Free Texas Boat Bill of Sale
Texas is one of the few states where boats title through a completely separate agency from cars — the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), not the TxDMV. The form is PWD 143, the tax is 6.25% capped at $18,750, and the identifier is HIN (Hull ID Number) rather than VIN.
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Texas Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Texas charges 6.25% Boat Sales and Use Tax (collected by TPWD, not TxDMV). Capped at $18,750 per vessel (applies to sale prices over $300,000).
Exemption: Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, and paddleboards under 14ft without motors are exempt. New boat dealer sales include tax at purchase.
Inspection Requirements
No state safety or emissions inspection for vessels. USCG safety equipment standards apply during operation.
Texas Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Verify HIN is present and matches title — HIN is a 12-character code etched on the starboard side of the transom (manufactured post-1972).
- Complete bill of sale with HIN, length, year, make, motor make/serial, and sale price.
- Trailer included? The trailer titles separately through the TxDMV (not TPWD) using Form 130-U — treat it as a separate transaction.
- Seller signs TPWD title over to buyer (odometer disclosure doesn't apply to boats).
- Buyer completes PWD 143 (Vessel/Boat Application) — the boat-specific version of 130-U.
- Buyer mails PWD 143 + title + bill of sale + 6.25% tax payment to TPWD, or files at a TPWD field office or participating TPWD partner (some marinas).
- Texas boat sales tax is collected directly by TPWD — NOT at a county tax office like cars.
- USCG-documented vessels (>5 net tons) don't receive a TX state title but must still pay use tax if operated in Texas.
Common Pitfalls
- Taking a boat title to a county tax office — boats are TPWD-exclusive in Texas. County offices handle cars; TPWD handles boats.
- Forgetting to title the trailer separately — trailers go through TxDMV (Form 130-U), boats go through TPWD (PWD 143).
- Assuming the $18,750 cap applies per transaction — it's per vessel, so buyers negotiating big-ticket boats benefit from the cap.
- Not disclosing a non-titled motor: outboard motors are separately titled in Texas and transfer independently.
Pro Tip
Texas boat sales have a different playbook from cars: TPWD instead of TxDMV, PWD 143 instead of 130-U, HIN instead of VIN. Remember to handle the trailer as a separate TxDMV transaction, and take advantage of the $18,750 tax cap on big-ticket vessels.