Do boats have titles in Georgia?

No. Georgia is a non-titling state for vessels under O.C.G.A. § 52-7-5. The State of Georgia does not issue Certificates of Title for boats or outboard motors. Instead, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issues a Certificate of Boat Registration (registration card) and registration decals. Because there is no title, an executed Bill of Sale is the legal document proving transfer of vessel ownership.

Is a bill of sale legally required to register a boat in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division mandates an executed Bill of Sale signed by both the seller and the buyer for all private vessel transfers. The bill of sale must include the vessel make, year built, length, Hull Identification Number (HIN), Georgia registration number, purchase date, and consideration.

Does a Georgia boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

Notarization is not statutorily mandatory for all vessel registrations in Georgia, but it is strongly recommended by Georgia DNR. Having the bill of sale notarized is required if the previous registration card is unavailable or if registering a vessel without a documented paper chain of ownership.

What do you need to register a boat in Georgia if the previous registration is lost?

If the seller's original Georgia registration card is missing, the buyer must provide a signed and notarized Bill of Sale from the last registered owner of record, a Georgia DNR Vessel Registration Application, and in contested or abandoned cases, an Affidavit of Vessel Ownership (DNR Form).

Free Georgia Boat Bill of Sale Form (GA DNR 2026 PDF)

Q: Where do you register a boat trailer in Georgia?

Boat trailers are not registered with Georgia DNR. In Georgia, boat trailers are motor vehicle equipment governed by the Department of Revenue (DOR) and must be registered separately at your local County Tag Office. Homemade and factory boat trailers under 2,000 lbs require a license plate and registration, while trailers 2,000 lbs or heavier require a Certificate of Title.

FORM SBF-GA-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

O.C.G.A. § 52-7-1 et seq. • Georgia Boat Safety Act

STATE OF GEORGIA STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Standards

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

Section A: Jurisdiction & Location of Sale

State:

Georgia County *:

Section B: Complete Vessel (Hull) Description

Year Built *

Make / Manufacturer *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft & In) *

Hull Material

Vessel Type

GA Registration # (e.g. GA 1234 AB)

Hull Identification Number (HIN - 12 Characters) *

Section C: Outboard Motor & Boat Trailer Specifications

Outboard Motor Make

Motor Year

Horsepower (HP)

Motor Serial Number *

Trailer Included in Sale

Trailer Make / Brand

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

GA Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information) For Georgia DNR Registration

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

Driver License #

Section E: Financial Consideration & Itemized Price Breakdown

Vessel (Hull):

Outboard Motor:

Trailer:

TOTAL PRICE *:

Date of Sale *:

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

Section F: Marine "AS-IS" Warranty Disclaimer & Ownership Certification

SOLD STRICTLY AS-IS, WHERE-IS: The Buyer agrees that this vessel, outboard motor, trailer, and accessories are purchased in their present "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN. Pursuant to Georgia Commercial Code (O.C.G.A. § 11-2-316), the Seller disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, seaworthiness, or fitness for any particular navigational purpose. Seller assumes no post-sale liability for repairs, motor condition, or hull integrity. Buyer acknowledges having had full opportunity to inspect, water-test, or survey the vessel. AFFIDAVIT OF LAWFUL OWNERSHIP (O.C.G.A. § 16-10-71): Seller certifies under penalty of perjury under Georgia law that Seller is the lawful owner with full legal authority to transfer this vessel and equipment free of all maritime liens and encumbrances.

Section G: Authorized Signatures & State of Georgia Notary Acknowledgment

Seller (Transferor) Signature Must match GA DNR record

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature For GA DNR Registration

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF GEORGIA COUNTY OF:

Before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government photo ID 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 Recommended for GA DNR

FORM SBF-GA-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com O.C.G.A. § 52-7-1 et seq. • Compliant with Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Standards PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Georgia DNR 3-Step Private Vessel Registration Transfer Guide

Because Georgia is a non-titling state for boats, follow these statutory steps to transfer vessel ownership and obtain current Georgia validation decals through the Wildlife Resources Division.

Execute Form SBF-GA-BOAT

Both buyer and seller must execute this 1-page statutory Bill of Sale. Record the 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN), current Georgia registration number, and separate purchase valuations for boat, motor, and trailer.

Submit Application to Georgia DNR

Submit the signed bill of sale, the seller's previous Georgia registration card, and the completed Georgia DNR Vessel Registration Application online via GoOutdoorsGeorgia.com (or mail to the Law Enforcement Division in Social Circle, GA).

Receive Decals & Register Trailer

Georgia DNR issues your 3-year Certificate of Boat Registration and decals. Note: Boat trailers are motor vehicles and must be registered separately at your local County Tag Office, not with the DNR.

Statutory Summary

Georgia Vessel Transfer Legal Requirements

Statutory standards and governing authorities under the Georgia Boat Safety Act (O.C.G.A. § 52-7-1 et seq.).

Requirement / Element	Georgia Statutory Rule	Governing Code
Vessel Titling Status	Non-Titling State: Georgia does not issue vessel titles; Bill of Sale is primary proof of ownership.	O.C.G.A. § 52-7-5
Governing Boating Authority	Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) - Wildlife Resources Division.	O.C.G.A. § 52-7-3
Hull Identification Number (HIN)	Mandatory 12-character format compliant with U.S. Coast Guard standards (33 CFR § 181.25).	O.C.G.A. § 52-7-7
Outboard Motor Titling	No separate titles issued for outboard motors; recorded on Bill of Sale for tax breakdown.	GA DNR Rules
Boat Trailer Jurisdiction	Registered through local County Tag Office (DOR), not through the DNR.	O.C.G.A. § 40-2-20
Registration Validity	Georgia vessel registrations are valid for 3 calendar years expiring on the last day of owner's birth month.	O.C.G.A. § 52-7-5(d)
Seller Notice of Transfer	Seller must notify Georgia DNR within 15 days of transferring ownership to terminate liability.	O.C.G.A. § 52-7-5(j)

Frequently Asked Questions

Georgia Boat Bill of Sale & Registration FAQs

Clear statutory answers to common questions about private vessel sales, non-titling transfers, and trailer rules in Georgia.