California Numbered Vessel Bill of Sale
CALIFORNIA NUMBERED VESSEL BILL OF SALE
Sale date: [__/__/____] Place of sale: [CITY, CALIFORNIA]
This agreement records a private sale of the California-numbered vessel identified below. The seller must also sign and deliver the vessel's California Certificate of Ownership, and report the sale to DMV. This form is for an undocumented vessel; a federally documented vessel follows a different route.
1. Seller, buyer, and vessel
Seller's full legal name and mailing address: [NAME AND ADDRESS]
Additional owner shown on vessel title, if any: [NAME AND ADDRESS OR NONE]
Buyer's full legal name and mailing address: [NAME AND ADDRESS]
| Item | Identification and sale status |
|---|---|
| Vessel make, model, year, and length | [DETAILS] |
| Hull identification number | [HIN] |
| California vessel number | [CF NUMBER] |
| California Certificate of Ownership number | [NUMBER] |
| Motor | [INCLUDED / EXCLUDED; MAKE, HORSEPOWER, SERIAL NUMBER] |
| Trailer | [INCLUDED / EXCLUDED; MAKE, YEAR, VIN, AND SEPARATE TITLE DETAILS] |
| Other included equipment | [LIST OR NONE] |
2. Price and delivery
Seller sells the listed items marked included to Buyer for $[TOTAL AMOUNT].
Vessel price: $[AMOUNT] Motor price: $[AMOUNT OR ZERO] Trailer price: $[AMOUNT OR ZERO]
Deposit already paid: $[AMOUNT OR ZERO] on [__/__/____]
Balance due: $[AMOUNT] by [METHOD] on [__/__/____]
Possession, keys, and included equipment delivered: [DATE, TIME, PLACE]
Known defects and any express repair or warranty terms: [COMPLETE TERMS OR NONE]
Risk of physical loss passes: [EVENT AND TIME]
Liens or other ownership claims and release arrangement: [DETAILS OR NONE]
3. Title, buyer transfer, and seller notice
California DMV tells a private seller to sign the front of the Certificate of Ownership and deliver it to the buyer. Buyer will submit this bill, the signed certificate, and the other DMV transfer materials. The DMV vessel handbook says a transfer fee and use tax are due upon purchase, with a transfer penalty if the fee is unpaid 30 days after transfer.
Signed vessel Certificate of Ownership delivered: [DATE OR PENDING]
Lien release or other title document delivered: [DATE, DOCUMENT, OR NOT APPLICABLE]
Buyer's planned DMV transfer submission: [DATE AND METHOD]
The DMV vessel agent handbook states that the seller of an undocumented numbered vessel must report the sale to DMV within five days under CVC § 9911. Seller will submit a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) online or by mail and keep confirmation. The notice should identify the vessel, buyer, and sale date. A trailer requires its own separate release notice.
Seller's vessel REG 138 filed or planned: [DATE, METHOD, CONFIRMATION OR PENDING]
Separate trailer title and REG 138 steps: [DETAILS OR NONE]
4. Agreement and signatures
Additional agreed terms: [COMPLETE TERMS OR NONE]
Seller acknowledges receiving $[AMOUNT] as of [__/__/____], subject to any unpaid balance above. Each party accepts the sale terms and receives a signed copy.
Seller: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [NAME]
Additional seller, if any: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [NAME OR NONE]
Buyer: ______________________________ Date: [__/__/____]
Printed name: [NAME]
Official references
About this template
- Last updated
- October 27, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 27, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- California
- Category
- Contracts & Agreements
Legal authority
- California DMV, private-vessel registration and seller transfer instructions
- California DMV, vessel transfer fee and duplicate-title instructions
- California DMV vessel agent handbook, CVC § 9911 seller notice
A contract is a written record of what two or more parties agreed to and what happens if someone does not follow through. Clear language, defined terms, and clean signature blocks keep disputes small and enforceable. The most common mistakes in contracts come from vague promises, missing details about timing or payment, and skipping standard protective clauses like governing law and dispute resolution.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 27, 2026.
California DMV, private-vessel registration and seller transfer instructions (checked October 27, 2026): "Bill(s) of sale (if you bought your boat/vessel from a private party instead of a dealer)."
California DMV, seller's title delivery (checked October 27, 2026): "Give the Certificate of Ownership to the person who buys it. Make sure you sign the certificate on the front."
California DMV, vessel transfer fee and duplicate-title instructions (checked October 27, 2026): "A transfer fee and use tax are due upon purchase. A transfer penalty is due if the transfer fee was not paid within 30 days of transfer"
California DMV vessel agent handbook, CVC § 9911 seller notice (checked October 27, 2026): "The seller of an undocumented numbered vessel must notify DMV within 5 days of the date of the sale (CVC §9911)."
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