Free Nebraska Boat Bill of Sale
A Nebraska boat sale is a relay race across two county offices and one state commission. First leg: the county CLERK in the buyer's home county issues the Certificate of Title — required for every motorboat manufactured after November 1, 1972. Second leg: the county TREASURER registers the boat, and won't until the title exists (the treasurer also retains the ownership evidence). Third leg: the Game and Parks Commission must be notified of the ownership transfer within 15 days, and the boat must be registered in the new owner's name within 30 days of its first outing on Nebraska waters. Buyers who show up at a Game and Parks office expecting one-stop service discover it handles neither the title nor the registration.
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Nebraska Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Nebraska sales tax treatment of a boat purchase should be confirmed with the county treasurer at registration — treasurers collect applicable tax when the boat is registered. Budget the title fee at the county clerk and the registration fee at the treasurer.
Inspection Requirements
No inspection applies to Nebraska boat sales. The county clerk verifies the HIN against the title paperwork.
Nebraska Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Verify the HIN on the hull against the Nebraska Certificate of Title (any motorboat built after November 1, 1972 should have one).
- Write the bill of sale with HIN, make, model, year, length, engine HP, price, date, and both signatures.
- Seller signs the boat title over to the buyer and notifies Game and Parks of the transfer within 15 days.
- Buyer takes the signed title to the county CLERK of their home county for the new Certificate of Title.
- Buyer then registers with the county TREASURER — the second office — who requires the title first and collects any applicable tax.
- Complete registration within 30 days of first operating the boat on Nebraska waters.
- Non-residents can register at any county treasurer; residents must use their home county.
Common Pitfalls
- Starting at Game and Parks — it takes the 15-day transfer notice but issues neither titles (county clerk) nor registrations (county treasurer).
- Visiting the offices in the wrong order — the treasurer will not register a boat that the clerk hasn't titled yet.
- Believing Nebraska doesn't title boats — every motorboat built after November 1, 1972 needs a Certificate of Title signed over at the sale.
- Missing the split deadlines — 15 days for the Game and Parks transfer notice, 30 days from first operation for the registration.
Pro Tip
Nebraska boats: county clerk titles it (post-1972 motorboats), county treasurer registers it — in that order — while Game and Parks gets its 15-day transfer notice. Three stops, two deadlines, one boat.