Vessel Registration: Supporting Documents for Boat Registration

Supporting Documents for Boat Registration

Required supporting documents for boat registration – New Registration, Transfer Registration & Transfer/Renewal Registration. A signed Georgia Boat Registration Application is always required in addition to the following documents:

#	Does the Boat Have a Georgia Or Other State Registration?	Is the Boat New or Used?		Is there a Change of Owner?	Required Documents¹ *A signed Georgia Boat Registration Application is always required in addition to the following documents.*
1	Never Registered	New	From Manufacturer or Dealer	NA	1. Bill of Sale or Dealer's Invoice. 2. Original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin.
2	Never Registered	New	Purchased from Another	NA	1. Original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin released by Dealer and original buyer. 2. Bill of Sales back to original buyer from Dealer or Manufacturer.
3	Never Registered	New	Homemade Vessel - Builder Registering	NA	1. HIN number. If no HIN Number, then Vessel/HIN inspection.
4	Never Registered	New	Homemade Vessel - Purchased from Another	NA	1. Bill of Sale 2. HIN number. If no HIN Number, then Vessel/HIN inspection.
5	Never Registered	New	Lottery Prize/Raffle or Gift/Donation	NA	1. Legal documents, Statement of Gift, or Winner Notification.
6	Never Registered	Used	Used on private waters or otherwise never registered.	NA	1. Vessel Inspection
7	Georgia	Used	From Owner of Record²	Yes	1. Bill of Sale.
8	Georgia	Used	Not From Owner of Record	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller. 2. Bill of Sales back to Owner of Record, or Affidavit of Sale from Owner of Record.
9	Georgia	Used	From Dealer	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller. 2. Bill of Sales back to Owner of Record, or Affidavit of Sale from Owner of Record.
10	Georgia	Used	Directly From Deceased Owner of Record, or Inherited directly from Owner of Record	Yes	1. Legal documents showing transfer of ownership from owner of record to new owner. See FAQ for list of acceptable documents.
11	Georgia	Used	Indirectly through third party that obtained boat from deceased Owner of Record or Inherited from Owner of Record (including purchase from estate)	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller. 2. Legal documents showing transfer of ownership from owner of record to new owner listed on Bill of Sale as the seller.
12	Georgia	Used	Divorce with Decree - Spouse Transfer	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller (spouse owner of record), or Court Order showing transfer from spouse owner of record to other spouse.
13	Georgia	Used	Divorce with Decree - Spouse Transfer to Third Party	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Selling Spouse to Third Party, and Court Order showing transfer from spouse owner of record to other spouse.
14	Georgia	Used	Lottery Prize/Raffle or Gift/Donation	Yes	1. Bill of Sale, Statement of Gift, or Winner Notification from Giver to Recipient. 2. Legal documents, Bill of Sale, or Statement of Gift from Owner of Record to Giver.
15	Georgia	Used	Government Auctions	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller (Government Agency).
16	Georgia	Used	General Auctions	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller 2. Bill of Sales back to Owner of Record, or Affidavit of Sale from Owner of Record.
17	Georgia	Used	General and Lien Holder Repossessions, Bankruptcy, Default on Payment	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller 2. Court Order or other document giving seller possession and/or authority to sell, or Affidavit of Sale from owner of record.
18	Georgia	Used	Insurance Claim	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller. 2. Theft/Loss Report.
19	Georgia	Used	Pawn Shop Claim	Yes	1. Bill of Sale from Seller. 2. Pawn Shop Affidavit or Ticket.
20	Other State Registration	Used	For all situations for used boats in 6-18 above with another state’s registration, the documents shown are necessary plus add: 1. Original Title Document if coming from Title State OR Registration Card if the boat is from a non-titling state. For all situations for used boats in 6-18 above with another state’s registration, a Bill of Sale is not necessary if the registrant/owner is the person listed on the transferred title, or is the person on the out-of-state boat Registration Card.

1: Document compliance should be stressed to save the boat owner and the state the expense of a Vessel/HIN Inspection. If documents cannot be obtained, then a Vessel/HIN Inspection is necessary. All documents should have adequate information to identify the boat such as hull identification number, length, make, year, registration number, and construction material. Bills of sale or invoices should show buyer and seller, and be signed by both. See WRD example bill of sale [1].

2: Owner of record for a Georgia registered boat is the person who is last recorded as having the boat registered in Georgia. Owner of record for boats registered in another state is the owner listed on the title or out-of-state boat registration card.

Georgia Wildlife Resources Division
2070 U.S. Hwy. 278, SE, Social Circle, GA 30025

Links:
[1] http://www.georgiawildlife.com/sites/default/files/uploads/wildlife/lbru/pdfs/VESSEL BILL OF SALE.pdf