How to Sell a Boat in Kansas (Step by Step)

Selling a boat in Kansas is simpler than in most states in one important way: Kansas does not title boats. There is no certificate of title to sign over and no title office to visit. What Kansas does require is registration, and there is a deadline on your end that a lot of sellers miss.

Kansas Does Not Title Boats

The State of Kansas does not issue titles for watercraft or for motors. Instead, motorized and sailing vessels are registered and given a Certificate of Number through the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Because there is no title, the bill of sale becomes the single most important document in the transaction. It is the buyer's proof of ownership and the record they use to register the boat in their own name.

Step 1: Locate Your Registration

Find your current Certificate of Number, which is the registration card for the vessel. The buyer will reference your registration when they set up their own, so have the details ready. If your registration has lapsed, that is not a dealbreaker, but be upfront about it so the buyer knows what they are taking on.

Step 2: Complete a Bill of Sale

This is the step you cannot skip in Kansas. A signed Kansas boat bill of sale should list the hull identification number, the make, year, and length of the vessel, the motor details, any trailer or equipment included, the agreed sale price, the as-is condition, and the names and signatures of both parties. Kansas does not require the bill of sale to be notarized for an in-state sale.

If your buyer is going to register the boat in another state, ask them to check their home state's rules. Some states require the bill of sale to be notarized and may want proof of the Kansas registration, so it helps to have both ready.

Step 3: Collect Payment Safely

Meet in a safe, public location. For a cashier's check, call the issuing bank directly using a number you look up yourself to confirm it is real before you hand anything over. For higher-value boats, a wire transfer you have confirmed cleared is the safest option. Do not release the boat until the payment is genuinely in your hands.

Step 4: Notify Kansas Within 15 Days

This is the part Kansas sellers most often overlook. When a vessel is sold, the person whose name appears on the Certificate of Number must notify the Department of Wildlife and Parks in writing within 15 days. You can do this by mail, email, fax, or by completing the Notification of Change online. Filing this notice is what formally takes the boat out of your name in the state's records and protects you if anything happens with the vessel after the sale.

Don't Forget the Trailer

Unlike the boat, a trailer in Kansas is titled and registered like a vehicle through your county treasurer. If a trailer is part of the deal, sign the trailer title over separately and the buyer handles the trailer registration on their end. Make sure the trailer paperwork is ready before any money changes hands.

If You Can't Be There for the Sale

If you need someone else to handle the transaction for you, a power of attorney authorizes that person to sign the bill of sale and registration paperwork on your behalf. Get it executed before the sale so there is no delay when the buyer arrives.

The Full Checklist

Current Certificate of Number located. Bill of sale completed listing the boat, motor, trailer, and equipment with the sale price. Payment confirmed before releasing the boat. Notification of Change filed with the Department of Wildlife and Parks within 15 days. Trailer title signed over separately if applicable.

Kansas keeps the boat sale itself simple by not requiring a title, but that puts more weight on the bill of sale and the 15-day notice. Get both right and the transaction stays clean for everyone.

Selling a Boat in a Different State?

Boat rules vary widely from one state to the next. If you're selling elsewhere, see our guides for Missouri, Florida, and Texas.