Do I need a bill of sale to sell a jet ski?

In most states, yes: a personal watercraft is registered as a vessel, and the state needs a bill of sale to process the title or registration transfer. Even where it is technically optional, the bill of sale is what proves ownership changed hands, records the price for tax purposes, and releases the seller from liability after the sale. Always create one, even for a low-cost private sale.

Is a jet ski titled and registered like a boat?

Yes. A jet ski is legally a personal watercraft (PWC), which is a type of vessel, so it follows the same titling and registration rules as boats in your state. That means it has a Hull Identification Number (HIN) rather than a car-style VIN, and most states require it to be registered and display registration numbers and a validation decal before it can be operated on public water.

Does a jet ski bill of sale need to be notarized?

It depends on the state. A handful of states, including Connecticut, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and West Virginia, require notarization for vessel transfers, while most do not. Even when it is optional, notarizing the document adds fraud protection and makes the sale much harder to dispute later. Check with your state DMV or boating agency before signing.

Jet Ski Bill of Sale: What to Include

Q: How do I handle the trailer when selling a jet ski?

List the trailer as a separate line item with its own VIN, make, and year. Jet ski trailers, including double trailers that carry two skis, are usually titled and registered separately from the watercraft, so the buyer may need a distinct bill of sale or title transfer for the trailer. Never bury the trailer inside the watercraft description.

Q: Does an "as-is" clause protect the seller from everything?

An as-is clause means the buyer accepts the jet ski in its current condition with no warranties, and it does protect a private seller from most claims about defects that surface after the sale. It does not, however, protect a seller who lies about a known problem or hides a defect such as prior engine damage or a salvage history. Honesty in the disclosure section still matters; fraud overrides an as-is clause in court.

Learn how to write a jet ski bill of sale that protects buyer and seller. Covers HIN, trailer VIN, as-is clauses, notarization, and state registration rules.

Selling or buying a used jet ski is one of those transactions where a single sheet of paper does most of the legal work. A jet ski bill of sale records the transfer of ownership, documents the price, identifies the exact watercraft, and, crucially, releases the seller from liability the moment the buyer rides away.

Unlike buying new from a dealer, a private jet ski sale usually comes with no paperwork unless you create it yourself. This guide explains what a jet ski bill of sale is, exactly what to include, how to handle the trailer, when notarization is required, and the mistakes that turn a clean sale into a dispute.

What is a jet ski bill of sale?

A jet ski bill of sale is a written document that records the sale of a personal watercraft (PWC) from a seller to a buyer. "Jet Ski" is technically a Kawasaki brand name, but it's become the everyday word for any stand-up or sit-down personal watercraft, including Sea-Doo and WaveRunner models. Legally, all of them are vessels, so the bill of sale follows the same rules as a boat sale.

The document states who sold the watercraft, who bought it, what was sold, how much was paid, and the date ownership transferred. It serves three purposes at once:

Proof of ownership transfer. It establishes that the buyer is now the legal owner, which is what the state needs to register or title the PWC.
Tax and price record. It documents the purchase price, which most states use to calculate sales or use tax on the transfer.
Liability protection. Once signed, the seller is no longer responsible for the watercraft, which matters if the buyer later has an accident or racks up unpaid launch or storage fees.

A bill of sale is different from a title. The title proves ownership over time; the bill of sale proves the moment of transfer. Many states require both to complete a registration.

When do you need a jet ski bill of sale?

You should create a bill of sale for essentially every private PWC transaction, but it's especially important when:

Buying or selling between private parties: there's no dealer paperwork to fall back on.
The watercraft must be titled or registered: most states require a bill of sale to process the transfer.
A trailer is included: it carries its own value and identifying number.
The sale price affects taxes: the document is your record of what was actually paid.
You're gifting a jet ski: note "gift" or a nominal amount, but still document the transfer of ownership.

Even for a $1,500 older ski, skipping the bill of sale is a mistake. Without it, a seller can be pursued for fees or accidents tied to a watercraft they no longer own, and a buyer may be unable to register the PWC at all.

What to include in a jet ski bill of sale

A complete jet ski bill of sale has a predictable structure. Leave any of these sections out and you risk a rejected registration or an unenforceable document.

1. Buyer and seller information

Use full legal names and current addresses for both parties. If a business owns the ski, use the legal business name and the name of the person authorized to sign. Phone numbers and email addresses help with follow-up but aren't strictly required.

2. Watercraft description

This is the heart of the document. Identify the jet ski precisely:

Make and model (e.g., Sea-Doo GTI, Yamaha WaveRunner VX, Kawasaki Jet Ski STX)
Year of manufacture
Length (overall length in feet)
Hull Identification Number (HIN): the 12-character code molded into the hull
Engine type and horsepower (e.g., 1,630cc, 170 hp)
Current registration number (the bow numbers, if registered)
Title number, if the watercraft is titled

The HIN is the single most important identifier. It ties the bill of sale to one specific watercraft and is required for registration in every state. On a PWC, the HIN is usually molded into the upper right (starboard) corner of the transom, near the rear.

3. Engine and hours

Unlike a car, a jet ski doesn't have a separate engine title, but the powerplant still drives most of the value, so describe it:

Engine displacement and horsepower
Whether it's supercharged or naturally aspirated
Engine hours, if the ski has a gauge that reads them

Engine hours are the PWC equivalent of mileage. A ski with 50 hours is barely broken in; one with 300+ has seen heavy use. Recording the hours protects the buyer and gives the seller a clean record of what was represented.

4. Trailer details (if included)

A jet ski trailer, including double trailers built to carry two skis, is usually titled and registered separately from the watercraft. If the trailer is part of the deal, list it as its own item:

Make and year
Trailer VIN
Single or double capacity

Some states require a separate bill of sale or title transfer for the trailer, so check before assuming one document covers both.

5. Purchase price and payment terms

State the agreed price in numbers and words. Note how payment was made (cash, check, electronic transfer) and whether it was paid in full at signing. If there's a deposit and a balance, spell out the schedule. For a gift, write "gift" or a nominal sum like $1.

6. As-is clause and warranties

Most private PWC sales are "as-is, where-is," meaning the buyer accepts the jet ski in its current condition with no warranties from the seller. Include this clause explicitly. It protects a private seller from claims about defects discovered after the sale. (It does not, however, protect a seller who conceals a known problem; see the mistakes section below.)

7. Disclosures

Honesty here protects the seller more than it helps the buyer. Note any known material defects: hull cracks, a fouled or rebuilt engine, electrical issues, a salvage or flood history, or prior submersion. Disclosing a problem and selling as-is is far safer than staying silent and getting sued for fraud.

8. Date, signatures, and notarization

Both parties sign and date the document. Many states require the seller's signature; some require the buyer's as well. If your state mandates notarization, sign in front of a notary. Make two originals: one for each party.

How to write a jet ski bill of sale: step-by-step

Step 1: Gather the details. Collect the HIN, registration number, title (if any), engine hours, and trailer VIN before you start writing. Read the HIN directly off the hull rather than copying it from old paperwork.

Step 2: Fill in the parties. Enter full legal names and addresses for buyer and seller.

Step 3: Describe the watercraft precisely. Add make, model, year, length, engine, and HIN. Double-check the HIN character by character. A single wrong digit can stall registration.

Step 4: Record engine hours and list the trailer separately. Note the hours from the gauge, and give the trailer its own VIN rather than folding it into the ski's description.

Step 5: State the price and payment method. Write it in numbers and words, and note that payment was received in full (or document the balance schedule).

Step 6: Add the as-is clause and disclosures. Make the condition of the sale explicit and disclose any known defects.

Step 7: Sign, date, and notarize if required. Confirm your state's notarization rule, then both parties sign. Keep an original each, and the buyer takes their copy to register the ski.

State requirements vary, so check before you sign

PWC titling and registration are handled at the state level, and the rules differ more than most people expect. A few key variations:

Notarization: Required in states like Connecticut, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and West Virginia; optional in many others.
Titling thresholds: Some states title all motorized vessels including PWCs; others only title watercraft above a certain length or value.
Trailers: Often registered separately, with their own title and transfer process.
Tax: Most states charge sales or use tax on the purchase price, calculated from the figure on your bill of sale.

Before finalizing the sale, look up your state's boating agency (often the DMV, Department of Natural Resources, or Fish & Wildlife) and confirm what they require for a transfer. The buyer typically has a limited window, often 15 to 30 days, to register the watercraft after purchase.

Common mistakes that void or weaken a jet ski bill of sale

Leaving off the HIN. Without the Hull Identification Number, the document doesn't clearly identify which watercraft was sold, and the state may reject the registration outright.

Forgetting engine hours. Hours are the PWC equivalent of mileage. Omitting them invites later disputes over whether the ski was represented honestly.

Treating the trailer as an afterthought. Trailers are titled separately in most states. Lumping it into the ski description without its own VIN can leave the buyer unable to register the trailer.

Skipping the as-is clause. A private seller who omits this clause may face claims for every problem the buyer finds later. Spell out that the sale is as-is.

Hiding a known defect. An as-is clause does not cover fraud. If you know the ski was submerged or the engine was rebuilt after a failure, disclose it. Concealment can void the sale and expose you to damages.

Not making two originals. Each party should keep a signed original. The buyer needs theirs to register; the seller needs theirs as proof they no longer own the ski.

Forgetting to notify the state. In states that require it, the seller should report the sale (a "notice of transfer") so the registration is no longer tied to them.

Jet ski bill of sale vs. other transfer documents

A bill of sale is one tool in a small family of transfer documents, and it helps to know how it relates to the others.

The closest cousin is a boat bill of sale: the structure is nearly identical, because a jet ski is legally a vessel. The main difference is that a PWC rarely has a separately titled motor and instead tracks value through engine hours. If you've sold a boat privately, a jet ski sale will feel familiar.

A jet ski sale also has a lot in common with selling a motorcycle or ATV: small, fun, motorized vehicles that change hands privately all the time. The paperwork rhythm is the same: identify the machine, state the price, sell as-is, and sign.

A bill of sale is distinct from a lease or rental agreement, which transfers temporary use rather than ownership. If you're renting out your ski rather than selling it, that's a different document entirely.

For the closest relative, see our Boat Bill of Sale Template.
For another small powersports transfer, see the ATV Bill of Sale Template and the Motorcycle Bill of Sale Template.
Unsure whether you even need one? Read Do You Need a Bill of Sale When Selling Your Vehicle?.

A quick checklist before you sign

Run through this list before either party puts pen to paper:

Full legal names and addresses for buyer and seller
Make, model, year, and length of the jet ski
HIN copied directly off the hull
Engine type, horsepower, and hours
Current registration number and title number (if titled)
Trailer make, year, and VIN (if included)
Purchase price in numbers and words
As-is clause and any disclosures
Notarization, if your state requires it
Two signed originals: one per party

If every box is checked, you have a document that will hold up at the registration desk and in a dispute.

Related guides

Generate Your Jet Ski Bill of Sale with Contractable

A jet ski bill of sale isn't complicated, but getting every identifier right (the HIN, the engine hours, the trailer VIN, the as-is language, and your state's notarization rule) is where private sellers slip up. Contractable generates a complete, properly structured personal watercraft bill of sale in seconds, with the right fields for the ski and trailer and clauses tailored to your sale. No lawyers or legal knowledge required.