Updated May 30, 2023
A Pennsylvania boat bill of sale is a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of a vessel in the State of Pennsylvania. The bill of sale will identify the buyer and the seller, describe the boat being sold, and recount the circumstances of the transaction. The document is generally required for registration.
Signing Requirements – Only the buyer is required to sign the bill of sale, and it need not be notarized.
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Registering a Boat
Almost all motorized vessels operating in Pennsylvania waters must be registered with the PA must be registered with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC). The exception is for motorized watercraft engaged in commerce, which are registered separately. Non-powered boats do not need to be registered unless they are operating at PFBC access area or lake, or inside a Pennsylvania state park or forest. The PFBC does not stipulate how soon a buyer must register a boat after purchasing it, but best practice is to do so as soon as possible. Temporary registration documents to display while an application is processing are available at regional PFBC offices, and at authorized boat registration issuing agents. Registration endures for two years, and once registered, renewals may be completed either through the mail, by replying with a postcard sent to registrants by the commission, or online.
Where to Register
The registration application and associated materials must be mailed to the Fish and Boat Commission address listed on the registration application.
Required Documents
- An Application for Pennsylvania Boat Registration and/or Boat Title (Form REV-336)
- A Bill of Sale
- Payment of all registration fees, a schedule for which is included on Page 2 of Form REV-336
- Proof of payment of state sales tax, and supplemental local sales tax if the buyer is a resident of Alleghany County or the City of Philadelphia
- If the boat was purchased used from a private party, the existing Pennsylvania title signed over to the buyer, or purchased from another state, the previous title signed over
- If the boat is purchased from a state that does not title boats, the registration statement from the previous owner
- If the boat was purchased from a Pennsylvania dealer, the manufacturer’s certificate of origin