Free Mississippi Boat Bill of Sale
Mississippi boat sales are handled entirely through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) — not the DOR or County Tax Collector that handles car titles. Motorized vessels and sailboats 16 feet or longer must be titled using Form B-101. The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is the primary identifier for all Mississippi boat transactions, and the 5% Use Tax collected by MDWFP at registration applies to the purchase price on the bill of sale.
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Mississippi Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Mississippi's 5% Use Tax applies to boat purchases and is collected at the point of title transfer or registration through MDWFP. Tax is assessed on the purchase price stated on the bill of sale.
Inspection Requirements
No state inspection is required for private boat sales in Mississippi. Federal USCG safety equipment standards apply when operating on Mississippi waters.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) — not the same agency that handles cars in Mississippi. Plan for separate filings.
Mississippi Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Locate the HIN on the boat — it is a 12-character code permanently affixed to the starboard side of the transom, within 2 inches of the top. Verify it matches the existing title.
- Prepare a written bill of sale with the HIN, year, make, model, length, hull material, engine type (if motorized), sale price, sale date, and both parties' full names and addresses.
- Seller signs the existing Mississippi boat title over to the buyer. If there is an active lien recorded with MDWFP, the seller must obtain a lien-release letter.
- Buyer obtains Form B-101 (Mississippi Boat Title Application) from MDWFP or downloads it from mdwfp.com.
- Buyer submits Form B-101, the signed title, the bill of sale, and payment for 5% Use Tax plus title and registration fees to MDWFP.
- If an outboard motor is included and has a separate title, transfer the motor title separately — MDWFP titles outboard motors independently from the hull.
- If a trailer is included in the sale, it must be transferred separately through the County Tax Collector using Form 78-006 — boat trailer titles are handled by the DOR, not MDWFP.
- Buyer receives new MDWFP registration decals and a Mississippi boat registration number (MS prefix) to be displayed on the bow.
Common Pitfalls
- Going to the County Tax Collector for a boat title: Mississippi boat titles are handled exclusively by MDWFP, not the DOR or County Tax Collector. Arriving at the wrong office wastes time and can cause the buyer to miss processing windows.
- HIN discrepancy between the title and the physical boat: any mismatch between the HIN on the title (or bill of sale) and the HIN etched on the transom will cause MDWFP to hold the title application for investigation. Inspect the transom carefully before completing any paperwork.
- Forgetting the outboard motor title: Mississippi titles outboard motors separately from hulls. A 150HP Yamaha has its own title. If you are selling the motor with the boat, you need to transfer both titles or the buyer will not have clean title to the engine.
- Overlooking trailer title transfer: many buyers assume the boat trailer transfers with the boat. It does not — trailer titles go through the County Tax Collector and DOR, using Form 78-006, with its own 7-working-day deadline and 5% Use Tax.
Pro Tip
The two things that most often derail a Mississippi boat sale are agency confusion (MDWFP for the boat, County Tax Collector for the trailer) and HIN accuracy. Verify the HIN on the transom before completing any paperwork, confirm whether an outboard motor title exists, and handle the trailer title as a completely separate transaction. Getting those three elements right makes the rest of the sale straightforward.