Maryland boat — quick answer
Maryland charges a 5% vessel excise tax on the purchase price or fair market value, and DNR wants it within 30 days where a licensed dealer did not collect it. The figure it is calculated on includes the motor, spars, sails and accessories but specifically excludes the trailer, so a bill of sale that rolls everything into one number can cost the buyer real money.
How boat sales actually work in Maryland
- Vessel excise tax
- 5% of purchase price or fair market value
- Minimum and maximum
- $5 minimum; $16,100 maximum effective 1 July 2026
- Deadline
- Within 30 days of the sale where a licensed dealer did not collect it
- What the price includes
- Motors, spars, sails and accessories — but not the trailer
- Bill of sale
- An original certified bill of sale showing description, purchase price and date, where the title reassignment does not carry all the elements
- Family transfers
- Exempt from the excise tax, including the $5 minimum, where the statutory immediate-family and titling tests are met
Transferring a boat in Maryland, step by step
- Price the boat and the trailer separately on the bill of sale. The trailer is outside the excise tax base and lumping them together inflates the taxable figure.
- Include the description, the purchase price and the date. Where the title reassignment does not carry all of those elements, DNR wants an original certified bill of sale that does.
- Pay the excise tax within 30 days of the sale where no licensed dealer collected it — the tax and fees have to be in before the vessel number is issued.
- If this is a transfer between immediate family, check the exemption before paying anything, including the $5 minimum.
What private buyers get wrong here
- The single-number bill of sale is the expensive mistake here, because the motor and accessories are in the tax base and the trailer is not.
- The 30-day clock runs from the date of sale, and the excise tax has to be collected before a vessel number is issued at all.
- The family exemption is narrower than it sounds — it turns on a statutory definition of immediate family and on how the vessel was previously titled.
Verified 2026-09-24 against Maryland DNR — Boat Registration and Maryland DNR — Boat Dealer Manual . Rules change — confirm before you sign.
Is a boat bill of sale required in Maryland?
Maryland charges a 5% vessel excise tax on the purchase price or fair market value, and DNR wants it within 30 days where a licensed dealer did not collect it. The figure it is calculated on includes the motor, spars, sails and accessories but specifically excludes the trailer, so a bill of sale that rolls everything into one number can cost the buyer real money.
Does a Maryland boat bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the instructions for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. A requirement to notarize a title assignment does not automatically mean the separate bill of sale needs notarization. If notarization is required, wait to sign until the notary instructs you.
What to include on a Maryland boat bill of sale
- Buyer and seller names and addresses
- Year, make, model, and length
- Hull Identification Number (HIN) — 12 characters
- Motor details (make, horsepower, serial number)
- Whether a trailer is included
- Price, date, and signatures
Official sources
Requirements change and can vary by county. Confirm with the Maryland MVA before you sign. Not legal advice.
Maryland Boat Bill of Sale — FAQ
Is a boat bill of sale required in Maryland?
Maryland charges a 5% vessel excise tax on the purchase price or fair market value, and DNR wants it within 30 days where a licensed dealer did not collect it. The figure it is calculated on includes the motor, spars, sails and accessories but specifically excludes the trailer, so a bill of sale that rolls everything into one number can cost the buyer real money.
Does a Maryland boat bill of sale need to be notarized?
Check the signing requirements for the specific title and bill-of-sale form. Notarization of a title assignment and notarization of a bill of sale are separate questions; a car rule does not establish the rule for this item.
What is a HIN on a boat bill of sale?
The Hull Identification Number is a 12-character code unique to the boat, similar to a VIN on a car. It is required to register the vessel and should be copied exactly.
Do I need a separate bill of sale for the boat trailer and motor?
The motor is usually described on the boat bill of sale. A trailer often has its own VIN and may need its own bill of sale and registration — use our trailer bill of sale for that.
Is a bill of sale proof of ownership?
Generally no. For titled property like a car or boat, the title is what proves ownership. A bill of sale proves that a sale happened and records the price, date, and terms — it supports the title transfer but does not replace it. For untitled property (furniture, equipment, electronics), the signed bill of sale is usually the main proof of ownership.