A Georgia boat bill of sale is a form that certifies the sale/purchase of a water vessel and initiates the transfer of ownership from the seller to the buyer. This bill of sale document should include the boat’s current registration number (if applicable), the hull identification number (HIN), the make, year, length, and hull material, and the signatures of both parties. When it comes to registering a vessel in the new owner’s name, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) requires the information mentioned above as the bare minimum. To ensure registration can be completed properly, it’s best to use this certified bill of sale document (provided by the DNR) as it enables the parties to thoroughly record the transaction.

Georgia Boat Registration

When a boat transfers ownership, the buyer has to register the vessel in their name. They will either be registering the boat for the first time (if it was never registered by the seller) or the registration will be transferred from the seller to the buyer. To register a new or used boat in Georgia, the registrant must complete the following steps:

1. Boat registration can be completed online using the DNR Vessel Registration portal. Otherwise, the following documents must be submitted by mail (address at the bottom of the page):
   • Georgia Vessel Registration / Title Application form
   • Bill of sale (or other proof of ownership document such as a dealer’s invoice or transferred title)
   • Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (if boat is new)
   • Original title transferred from seller to buyer (if boat was previously registered under seller’s name or was registered out-of-state)
2. The registrant must pay all required registration and transaction fees.

Georgia Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 934943
Atlanta, GA 31193-4943