A Nevada boat bill of sale is used to prove that a vessel was sold to a buyer at an agreed-upon purchase price. It demonstrates the transfer of ownership and releases the seller’s interest in the vessel, therefore protecting them from liability in the future. In the form, the parties will state their names and addresses, provide a description of the boat, and specify the purchase price and date. The completed document must be signed by each party to finalize the transaction. Once properly executed, the bill may be used as proof of ownership when registering the vessel with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW).

Nevada Boat Registration

After transferring ownership of a vessel, the new owner will need to register the watercraft by filing the following documents at their local NDOW office:

• Certificate of title assigned to the new owner’s name. If the vessel is untitled, the owner may instead use the previous registration document or a certified copy of a state record.
• Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (required for new or untitled vessels only). If the statement is unavailable, or the HIN is hand-written, a vessel inspection may be required; owners should call the NDOW to see if their vessel requires an inspection.
• Original bill of sale (required for new or untitled vessels only).

The owner will need to present their Social Security number and pay the registration fee (between $20 and $100). Once registered, a decal will be issued which must be affixed to the vessel in accordance with NAC 488.180(2).