Free Missouri Boat Bill of Sale
In Missouri, a used boat with an outboard is usually two title transfers: one for the hull and one for the motor. Missouri titles outboard motors on their own at any horsepower; only trolling motors and electric outboards are exempt. The trailer is a third transfer, on Form 108. The buyer files Form 93 at any license office within 60 days of the sale. Missouri's own bill of sale is Form 1957, with separate boxes for the boat and the outboard.
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Missouri Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
4.225% state sales tax plus the local rate where the buyer lives (not where the boat was bought), on the price minus any trade-in. Paid at the license office when titling.
Exemption: A gift is tax-exempt with a gift statement, signed by the donor, that fully describes the boat. The donor must have paid tax on it.
Inspection Requirements
No safety inspection for boats. An officer inspects the boat on Form 798 only if the hull ID is missing or too short, or the boat is homemade.
Missouri Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Match the hull ID (HIN) on the transom to the title. If it is missing or under 12 characters on a 1973 or newer boat, the buyer needs a Form 798 officer inspection before titling.
- Get the outboard motor's own title signed over too.
- Fill in the bill of sale (Form 1957 works): boat year, make, and HIN; motor ID and horsepower; price; sale date; and both parties' names and addresses.
- Seller signs and prints on the boat and motor title assignments. No notary is needed, but a lien release must be notarized.
- Buyer gets last year's paid personal property tax receipt (or a statement of non-assessment) from their county, in their own name.
- Within 60 days, buyer files Form 93 at any Missouri license office and pays 4.225% plus local tax and the title, decal, and processing fees.
- Title the trailer separately on Form 108 within 30 days.
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping the title on a small outboard. Missouri has no horsepower cutoff.
- Paying a notary for the title signatures. Only a lien release needs one.
- Mixing up the deadlines: 60 days for the boat and motor ($10 per 30 days late, up to $30), but only 30 days for the trailer ($25 per 30 days late, up to $200).
Pro Tip
Missouri boats in short: a title for the hull and one for any outboard, Form 1957 as the bill of sale, and Form 93 plus your county tax receipt at a license office within 60 days. Keep the trailer on its own 30-day track.