Free Texas Boat Bill of Sale Form (TPWD Compliant 2026 PDF)

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

Yes. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) requires a bill of sale to verify the purchase price and calculate the 6.25% Texas boat sales and use tax. If the vessel or outboard motor is transferred without an original dealer invoice, Form SBF-TX-BOAT serves as the official legal sales contract establishing the itemized values of the hull, outboard motor, and trailer.

Q: Do boat trailers get titled through TPWD or TxDMV?

Boat trailers are titled and registered through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) via your County Tax Assessor-Collector's office, NOT through TPWD. You must submit TxDMV Form 130-U and pay motor vehicle sales tax for the trailer separately from the boat hull and outboard motor.

Q: Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized in Texas?

While TPWD does not statutorily mandate notarization if the original Texas boat and outboard motor titles are properly signed over, notarizing Section G is strongly advised. Notarization is required if the previous title is lost or missing, when transferring a boat as a gift, or when registering an out-of-state vessel.

Q: How does Texas handle outboard motor titles?

Texas is a dual-titling state. Under Texas Parks & Wildlife Code § 31.045, every outboard motor (all titled motors and motors 25 horsepower or greater) must possess its own separate Texas Certificate of Title. When purchasing a motorized boat, the buyer must receive two distinct titles from the seller: one for the vessel hull and one for the outboard motor.

Q: What is the sales tax rate for boats and outboard motors in Texas and how is it calculated?

Texas levies a 6.25% boat and outboard motor sales and use tax under Texas Tax Code Chapter 160. Tax is calculated on the actual sales price of the boat hull and outboard motor (less any trade-in allowance). The boat sales tax is paid directly to TPWD upon submitting Form PWD 143 within 45 days of purchase.

FORM SBF-TX-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

Texas Parks & Wildlife Code Chapter 31 (Water Safety Act)

STATE OF TEXAS STATUTORY BOAT & VESSEL BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement • Compliant with TPWD Form PWD 143/144 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 Texas

State:

Texas County *:

Section B: Complete Vessel (Hull) Description TPWD Primary Hull Disclosure

Year *

Make / Manufacturer *

Model *

Length (Ft / In) *

Hull Material

Vessel Type

TX Reg. # (e.g. TX-1234-AB)

Hull Identification Number (HIN - 12 Characters) *

Section C: Outboard Motor & Trailer Description Texas Dual-Titling • Separate Titles Required

Outboard Motor Make

Motor Year

Horsepower (HP)

Motor Serial Number *

Trailer Included

Trailer Make

Trailer Year

Trailer VIN / Serial #

Empty Wt / GVWR

Section D: Identification of Parties (Transferor & Transferee) Must Match Official Titles

1. SELLER (Transferor Information) Physical Address Only

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For TPWD Title Registration

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section E: Financial Consideration & Price Breakdown TPWD • Texas 6.25% Sales/Use Tax Basis

Hull Price:

Motor Price:

Trailer Price:

TOTAL PRICE *:

Date of Sale *:

Paid by: Cash Cashier's Ck Check Wire Other

Section F: Statutory Marine "AS-IS" Warranty Disclaimer & Title Affidavit Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 2.316 • Tex. Penal Code § 37.02

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. The Seller disclaims all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, seaworthiness, or fitness for any particular navigational or maritime purpose. Buyer acknowledges having had the full opportunity to inspect, water test, and/or conduct a professional marine survey and mechanical compression test of the vessel and motor, or has knowingly waived this right. The Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Texas law that Seller is lawful owner with full legal authority to transfer title, and the vessel and outboard motor are free and clear of all maritime liens, security interests, and adverse claims.

Section G: Authorized Signatures & Notary Acknowledgment Recommended for TPWD Title Transfers

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must match TPWD title

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature Must match TPWD title

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF TEXAS COUNTY OF:

Before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proved through government photo ID to be the person(s) whose name(s) are subscribed hereto, and acknowledged executing the same for the purposes and consideration expressed. Subscribed and sworn to before me this _____ day of ________________, 2026.

Notary Public Signature

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Texas Notary Seal / Stamp Here

FORM SBF-TX-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com Texas Parks & Wildlife Code Chapter 31 • Retain for TPWD Form PWD 143/144 Filing PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

TPWD 3-Step Boat & Outboard Motor Title Transfer Guide

Follow Texas statutory requirements to complete your private vessel transfer smoothly and protect both parties from civil and maritime liability.

Execute Bill of Sale & Sign Titles

Execute Form SBF-TX-BOAT with an itemized price breakdown. Because Texas is a dual-titling state, the seller must endorse both the original Texas Certificate of Title for the Vessel AND the separate Outboard Motor Title.

Complete TPWD Form PWD 143

The buyer fills out TPWD Form PWD 143 (Application for Texas Boat and Outboard Motor Title/Registration). If a trailer is included, the trailer is handled separately through the County Tax Assessor-Collector with TxDMV Form 130-U.

Submit to TPWD Within 45 Days

Submit the signed titles, Bill of Sale, and Form PWD 143 to TPWD Headquarters in Austin or a local TPWD Law Enforcement Field Office within 45 days, paying the 6.25% Texas vessel sales tax. Seller files TPWD Form PWD 144 to remove liability.

Statutory Summary

Texas Boat & Watercraft Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Texas Vessel Certificate of Title	Tex. Parks & Wild. Code § 31.045	Mandatory	Primary legal document of hull ownership; seller must sign transfer on reverse.
Texas Outboard Motor Title	Tex. Parks & Wild. Code § 31.045	Mandatory	Texas requires a separate certificate of title for all titled outboard motors over 25 HP.
Form SBF-TX-BOAT Bill of Sale	Tex. Tax Code § 160.041	Essential	Itemizes price breakdown for 6.25% boat sales tax and contains statutory As-Is marine waiver.
TPWD Form PWD 143 (Title App)	31 TAC § 53.1	Mandatory	Official state application filed by buyer with TPWD within 45 days of transfer.
Boat Trailer Title & Registration	Tex. Transp. Code § 501.023	Mandatory (TxDMV)	Trailers are processed through the County Tax Office via Form 130-U, not through TPWD.
TPWD Notice of Sale (PWD 144)	Tex. Parks & Wild. Code § 31.049	Recommended	Filed by seller within 30 days to extinguish civil, environmental, and maritime liability.

FAQs

Texas Boat Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

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

Do boat trailers get titled through TPWD or TxDMV?

Does a boat bill of sale need to be notarized in Texas?

How does Texas handle outboard motor titles?

What is the sales tax rate for boats and outboard motors in Texas and how is it calculated?