City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a boat in Boston, Massachusetts. 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
MA RMV – Boston (Haymarket)
Address
136 Blackstone St, Boston, MA 02109
Phone
(857) 368-8000
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$75.00
Sales Tax Rate
6.25%
Base Registration Fee
$60.00
Massachusetts statewide rate 6.25% — no local vehicle sales tax
Massachusetts does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title and RMV-1 form are sufficient.
County Clerk / Recorder
Suffolk County Register of Deeds
Phone
(617) 788-8575
Website
https://www.suffolkdeeds.comThe most common boat makes in private-party sales are Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Tracker, Yamaha. Average private-party boat prices range from $5,000–$75,000. Boats average 1.8 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Fuel System, Electrical, Steering.
Before completing a boat bill of sale in Massachusetts, verify these safety items:
Boat insurance averages $200–$500/year for boats under 26 ft. Agreed-value policies are preferred over actual-cash-value. Boats depreciate 30–40% in the first 5 years. Aluminum fishing boats hold value better than fiberglass sport boats. Peak season for private boat sales is early spring (march–may) ahead of boating season, with an average of 45 days on market.
Boats are classified as "Watercraft (state-registered) or USCG-documented vessel" for registration purposes. Boats are measured by length, not weight, for registration. Trailers have separate weight-based registration. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to boats.
Boston residents completing a boat bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to Massachusetts state rules. The state sales tax rate is 6.25%, flat 6.25% statewide; no additional local vehicle taxes. The most popular boat makes in Massachusetts include Bayliner, Sea Ray, Boston Whaler.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 1,672 bill of sale documents for Massachusetts transactions, with 45 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)
Boston is in Suffolk County. Title transfers are handled by the MA RMV – Boston (Haymarket) at 136 Blackstone St, Boston, MA 02109. Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. Phone: (857) 368-8000.
The combined rate is 6.25%. Massachusetts statewide rate 6.25% — no local vehicle sales tax.
No. Massachusetts does not require notarization for private vehicle sales. A signed title and RMV-1 form are sufficient.
Title transfer fee: $75.00. Base registration fee: $60.00. Sales tax at 6.25% is collected at the time of title transfer.