Selling a Boat in Florida

Selling a boat in Florida involves more than finding a buyer. You need clean paperwork, a fair asking price, a safe way to get paid and a few steps after the sale so you are no longer tied to the boat. This guide walks owners through each stage, whether you sell to a private buyer, list with a broker or trade in at a dealer.

Prepare the boat and the paperwork

Buyers in Florida usually see the boat on a trailer, in a slip or at a dry-stack marina, often after looking at many others. A clean, well-documented boat sells faster and invites fewer low offers.

Take clear photos in good light, including the helm, engine hours, transom and HIN area. Write an honest description that lists equipment, known issues and what is included, such as the trailer, electronics and safety gear. See Boat Maintenance in Florida for the salt-water care that buyers and surveyors look for.

Price it realistically

There is no single correct price, so build an asking price from evidence rather than from the purchase price or loan balance.

• Comparable boats: look for the same or similar make, model, year range, engines and equipment, ideally in Florida, since local demand and conditions affect values.
• Valuation guides: published guides give a starting range, but adjust for condition, engine hours and options.
• A survey: a recent marine survey gives buyers confidence and can support your price. Some sellers order one before listing, especially on larger boats.
• Condition and records: documented maintenance, newer engines and a clean bottom support a stronger price. Deferred repairs pull it down.

Expect serious buyers to make an offer subject to a sea trial and survey; Buying a Used Boat shows what they will be checking. Leave room to negotiate and decide in advance what repairs or price adjustments you would accept.

Private sale, broker or dealer trade-in

Option	How it works	Benefits	Trade-offs
Private sale	You list, show and close the sale yourself	Most control; no commission	Your time, screening buyers, handling paperwork and payment
Broker	A yacht broker markets the boat, handles showings and helps close	Wider reach, help with negotiation and paperwork	Commission; listing agreement terms to review
Dealer trade-in	A dealer takes your boat as part of buying another	Simplest and fastest; one transaction	Value usually lower than a private sale

Brokers are common for larger boats and yachts. If you sign a listing agreement, read how long it runs, what the commission covers and whether you can still sell the boat yourself. With a trade-in, ask the dealer how your lien payoff and title will be handled. The dealer guide explains how trade-ins fit into a purchase.

Title, bill of sale and liens

Signing over the title

Under Florida Statutes s. 328.22, the seller of a titled vessel must promptly sign the certificate of title and deliver it to the buyer. The same section says a seller who does this is not liable as owner for events that happen after the transfer, even if the buyer is slow to retitle the boat. Fill in the transfer section completely and accurately, and do not hand over a title signed in blank.

Bill of sale

Provide a bill of sale signed by both parties. Include both names and addresses, the date, the price, the year, make, model, length and HIN, engine and trailer serial numbers, and what is included. Write the real sale price: Florida collects sales tax from the buyer on the selling price of the complete rig (boat, motor, trailer and accessories) when the title is transferred, and false statements on a bill of sale are prohibited under chapter 328. Buying From a Private Seller shows what buyers expect to receive.

Paying off a lien

If a lender holds a lien, the buyer cannot receive a clean title until it is paid and released. Ask your lender for the payoff amount and how it handles private sales. Often the buyer's funds go to the lender at closing, and the lender then satisfies the lien. Florida Statutes s. 328.15 requires a lienholder, once paid, to note the satisfaction and deliver the title or release, with timelines set in that section.

Documented vessels and trailers

If the boat is federally documented with the Coast Guard, the ownership change is also recorded with the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center, and a mortgage recorded there needs to be released there. A trailer is registered separately with FLHSMV and may have its own title, so list it on the bill of sale and transfer its paperwork too.

Get paid safely and avoid scams

Payment is where sellers are most often targeted. Do not release the title, keys or boat until funds are verified as final.

• Prefer a cashier's check verified directly with the issuing bank (call a number you look up yourself), a bank wire you confirm has arrived, or payment made at your lender when a lien must be cleared.
• Meet at a marina, bank or other public place with staff around.
• Let a buyer's surveyor inspect the boat, but stay present during sea trials and confirm the buyer's identity first.

After the sale

Florida Statutes s. 328.64 requires the owner to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of the transfer of a registered or titled vessel within 30 days, on a form the department prescribes; the law says that form is attached to Florida vessel titles. The same section says a transfer of ownership terminates the registration certificate. The buyer must apply to transfer the registration within 30 days under the same chapter.

Registration rules and forms change, so confirm the current steps on the FLHSMV vessel titles and registrations page (opens in a new tab) or with your county tax collector. Boat Registration in Florida covers how registration works for the buyer and for your next boat.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to tell the state when I sell my boat in Florida?

Yes. Florida Statutes s. 328.64 requires the owner to notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of a transfer within 30 days, on the department's form. Check FLHSMV for the current form and how to file it.

How do I sell a boat that still has a loan on it?

Contact your lender for a payoff amount and its process for private sales. Usually the payoff is made first or at closing through the lender, and the lender then releases the lien so a clean title can pass to the buyer.

Should I sell privately, through a broker or trade in?

A private sale usually takes the most work and gives you the most control; a broker handles marketing and showings for a commission; a dealer trade-in is the simplest but is usually valued below a private sale. The right choice depends on the boat, your time and how fast you need to sell.

What should I do with the registration after selling?

File the notice of sale, keep copies of the signed title and bill of sale, and ask the county tax collector or FLHSMV how to handle the registration certificate and decals. Cancel or adjust your insurance only after ownership has passed.

Official sources

1. Florida Statutes, Chapter 328 — Vessels: Title Certificates; Liens; Registration (ss. 328.15, 328.22, 328.46, 328.64) (opens in a new tab)
2. FLHSMV — Vessel titles and registrations (opens in a new tab)

Checked against these sources on October 2, 2026. Rules change — confirm current requirements with the official source before you rely on them.