Buying a boat from a private seller

[mriguy]

Can someone please explain to me the process of buying private vs dealership. Taxes? Registration? Bill of sale? Etc. Thanks for the help

[Dink]

In state or out?

[mriguy]

In state

[Mediumheavyaction6'6]

you will have to have a bill of sale that is notarized with both the buyer and sellers signatures. You will want to itemize the bill of sale to show the individual costs of all the parts of the boat. In Louisiana we pay taxes on the trailer so I would make that as little cost as the seller is willing to go. It affects the seller none to make it worth say $100. You will need a registration for the boat and motor otherwise you will have to pay sales taxes on them as well. With the registration the sell would be considered casual and the taxes would have been paid by the previous owner.

[Ray]

Make sure it has no lien on it.
Seller might take your money and not pay it off.
Bank will then come get it from you.

[kbleger]

If I remember correctly you'll need a tax form signed by the seller too. It's called the tax certification form. It has to be signed by the Department of Revenue and Taxation Officer, which in Lake Charles is in the Capital One building.

[Ray]

GO to the LDWF office in Lake Charles. Get a registration transfer document and fill it out.
Keep one of the pages for your temp. registration and mail in the other one along with the sellers registration that is signed on the back by the seller.
That should take care of the boat.

You will need a trailer title signed by the seller along with the registration. Bring that to the dreaded place you get your drivers license and they will take care of that part for you. This will take care of the title and registration for the trailer.

In La., you don't pay taxes on a boat older than 10 years old.

If you buy new from a dealer, they normally take care of everything. When new, you have 3 places to send paperwork to.

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating...d-registration