City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a personal watercraft in New Orleans, Louisiana. It documents the transfer and helps you complete DMV title paperwork.
Create a compliant bill of sale and download the signed PDF immediately.
DMV / Title Office
LA OMV – New Orleans Express Office
Address
2735 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone
(504) 483-4080
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$68.50
Sales Tax Rate
9.45%
Base Registration Fee
$20.00
Louisiana state rate 4.45% + Orleans Parish 5.0%
Louisiana requires notarization of the vehicle title assignment for private party transfers. A notarized Act of Sale is the standard document.
County Clerk / Recorder
Orleans Parish Clerk of Court
Phone
(504) 407-0000
Website
https://www.orleanscdc.comThe most common personal watercraft makes in private-party sales are Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki. Average private-party personal watercraft prices range from $3,000–$20,000. Personal watercrafts average 1.2 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Steering, Hull.
Before completing a personal watercraft bill of sale in Louisiana, verify these safety items:
PWC insurance averages $200–$500/year. Many marinas require proof of insurance. PWC depreciate 40–50% in the first 3 years. Three-seat models retain value better than single-seat. Peak season for private personal watercraft sales is april–may before summer water season, with an average of 30 days on market.
Personal Watercrafts are classified as "Personal watercraft (state-registered, minimum operator age varies by state)" for registration purposes. PWC are classified by engine hours. Average recreational lifespan is 300–500 hours. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to personal watercrafts.
New Orleans residents completing a personal watercraft bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to Louisiana state rules. The state sales tax rate is 4.45%, 4.45% state plus parish taxes (total can exceed 10%). The most popular personal watercraft makes in Louisiana include Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 1,138 bill of sale documents for Louisiana transactions, with 31 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
New Orleans is in Orleans Parish. Title transfers are handled by the LA OMV – New Orleans Express Office at 2735 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Phone: (504) 483-4080.
The combined rate is 9.45%. Louisiana state rate 4.45% + Orleans Parish 5.0%.
Yes. Louisiana requires notarization of the vehicle title assignment for private party transfers. A notarized Act of Sale is the standard document.
Title transfer fee: $68.50. Base registration fee: $20.00. Sales tax at 9.45% is collected at the time of title transfer.