Free Ohio Boat Bill of Sale
Ohio boat titles come from any county Clerk of Courts title office, just like car titles; the Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft handles registration. Unique: Ohio also titles outboard motors separately (10 HP and above get their own title), so selling a 15HP motor with a boat is actually two title transfers.
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Ohio Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Same 5.75% state + county permissive tax as cars. Paid to the county Clerk of Courts title office at title.
Inspection Requirements
No state safety or emissions inspection. USCG federal rules apply to operation.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Ohio Department of Natural Resources — Division of Parks and Watercraft — not the same agency that handles cars in Ohio. Plan for separate filings.
Ohio Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Verify HIN on transom matches title.
- Verify outboard motor serial AND title separately if motor is 10HP+.
- Complete bill of sale with HIN, length, year/make, motor serial, sale price.
- Trailer is separate — boat trailers are registered at the BMV; only a trailer over 4,000 lb also needs a County Clerk title.
- Seller signs the Ohio watercraft title over in front of a notary; separately signs the motor title if applicable.
- Buyer gets the new title at a county Clerk of Courts title office, then registers the boat with ODNR (form DNR 8460R).
- Buyer pays 5.75% + county tax to the county Clerk of Courts title office on total sale price.
- Boat titles need a notary too: the seller signs the title transfer in front of a notary (same as Ohio cars).
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting to separately title the outboard motor — Ohio titles motors 10HP+ as standalone property.
- Skipping the notary for boat titles — the seller must sign the title transfer in front of a notary, just like a car title.
- Going to ODNR for the title — boat titles come from a county Clerk of Courts title office; ODNR handles registration.
- Missing a separate County Clerk title for a trailer over 4,000 lb.
Pro Tip
Ohio boats: title at a county Clerk of Courts title office, registration with ODNR. The seller's signature is notarized. Remember the separate outboard motor title for 10HP+ motors, and register the trailer separately at the BMV.