City release page
Use this bill of sale when selling a personal watercraft in Wilmington, North Carolina. 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
NCDMV – Wilmington Office
Address
230 Government Center Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
Phone
(919) 715-7000
Office Hours
Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Title Transfer Fee
$56.00
Sales Tax Rate
3.00%
Base Registration Fee
$36.00
North Carolina Highway Use Tax (HUT) 3% (capped at $2,000) instead of standard sales tax
North Carolina does not require notarization. Both parties sign the title.
County Clerk / Recorder
New Hanover County Register of Deeds
Phone
(910) 798-4530
Website
https://rod.nhcgov.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 North Carolina, 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.
Wilmington residents completing a personal watercraft bill of sale should be aware of local requirements in addition to North Carolina state rules. The state sales tax rate is 3%, 3% highway use tax (capped at $250 for private party sales). The most popular personal watercraft makes in North Carolina include Yamaha, Sea-Doo (BRP), Kawasaki.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 2,618 bill of sale documents for North Carolina transactions, with 70 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)
Wilmington is in New Hanover County. Title transfers are handled by the NCDMV – Wilmington Office at 230 Government Center Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403. Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Phone: (919) 715-7000.
The combined rate is 3.00%. North Carolina Highway Use Tax (HUT) 3% (capped at $2,000) instead of standard sales tax.
No. North Carolina does not require notarization. Both parties sign the title.
Title transfer fee: $56.00. Base registration fee: $36.00. Sales tax at 3.00% is collected at the time of title transfer.