Do I need a special bill of sale for a rebuilt yacht in Michigan?
Michigan requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A rebuilt yacht may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Rebuilt vehicle bill of sale
Selling a rebuilt yacht in Michigan? Rebuilt or reconstructed title vehicle sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a rebuilt yacht through a private party sale in Michigan, 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.
Michigan issues a "Rebuilt Salvage" title after a salvage vehicle passes a Michigan State Police inspection. Form TR-54 must be completed with all parts documentation and repair records.
Michigan Vehicle Code Section 257.217a requires disclosure of the rebuilt brand. The bill of sale must include the rebuilt salvage title status.
Michigan requires Form TR-54 for rebuilt vehicle transactions. A state inspection is also required before the vehicle can be re-titled.
A Michigan Rebuilt Salvage title indicates the vehicle was previously a total loss. The State Police inspection checks for stolen parts and basic structural integrity.
In Michigan, the title transfer fee is $15 and registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Yacht sales are subject to 6% use tax on purchase price. Michigan does not require notarization for private-party yacht transfers. Michigan does not require emission testing for private-party yacht sales.
Michigan has a 6% state sales tax rate. Flat 6% use tax statewide. Private-party yacht sales in Michigan are subject to sales tax. Use tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $15.
The most common yacht makes in private-party sales are Sea Ray, Beneteau, Boston Whaler, Grady-White, Viking. Average private-party yacht prices range from $50,000–$500,000+. Yachts average 1 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Electrical, Engine.
Before completing a yacht bill of sale in Michigan, verify these safety items:
Yacht insurance is 1–2% of hull value annually. Agreed-value policies are standard. Navigation limits and crew requirements affect premiums. Yachts depreciate 10–15% per year for the first 5 years. Well-maintained vessels from premium builders hold value best. Peak season for private yacht sales is fall/winter boat shows drive buyer interest for spring delivery, with an average of 90 days on market.
Yachts are classified as "USCG-documented vessel (over 5 net tons) or state-registered vessel" for registration purposes. Yachts are classified by length overall (LOA), not weight. Vessels over 65 ft may require a licensed captain. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to yachts.
Yacht ownership transfer uses a Hull Identification Number (HIN). Yachts over 5 net tons are typically documented with the U.S. Coast Guard rather than state-titled. USCG documentation transfer requires filing with the National Vessel Documentation Center. USCG-documented yachts use a federal Certificate of Documentation and transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center. State-titled yachts (uncommon for vessels this size) use state title transfer procedures.
When selling a yacht in Michigan, the following disclosures apply:
BillOfSaleNow has generated 2,419 bill of sale documents for Michigan transactions, with 65 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Generate a Michigan yacht bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Michigan Yacht Bill of SaleMichigan requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A rebuilt yacht 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 rebuilt.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Michigan. For rebuilt vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
Michigan charges a $15 title transfer fee. Registration costs Based on vehicle list price; varies widely. Sales tax: 6% use tax on purchase price. Notarization is not required.
Average private-party yacht prices range from $50,000–$500,000+. Rebuilt vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are Sea Ray, Beneteau, Boston Whaler, Grady-White, Viking.
Require a professional marine survey before purchase — standard practice for vessels over 26 ft Inspect engine hours, service records, and oil analysis reports
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