Free North Dakota Boat Bill of Sale
North Dakota strips boat paperwork to the studs: no title exists for any watercraft, motor, or boat trailer hull — the Game and Fish registration certificate and your bill of sale are the entire ownership record. The system has gone digital, and not optionally: new registrations and ownership transfers must be completed ONLINE through the Game and Fish Department, whether you bought from a dealer or a neighbor. Ownership changes must be reported within 15 days, supported by proof of the transfer — typically the previous owner's registration card plus a signed statement from the seller. Registration runs on a fixed statewide three-year cycle (the current one covers 2026 through 2028), costing $30 for boats under 16 feet up to $60 at 20 feet and over.
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North Dakota Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Registration fees are length-based and modest: $30 for boats under 16 feet up to $60 for 20 feet and longer, covering a full three-year period. Confirm any use-tax question for your purchase with the North Dakota tax office — the boat transfer itself is processed by Game and Fish on the registration fee alone.
Inspection Requirements
No inspection applies. Ownership verification is documentary: Game and Fish asks for proof of the transfer, such as the previous owner's registration card and a signed statement from the seller.
North Dakota Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Write a thorough bill of sale — HIN, make, model, year, length, motor details, price, date, both signatures. In a no-title state, this document IS your proof of ownership.
- Collect the seller's registration card (or a copy) and a signed statement that ownership has transferred to you — Game and Fish asks for this proof on private sales.
- Verify the HIN on the hull matches the seller's registration before paying.
- Complete the transfer ONLINE at the Game and Fish website — North Dakota processes boat registrations digitally, not at a county office.
- Report the ownership change within 15 days of the sale.
- Pay the length-based registration fee: $30 under 16 ft, up to $60 for 20 ft and longer, valid for the statewide three-year period (currently 2026–2028).
- Keep the registration certificate aboard — it must be available on the vessel whenever it's operating.
Common Pitfalls
- Hunting for a title — none exists for North Dakota watercraft; a "lost title" excuse from a seller is a misunderstanding, but a missing registration card is a real problem.
- Showing up at a county office — ND boat registration and transfers are completed online through Game and Fish.
- Letting the 15-day reporting window slip — the transfer clock is shorter than the state's standard 30-day vehicle deadline.
- Tossing the seller's paperwork — the previous registration card and signed seller statement are exactly what Game and Fish wants as proof of a private-party transfer.
Pro Tip
North Dakota boats: no title anywhere in the system — a strong bill of sale plus the seller's registration card, an online transfer within 15 days, and $30–$60 buys the whole three-year cycle.