A Minnesota boat bill of sale is a form used when selling a boat to create evidence of the sale and document the change of ownership. It may be drafted to report the transfer date, sale price, and the personal information of each party. The form should also identify the boat’s hull number, make, model, year, and length. The vessel information and current registration number (if registered) need to be conveyed to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources following the sale. Excluding non-motorized watercraft that are ten (10) feet or shorter, all boats must be registered in Minnesota.

Minnesota Boat Registration/Titling

In Minnesota, boat titling and registration are accomplished together through the acquisition of a “watercraft license.” To apply for a license, the owner will need to perform the following:

1. Fill out a Watercraft Title and Registration Application.
2. Obtain the vessel’s title (if titled). If the vessel is a non-titled watercraft, a bill of sale will suffice.
3. In addition to the application, the owner will need the following vessel information:
   • Length
   • Year
   • Make
   • Model
   • Hull ID
   • Motor size (if motorized)
   • Current registration number (if registered in Minnesota)
4. File the application at a DVS (Driver & Vehicle Services) office location, or mail it to the address listed below. The owner must present a driver’s license or identification card, and they’ll need to pay the licensing fees.

DNR License Center
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4026