Free Illinois Boat Bill of Sale Form (IDNR Standards PDF)

Q: Do boats have titles in Illinois?

Yes. Under 625 ILCS 45/3A-1, all mechanically powered watercraft (regardless of length) and all sailboats over 12 feet in length must be titled and registered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Non-powered watercraft under 12 feet are exempt from titling.

Q: Is a bill of sale required to register a boat in Illinois?

Yes. The IDNR requires a signed bill of sale alongside the endorsed Certificate of Title to establish legal proof of transfer, verify hull identification numbers, and provide an itemized breakdown of vessel, motor, and trailer values for Illinois Department of Revenue tax assessment.

Q: Does an Illinois boat bill of sale need to be notarized?

While not statutorily mandatory for all transfers, having Form SBF-IL-BOAT notarized in Section G is strongly recommended by the IDNR and County Clerks to verify signatures, protect against fraudulent title claims, and resolve discrepancies on older or out-of-state vessels.

Q: Which state agency handles boat registration in Illinois?

Watercraft titles and registrations are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in Springfield. However, if a boat trailer is included in the transaction, the trailer must be titled and registered separately through the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS).

Q: How long is boat registration valid in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, watercraft registrations are issued for 3 calendar years and expire on June 30 of the final calendar year of the registration period. Buyers receive an official 60-day temporary operation permit with their dated application copy while awaiting permanent IDNR credentials.

FORM SBF-IL-BOAT Statutory Year: 2026

625 ILCS 45/3A-1 et seq. • IDNR Standards

STATE OF ILLINOIS STATUTORY BILL OF SALE

Vessel, Watercraft, Outboard Motor & Trailer Transfer Statement

Compliant with Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) 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 acknowledged, does hereby bargain, sell, grant, 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:

Illinois County *:

SECTION B: COMPLETE WATERCRAFT (HULL) DESCRIPTION

Year Built *

Make / Builder *

Model Name / Number *

Length (Ft/In) *

Hull Material *

Vessel Type *

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

Hull Identification Number (HIN - 12 Characters) *:

SECTION C: OUTBOARD MOTOR & BOAT TRAILER SPECS

1. Outboard / Inboard Marine Motor

Motor Make

Year

Motor Serial Number

2. Boat Trailer Information Trailer Included

Trailer Make

Year

Empty Wt

Trailer VIN / Serial # (17 Digits)

SECTION D: IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES (TRANSFEROR & TRANSFEREE)

1. SELLER (Transferor Information)

Full Legal Name *

Physical Address (No P.O. Box) *

City *

State

ZIP Code *

Phone Number

IL Driver License #

2. BUYER (Transferee Information)

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 Price ($)

Motor Price ($)

Trailer Price ($)

Total Purchase Price *

Date of Sale *:

Payment: Cash Cashier's Check Check Wire Gift/Trade

SECTION F: MARINE "AS-IS" WARRANTY DISCLAIMER & AFFIDAVIT

STATUTORY MARINE "AS-IS" DISCLAIMER (ILLINOIS UCC 810 ILCS 5/2-316): This vessel, outboard motor, and trailer (if included) are bargained, sold, and conveyed strictly in "AS-IS, WHERE-IS" condition, WITH ALL FAULTS AND DEFECTS, WHETHER LATENT OR PATENT. The Seller expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including any warranty of merchantability, seaworthiness, hull integrity, transom strength, or fitness for navigation. Buyer acknowledges having had the opportunity to inspect, survey, or marine-examine the watercraft or knowingly waived this right. Seller certifies under penalty of perjury (720 ILCS 5/32-2) that Seller is the lawful owner with clear title free of all liens.

SECTION G: SIGNATURES & NOTARY JURAT

Seller (Transferor) Signature

Signature: ✕

Seller Printed Name

Date

Buyer (Transferee) Signature

Signature: ✕

Buyer Printed Name

Date

STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF:

On this _____ day of ________________, 2026, before me, the undersigned notary public, personally appeared the Seller and/or Buyer named above, known or proven through government-issued photo identification to be the person(s) whose name(s) are subscribed to this boat bill of sale, and acknowledged executing the same.

Notary Public Signature

MM/DD/YYYY

My Commission Expires

★ Affix Notary Seal
/ Stamp Here IDNR Watercraft Standard

FORM SBF-IL-BOAT (Rev. 2026) • StateBillForms.com 625 ILCS 45/3A-1 • Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) PAGE 1 OF 1

Official Process

Illinois IDNR 3-Step Vessel Registration & Title Transfer Guide

Follow Illinois statutory requirements to legally transfer vessel ownership, satisfy IDNR mandatory titling thresholds, and properly register boat trailers with the Secretary of State.

Execute Title & Form SBF-IL-BOAT

The seller endorses the original Illinois Certificate of Title with date and purchase price. Both parties sign this statutory Bill of Sale providing an itemized valuation of hull, motor, and trailer.

Verify IDNR Titling Threshold

Under 625 ILCS 45/3A-1, all mechanically powered watercraft and all sailboats over 12 feet must be titled with IDNR. The seller retains their Illinois registration card and decals.

IDNR Submission & 15-Day Rule

Within 15 calendar days (625 ILCS 45/3-4), the buyer submits the signed title, Bill of Sale, IDNR Application, and use tax to IDNR in Springfield. The buyer may navigate for 60 days using the dated temporary application copy.

Statutory Summary

Illinois Watercraft Transfer Legal Requirements

Document / Requirement	Governing Authority	Status	Statutory Purpose
Mandatory Watercraft Titling	625 ILCS 45/3A-1	Mandatory	All powered vessels (gas/electric) and sailboats over 12 feet must possess a formal IDNR Certificate of Title.
Form SBF-IL-BOAT Bill of Sale	625 ILCS 45/3-4	Essential	Establishes itemized values for vessel, motor, and trailer to calculate IDOR private watercraft use tax.
15-Day Application Deadline	625 ILCS 45/3-4	15 Calendar Days	Buyer must file transfer application with IDNR within 15 days of purchase; entitles buyer to 60-day temporary operation.
Separate Trailer Registration	625 ILCS 5/3-402	Secretary of State	Boat trailers are road motor vehicles regulated separately by the Illinois Secretary of State, not IDNR.
3-Year Registration Cycle	625 ILCS 45/3-5	Expires June 30	Watercraft validation decals are issued for a 3-year term and universally expire on June 30 of the 3rd year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois Boat Bill of Sale Legal FAQs

Do boats have titles in Illinois?

Is a bill of sale required to register a boat in Illinois?

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

Which state agency handles boat registration in Illinois?

How long is boat registration valid in Illinois?