Free Virginia Boat Bill of Sale
Virginia does not title boats — and has a favorable 2% Watercraft Sales Tax (capped at $2,000 per vessel), much lower than the 4.15% vehicle tax. Boats register through the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), completely separate from the DMV.
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Boats are sold with undisclosed liens far more often than cars. Our guide covers running a title search, decoding the HIN, separating boat and trailer titles, and what a Coast Guard document means for the transfer process. Read: Boat Bill of Sale: Complete Guide →
Virginia Boat Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Primary ID Field
HIN (Hull ID Number)
Sales Tax
2%
Title Required
No
Virginia does NOT title boats — all vessels are registered only (no title). DWR manages vessel registration.
Inspection
Not required
Sales Tax Details
Virginia charges a 2% Watercraft Sales and Use Tax (separate from the 4.15% vehicle tax). Capped at $2,000 per vessel.
Virginia Boat Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Verify HIN on transom.
- Complete bill of sale with HIN, length, year/make, motor serial, sale price.
- Trailer separate — trailer titles through VA DMV with VSA 17A + 4.15% MV-SUT.
- Seller provides prior DWR registration and signs bill of sale.
- Buyer completes DWR boat registration online or at a DWR office.
- Buyer pays 2% Watercraft Sales Tax (capped at $2,000) to VA Department of Taxation.
- No title issued — ownership tracked via registration and bill of sale.
Common Pitfalls
- Expecting a boat title in VA — there isn't one.
- Paying the 4.15% vehicle rate — boats get the reduced 2% rate capped at $2,000.
- Forgetting separate trailer transfer through the DMV.
Pro Tip
VA boats: no title, DWR instead of DMV, 2% tax capped at $2,000. Detailed bill of sale is critical.
Virginia Boat Bill of Sale — FAQs
Does Virginia title boats?
No. Virginia is one of the few states that does NOT title vessels — all boats are registered only, through the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Ownership is tracked via registration and bill of sale. When buying a VA boat, a detailed bill of sale is essential since there's no title to prove ownership.
What's the VA boat tax rate?
Virginia charges 2% Watercraft Sales and Use Tax — much lower than the 4.15% vehicle tax. It's capped at $2,000 per vessel (applies to boats over $100,000). This makes VA favorable for boat buyers.
Other Virginia Templates
🚘Vehicle Bill of Sale🚗Car Bill of Sale🚙Used Car Bill of Sale🏍️Motorcycle Bill of Sale🚛Trailer Bill of Sale🐴Horse Bill of Sale🏎️ATV Bill of Sale🔫Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale🏕️RV Bill of Sale📄General Bill of Sale🖨️Free Printable Bill of Sale📏Odometer Disclosure Bill of Sale⚠️As-Is Bill of Sale🎁Gift Bill of Sale