Free Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale
A Louisiana boat sale answers to two traditions at once: the state's civil-law formality (the Act of Sale must be NOTARIZED, boats included — an unsworn bill of sale gets rejected) and its split agency map (vessels title through the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, not the OMV that handles cars). The practical bright spot: under the LDWF-OMV partnership, OMV representatives are stationed at LDWF headquarters, so a boat and its trailer — which titles separately through OMV — can be handled in a single visit. Tax runs 4.45% state plus the buyer's parish rate, and the buyer has 30 days to file.
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Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
State 4.45% + parish tax applies to boat sales.
Louisiana Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Prepare notarized Act of Sale with HIN, make, model, year, length, engine HP, sale price.
- Seller signs LDWF title over to buyer.
- Buyer applies at LDWF within 30 days.
- Buyer pays 4.45% state + parish tax + registration fee.
Common Pitfalls
- Going to LA OMV instead of LDWF — boat titles are LDWF jurisdiction.
- Skipping notarization — Act of Sale requirement applies to boats too.
- Not recording the HIN — required on all LDWF applications.
Pro Tip
Louisiana boats: a notarized Act of Sale as civil law demands, LDWF (with OMV desks on site for the trailer) within 30 days, at 4.45% plus whatever your parish adds.