Do all boats in Ohio have titles?

No. Under Ohio Revised Code § 1548.01, watercraft 14 feet or greater in length require a Certificate of Title. Watercraft less than 14 feet with a permanently affixed mechanical means of propulsion of 10 horsepower or greater also require a title. Canoes, kayaks, and small watercraft under 14 feet with motors under 10 HP are exempt from titling, but must still be registered with the ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft.

Does an outboard motor require a separate title in Ohio?

Yes! Under Ohio Revised Code § 1548.01, any outboard motor of 10 horsepower or greater requires its own separate Ohio Certificate of Title. When purchasing an outboard boat in Ohio with a 10+ HP motor, the seller must provide two distinct notarized titles: one for the boat hull and one for the outboard motor.

Does an Ohio boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

While a private bill of sale does not statutorily mandate notarization on its own, Ohio Revised Code § 1548.07 strictly requires the seller's signature on the watercraft and outboard motor title(s) to be notarized. Because both parties must execute the title assignment before a Notary Public, having Section G of this Bill of Sale notarized concurrently provides conclusive legal proof of purchase price, payment receipt, and 'As-Is' condition.

Where do you transfer a boat title in Ohio (ODNR vs Clerk of Courts)?

In Ohio, boat titling and boat registration are handled by two separate entities. You must take your notarized title and Form SBF-OH-BOAT Bill of Sale to any County Clerk of Courts Title Office to transfer title ownership and pay sales tax. Afterwards, you take your newly issued title to an ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft office or authorized watercraft registration agent to obtain registration numbers and 3-year validation tags.

How much is sales tax on a used boat in Ohio?

Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5739, Ohio levies a baseline 5.75% state sales and use tax, plus county permissive and regional transit surtaxes (totaling 6.50% to 8.00%). The tax is calculated on the total purchase price (hull, motor, and trailer) and is remitted directly to the County Clerk of Courts Title Office based on the buyer's county of residence within 30 days of sale.

Free Ohio Boat Bill of Sale Form (ODNR & Title Office PDF)

FORM SBF-OH-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

Ohio Revised Code (ORC) §§ 1547.01, 1548.03 & 1548.06

STATE OF OHIO STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) & Clerk of Courts Standards

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the undersigned Seller, for and in consideration of the total sales price set forth herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby formally acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, transfer, and deliver unto the undersigned Buyer all legal rights, title, equity, and interest in and to the watercraft, outboard motor, and trailer described below, to have and to hold forever.

Section A: Jurisdiction & Location of Sale

State:

Ohio County *:

Section B: Complete Watercraft (Hull) Description

Year Built *

Make / Manufacturer *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft/In) *

Hull Material

Vessel Type

Ohio Reg. # (e.g. OH 1234 BW)

Hull ID Number (HIN - Exactly 12 Characters) *

Section C: Outboard Motor & Boat Trailer Specifications (ORC § 1548.01)

Outboard Motor Make

Motor Year

Horsepower (HP)

Motor Serial # (10+ HP Titled in Ohio) *

Trailer Included

Trailer Make

Trailer Year

Trailer VIN / Serial #

Empty Wt (Lbs)

Section D: Identification of Parties (Transferor & Transferee)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information) Physical address only

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

OH Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For County Title Record

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section E: Financial Consideration & Itemized Price Breakdown

Watercraft (Hull):

Outboard Motor:

Trailer:

TOTAL PRICE *:

Date of Sale *:

Payment Method: Cash Cashier's Ck Personal Ck Wire Gift/Trade

Section F: Statutory Marine "AS-IS" Warranty Disclaimer & Affidavit ORC § 1302.29 • ORC § 2921.13 Certification

SOLD STRICTLY AS-IS, WHERE-IS: The Buyer agrees that this watercraft, outboard motor, trailer, and associated marine equipment are purchased in their present "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN. Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 1302.29, the Seller disclaims all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, seaworthiness, or fitness for any particular navigational purpose. Seller assumes no post-sale liability for repairs, marine engine condition, or structural integrity. Buyer acknowledges having inspected the watercraft or knowingly waived inspection. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Ohio law (ORC § 2921.13) that Seller is lawful owner with clear legal title free of all maritime liens and encumbrances.

Section G: Authorized Signatures & State of Ohio Notary Acknowledgment

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must match Ohio Watercraft Title

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature For Clerk of Courts Title Filing

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF OHIO COUNTY OF:

Before me, the undersigned notary public in and for said County and State, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government photo identification to be the person(s) subscribed hereto, and acknowledged executing same for the purposes and consideration expressed.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here

FORM SBF-OH-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com Ohio Revised Code §§ 1547.01, 1548.03 & 1548.06 • ODNR Compliant PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Ohio 3-Step Private Watercraft Title & Registration Guide

In Ohio, watercraft titling and watercraft registration are administered across two separate public entities. Follow this statutory roadmap under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1548 to complete your transfer legally.

Notarize Title(s) & Bill of Sale

Under ORC § 1548.07, the seller must sign the assignment of title before a Notary Public. Note: If the outboard motor is 10 HP or greater, the seller must also sign over a separate Ohio Outboard Motor Title with a notary! Both parties execute this Form SBF-OH-BOAT Bill of Sale.

File at Clerk of Courts Title Office

Within 30 calendar days of the sale, the buyer visits any Ohio County Clerk of Courts Title Office with the notarized title(s) and Bill of Sale to obtain the new watercraft title and pay the required Ohio sales and use tax (5.75% base + local county permissive rate).

Register with ODNR Watercraft

With the new Certificate of Title in hand, the buyer visits an ODNR Division of Parks and Watercraft office or an authorized private registration agent (such as local marine dealers or deputy registrars) to obtain the OH registration certificate and 3-year validation tags.

Statutory Summary

Ohio Watercraft Legal Requirements & Thresholds

Quick statutory reference table outlining legal jurisdictions, titling thresholds, and sales tax rules under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1548.

Requirement / Element	Ohio Statutory Standard	Governing Statute
Watercraft Titling Threshold	Watercraft 14 feet or greater in length (or under 14 ft with mechanical motor 10+ HP) require a title.	ORC § 1548.01
Outboard Motor Titling	Mandatory separate title for any outboard motor of 10 horsepower or greater.	ORC § 1548.01
Mandatory Title Notarization	Seller signature on watercraft and motor title(s) must be witnessed and sealed by a Notary Public.	ORC § 1548.07
Boat Trailer Titling	Trailers with an empty weight of 2,000+ lbs require a title; under 2,000 lbs require BMV weight registration.	ORC § 4505.01
State Sales & Use Tax	5.75% base state tax + county permissive tax (totaling 6.50% to 8.00% based on buyer's residence).	ORC Chapter 5739
Title Filing Deadline	Within 30 calendar days from the sale date at any County Clerk of Courts Title Office.	ORC § 1548.06
Watercraft Registration Period	ODNR boat registrations are valid for 3 calendar years (expiring March 1st of the third year).	ORC § 1547.54

Frequently Asked Questions

Ohio Boat Bill of Sale & Title Transfer FAQs

Direct legal answers to common questions regarding private boat sales, ODNR registration, and outboard motor titling in Ohio.

Free Ohio Boat & Watercraft Bill of Sale Form

STATE OF OHIO STATUTORY BILL OF SALE