieu of property taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Indiana Boat Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Do boats have titles in Indiana?

Is a bill of sale required to register a boat in Indiana?

What is Indiana BMV State Form 44237 for watercraft?

Which state agency handles boat registration in Indiana?

How long do you have to register a boat in Indiana after buying it?