Template Fields
This blank boat bill of sale template for Pennsylvania contains the following sections:
Seller Info
Name, address, phone, email
Buyer Info
Name, address, phone, email
Vehicle Details
Year, make, model, color, body
VIN & Odometer
17-digit VIN, current mileage
Sale Terms
Price, payment method, date
Disclosures
As-is status, known defects
Signatures
Buyer/seller lines with date
Notarization
Notary block if state requires
How to Fill Out This Template
- 1Print the blank template on US Letter paper
- 2Enter the boat details exactly as they appear on the title
- 3Record the odometer reading at the time of sale
- 4Agree on the sale price and fill in the payment terms
- 5Both parties sign and date in the presence of each other
- 6File the completed form with your local Pennsylvania DMV within the required timeframe
Tip: Our online generator pre-fills Pennsylvania-specific requirements so you don’t miss any required fields.
No title — What You Need to Know
The seller does not have the original title, either because it is lost, the vehicle is old and was never titled, or title records are incomplete. A workaround process is required to transfer legal ownership.
Seller guidance
If the title is simply lost, apply for a duplicate title at your state DMV before the sale — this is the cleanest path. If no title ever existed, the buyer will likely need a bonded title: a surety bond valued at 1.5× the vehicle's appraised value that protects against future ownership disputes. The bond period is typically 3 years after which a clean title is issued.
Buyer guidance
Purchasing without a title carries significant risk. You may be unable to register the vehicle, and you could lose ownership if a prior lienholder or owner surfaces. Insist the seller obtain a duplicate title or provide a surety bond as part of the transaction. Verify the VIN against the NMVTIS database to check for theft or brand history.
Legal note (Pennsylvania-specific)
Pennsylvania requires a vehicle to pass a VIN inspection by an authorized inspection station and obtain a bond for 1.5x the vehicle value. Submit MV-38O (Application for Certificate of Title, by an Insurance Company or Owner) along with the bond. PennDOT may also accept a court order establishing ownership.
No title checklist
- Request duplicate title from DMV if title is merely lost
- Run a VIN check via NMVTIS or CARFAX to confirm ownership and brand history
- Obtain surety bond (1.5× appraised value) if no title exists
- Complete a state VIN inspection by a licensed inspector or law enforcement
- Document all known ownership history in the bill of sale
- Complete a VIN inspection at an authorized PennDOT inspection station
- Obtain a surety bond for 1.5x vehicle value
- Submit MV-38O along with the bond to PennDOT
Boat Safety & Recall Information
Data sourced from NHTSA safety ratings and recall databases
Average Safety Rating
0 / 5
Avg. Price Range
$5,000–$75,000
Odometer Disclosure
Not required
Safety checkpoints for boat buyers
- Verify Hull Identification Number (HIN) matches registration documents
- Check for delamination, blistering, or water intrusion in fiberglass hulls
- Inspect transom for softness or rot — the most expensive structural repair
- Test all bilge pumps, navigation lights, and required safety equipment
- Confirm USCG-required PFDs, throwable cushion, and visual distress signals are present
- Verify fire extinguisher is current and properly sized for vessel length
- Test carbon monoxide detector function on cabin boats
- Confirm kill-switch lanyard operation cuts engine immediately
Common recall categories
Fuel SystemElectricalSteeringHull IntegrityPropulsion
On average, each boat model has approximately 1.8 recalls. Always check your specific vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls before completing a sale.
Scranton No title boat template — when to file
Pennsylvania requires title transfer within 20 days of the sale date on the bill of sale. For no title transactions specifically, file at PennDOT – Scranton Driver & Vehicle Services (1250 N Washington Ave, Scranton, PA 18509) during normal hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:15 PM. Miss the 20-day window and Pennsylvania typically charges a late-transfer penalty plus accrued use tax, and the seller can remain on the title for civil liability until the buyer completes retitling. Bring the signed title, the completed Scranton bill of sale, your government-issued ID, and payment for the $53.00 title transfer fee plus 6.00% sales tax on the purchase price.
Template reminder. Whether you keep your template as a blank template you fill in by hand, both buyer and seller should leave the signing with an identical executed copy. The buyer needs the original to present at PennDOT – Scranton Driver & Vehicle Services; the seller keeps a duplicate to prove the date of transfer if a future liability question arises before the title fully retitles.