Free Alaska Boat Bill of Sale
In Alaska, boats are titled and registered by the Division of Motor Vehicles — the same agency that handles cars — using Form B1, the Boat Title and Registration Application. Every boat principally used in Alaska must be registered unless it is exempt, which includes most non-powered boats such as kayaks and canoes. A title is required only for undocumented boats longer than 24 feet, so many smaller boats change hands with just the registration and a bill of sale. That makes the bill of sale a key ownership record: the DMV lists a bill of sale from the previous owner among the documents it accepts for registration.
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Alaska Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
No Alaska state sales tax. Cities and boroughs can levy their own sales tax and decide what it covers, so check with the buyer's local government.
Inspection Requirements
No inspection is required for a private boat sale in Alaska.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles (boat registration moved from the U.S. Coast Guard to the DMV on January 1, 2001) — not the same agency that handles cars in Alaska. Plan for separate filings.
Alaska Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Find the 12-character HIN on the transom and check it against the seller's registration (and title, if the boat has one).
- Write a bill of sale with the HIN, AK boat number, year, make, model, overall length, hull material, engine details, sale price, sale date, and both parties' names, addresses, and signatures.
- If the boat is titled, the seller signs the title over to the buyer and gives a lien release if a lien is recorded.
- The buyer completes Form B1, marks "Transfer of Ownership," and submits it online (the DMV boats page has a link for each size group), by mail, or at a DMV office.
- Pay the registration fee: $24 for a powered boat, $10 for a non-powered boat that is registered by choice, $75 for a barge. A title costs $20.
- Keep a copy of the submitted application on board — it serves as registration for up to 60 days, or until the new registration arrives (2 AAC 70.150).
- For a boat documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, the ownership change also goes through the National Vessel Documentation Center. The state does not title documented boats, but they still need an Alaska registration decal.
- Ask the buyer's city or borough whether a local sales tax applies.
Common Pitfalls
- Sending boat paperwork to the Department of Natural Resources: Alaska's DMV has handled boat registration since 2001. The DNR has no role in transferring ownership.
- Assuming every boat needs a title: only undocumented boats longer than 24 feet must be titled. A 20-foot skiff can be sold with its registration and a bill of sale. Titling is optional for that boat.
- Registering a boat that is used mostly outside Alaska: a boat must be registered in the state where it is principally used. Alaska residents living elsewhere, such as students or military members, cannot register those boats in Alaska.
- A bill of sale without the HIN: the DMV records boats by HIN and AK number. Missing or wrong numbers delay the transfer and make it hard to prove the boat is the one you bought.
Pro Tip
An Alaska boat sale goes through the DMV, not the Department of Natural Resources. Put the HIN and AK number on the bill of sale, have the buyer file Form B1, and keep a copy of the application on board until the new registration arrives. A title is required only for undocumented boats over 24 feet. For a USCG-documented boat, also file the change of ownership with the Coast Guard.