Free Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale

Arkansas boat paperwork turns on the boat's birth year: hulls manufactured in 2020 or later get an Arkansas title through the DFA Office of Motor Vehicles (the requirement started January 1, 2020), while older boats — still the majority on Arkansas lakes — transfer on the registration and a solid bill of sale. Everything happens at the same DFA revenue office that handles car titles; the Game and Fish Commission runs boating safety, not ownership. The tax treatment is simple: Arkansas does not charge sales tax on a casual sale of a boat between two individuals.

Arkansas Requirements: Register within 60 days of purchase; the title is applied for in the same revenue-office visit. Sales tax applies; it is not a flat percentage of the price.

Seller Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Buyer Information

Full Name *

Street Address *

City *

State *

ZIP Code *

Phone

Boat Details

Year *

Make *

Model *

Hull ID Number (HIN) *

Length (ft) *

Engine Type *

Color

Trailer Included *

Trailer VIN (if included)

Sale Information

Sale Price ($) *

Payment Method *

Date of Sale *

County of Sale (if known)

Applicable Taxes Paid By

Condition & Warranty

Sold AS-IS (no warranty)

Warranty Details (if applicable)

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Boats are sold with undisclosed liens far more often than cars. Our guide covers running a title search, decoding the HIN, separating boat and trailer titles, and what a Coast Guard document means for the transfer process. Read: Boat Bill of Sale: Complete Guide →

Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form

Standard bill of sale

Agency

AR DFA OMV

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration – Office of Motor Vehicles

Primary ID Field

HIN (Hull ID Number)

Sales Tax

See state rules

Title Required

Yes

Arkansas boat titling has a model-year cutoff: only boats MANUFACTURED IN 2020 OR LATER are titled (a requirement that began January 1, 2020), through the DFA Office of Motor Vehicles — the same one-stop agency that handles cars, not the Game and Fish Commission. Older hulls transfer on registration plus bill of sale. Registration transfer is due within 30 days; the title fee on titled vessels is $10.

Inspection

Not required

Sales Tax Details

Arkansas does not charge sales tax on a casual sale of a boat from one individual to another. If a trailer is part of the deal, list it on the bill of sale (or a separate bill of sale), because the trailer is handled separately for sales tax.

Inspection Requirements

No safety or emissions inspection applies to boat sales in Arkansas. Instead, the owner proves the HIN meets federal standards with a pencil rubbing or a clear printed photo of the HIN.

Arkansas Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

Check the boat's model year first: manufactured 2020 or later means a title changes hands; older hulls transfer on registration + bill of sale.
Verify the HIN on the transom against the title (2020+) or the current registration card (older boats).
Write the bill of sale with HIN, make, model, year, length, engine HP, sale price, date, and both signatures — on a pre-2020 boat this document carries the ownership weight.
Seller signs over the title (2020+ hulls) or the registration, and hands over the bill of sale.
Buyer applies at the DFA revenue office within 30 days — the same office that does car titles; $10 title fee on titled vessels.
No sales tax is due on a private (individual-to-individual) boat sale; if a trailer is included, list it separately on the bill of sale.
Registration fees run $7.50–$105 depending on vessel length and type.

Common Pitfalls

Taking title paperwork to the Game and Fish Commission — AGFC handles boating safety and licensing; ownership runs through the DFA Office of Motor Vehicles.
Expecting a title on a 2015 bass boat — the titling requirement only reaches boats manufactured in 2020 or later; older hulls have no Arkansas title to sign.
Paying "sales tax" to the seller — Arkansas charges no sales tax on a private boat sale between individuals.
Skimping on the bill of sale for a pre-2020 boat — with no title in play, that document plus the registration IS the ownership chain.

Pro Tip

Arkansas boats: 2020-and-newer hulls have titles, older ones ride on registration + bill of sale, everything transfers at the DFA counter within 30 days — and a private boat sale between individuals carries no sales tax.

Arkansas Boat Bill of Sale — FAQs

Which Arkansas boats need a title?

Only boats manufactured in 2020 or later — Arkansas began titling motorboats on January 1, 2020, through the DFA Office of Motor Vehicles, and did not reach back to older hulls. A pre-2020 boat transfers on the registration and bill of sale, which is why the bill of sale should be thorough: HIN, engine, price, date, and both signatures.

How much is sales tax on a used boat in Arkansas?

None on a private sale: the DFA says Arkansas does not charge sales tax on casual sales (individual to individual) of boats. If a trailer is part of the deal, list it on the bill of sale or on a separate bill of sale, since the trailer is handled separately for sales tax.

Where do I transfer a boat in Arkansas?

At a DFA revenue office — the same one-stop counter that handles Arkansas car titles and registration. Apply within 30 days of the purchase; the title fee is $10 for 2020-and-newer titled vessels, and registration runs $7.50 to $105 by length. The Game and Fish Commission is for boater education and safety patrols, not transfers.

Other Arkansas Templates

Vehicle Bill of Sale Car Bill of Sale Used Car Bill of Sale Motorcycle Bill of Sale Trailer Bill of Sale Horse Bill of Sale ATV Bill of Sale Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale RV Bill of Sale General Bill of Sale Free Printable Bill of Sale Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale As-Is Bill of Sale Gift Bill of Sale

Boat in Other States

Texas Florida Georgia Missouri Utah Oregon Alabama Colorado Connecticut New York

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