Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale
A personal watercraft bill of sale is a legal document that records the private sale of a personal watercraft between a buyer and a seller. It captures the sale price, vehicle details, and signatures from both parties — providing proof of ownership transfer and protecting both sides of the transaction. Requirements vary by state; select your state below to get the correct form.
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Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale by State
Select your state for a personal watercraft bill of sale that meets local requirements.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Puerto Rico
Personal Watercraft-specific legal information
Transfer notes
Personal watercraft (PWC) title transfer follows boat rules in most states. PWCs require both a Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the bill of sale and, in some states, a separate trailer title if the trailer is included. State DNR or boating-agency registration applies in addition to DMV title transfer.
Odometer disclosure
PWCs are watercraft and are exempt from federal odometer disclosure. Document the engine-hours reading instead — Sea-Doo, Yamaha WaveRunner, and Kawasaki Jet Ski models all have hour-meters as the industry-standard wear indicator.
Applicable federal law: 33 CFR Part 181 — Manufacturer requirements (HIN); 33 CFR 175 — Recreational boating safety equipment
Title and registration
States that title PWCs use a watercraft title format similar to boats. A small number of states (e.g. Alaska, Maine inland) only register PWCs without titling. The bill of sale is the primary ownership document in non-title states.
Special disclosures
- Hull Identification Number (HIN) must be physically verified against the bill of sale and title — HIN tampering is a federal offense under 33 CFR 181.29.
- Coast Guard safety equipment (Type III PFD, fire extinguisher, sound device) inclusion should be itemized — buyer may otherwise need to purchase $100-$300 in equipment to operate legally.
- Two-stroke vs. four-stroke engine type affects emission compliance in California and other CARB-aligned states.
Other vehicle types
- Car bill of sale
- Truck bill of sale
- Motorcycle bill of sale
- Boat bill of sale
- RV bill of sale
- Trailer bill of sale
- ATV bill of sale
- UTV bill of sale
- Snowmobile bill of sale
- Jet Ski bill of sale
- SUV bill of sale
- Van bill of sale
- Bus bill of sale
- Semi Truck bill of sale
- Moped bill of sale
- Scooter bill of sale
- Dirt Bike bill of sale
- Golf Cart bill of sale
- Tractor bill of sale
- Farm Equipment bill of sale
- Heavy Equipment bill of sale
- Utility Trailer bill of sale
- Travel Trailer bill of sale
- Camper bill of sale
- Yacht bill of sale
- Side by Side bill of sale
- Electric Vehicle bill of sale
- Pickup Truck bill of sale
- Horse Trailer bill of sale