Do I need a special bill of sale for a junk jet ski in Illinois?
Illinois requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk jet ski may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Junk vehicle bill of sale
Selling a junk jet ski in Illinois? Junk or scrap vehicle sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a junk jet ski through a private party sale in Illinois, a bill of sale protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction details and the vehicle's condition at the time of sale.
Illinois issues a Junking Certificate through the Secretary of State for vehicles designated as junk. The title must be surrendered and the vehicle cannot be re-titled once the Junking Certificate is issued.
Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1 requires disclosure of a junk designation. The bill of sale must state the vehicle is sold for scrap or parts only.
An Illinois vehicle with a Junking Certificate is permanently ineligible for registration. It can only be scrapped or used for parts.
In Illinois, the title transfer fee is $150 and registration costs $151 per year. Jet Ski sales are subject to 6.25% state tax on private sales; local taxes may add 1-4%. Illinois does not require notarization for private-party jet ski transfers. Emission testing is required in Illinois — verify the jet ski passes before completing the sale.
Illinois has a 6.25% state sales tax rate. 6.25% state plus 1–4% local taxes. Private-party jet ski sales in Illinois are subject to sales tax. Private vehicle use tax applies based on purchase price bracket. The title transfer fee is $150.
The most common jet ski makes in private-party sales are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki. Average private-party jet ski prices range from $3,000–$18,000. Jet skis average 1.2 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Steering, Hull/Deck.
Before completing a jet ski bill of sale in Illinois, verify these safety items:
PWC insurance averages $200–$500/year. Required in many states for operation on public waterways. Jet skis depreciate 40–50% in the first 3 years. Low-hour Yamaha WaveRunners retain value best. Peak season for private jet ski sales is late spring (april–may) before summer water season, with an average of 30 days on market.
Jet Skis are classified as "Personal watercraft (state-registered)" for registration purposes. PWC are classified by engine hours rather than mileage. Average lifespan is 300–500 engine hours. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to jet skis.
Jet ski (personal watercraft / PWC) transfers use a Hull Identification Number (HIN), not a VIN. Most states require a watercraft title for PWC. Transfer procedures mirror boat transfers within each state. Most states title jet skis as watercraft using the HIN. Some states combine the watercraft and trailer on a single registration; others require separate titles. Verify the HIN on the hull matches the title.
When selling a jet ski in Illinois, the following disclosures apply:
BillOfSaleNow has generated 3,087 bill of sale documents for Illinois transactions, with 83 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Generate a Illinois jet ski bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Illinois Jet Ski Bill of SaleIllinois requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk jet ski may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Include buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers (VIN, year, make, model), sale price, date, signatures, and a clear description of the vehicle condition as junk.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Illinois. For junk vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
Illinois charges a $150 title transfer fee. Registration costs $151 per year. Sales tax: 6.25% state tax on private sales; local taxes may add 1-4%. Notarization is not required.
Average private-party jet ski prices range from $3,000–$18,000. Junk vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki.
Inspect hull for cracks, especially around the intake grate area Check impeller and wear ring for scoring and play
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA