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

Selling a boat in Missouri works differently from selling a car, and there is one detail that catches a lot of sellers off guard: Missouri titles the boat and the outboard motor as two separate items. Get the paperwork right on both and the sale stays clean. Miss a step and the buyer can run into penalties at the license office that come back to you as phone calls weeks later.

Missouri Titles the Boat and the Motor Separately

This is the part most people don't expect. In Missouri, the vessel has its own title and the outboard motor has its own title. If your boat came with an outboard motor, you are transferring two titles, not one. Locate both before you list the boat. If either one is missing, apply for a duplicate through the Missouri Department of Revenue before the sale, because a buyer cannot title what you cannot prove you own.

Step 1: Confirm the Title Is in Your Name

Make sure the Certificate of Title for the vessel, and the title for the motor if it has one, are in your name and in your possession. If there is a lien on the boat, the lienholder has to release it before the title can transfer. A notarized lien release is required when a loan was involved. Don't list the boat for sale until you have a clear plan for clearing the lien at closing.

Step 2: Complete a Bill of Sale

The Missouri Department of Revenue specifically recognizes a descriptive bill of sale as an ownership document for watercraft. A signed Missouri boat bill of sale should record the agreed sale price, the hull identification number, the make, year, and length of the vessel, the outboard motor details, any included trailer or equipment, the as-is condition, and the names and signatures of both parties.

The sale price on the bill of sale is what the buyer uses to calculate the tax owed at the license office. Itemize everything that changes hands. Vague handshake agreements about what was included are one of the most common sources of disputes after a boat sale.

Step 3: Sign the Titles Over Correctly

Sign the vessel title, and the motor title if applicable, in the designated seller fields. Fill in every required field accurately and do not leave anything blank for the buyer to complete later. A title with blank fields, cross-outs, or corrections can be rejected when the buyer goes to title the boat.

Step 4: 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 the check is real before you sign over the titles. For higher-value vessels, a wire transfer you have confirmed cleared is the safest option. Do not release the boat or sign anything over until the payment is genuinely in your hands.

Step 5: What the Buyer Does at the License Office

Missouri boat titling is handled by the Department of Revenue at any Missouri license office. The buyer has 60 days from the date of purchase to title the boat and the motor. If they wait past the 60th day, a title penalty of $10 applies on the 61st day, increasing another $10 for every 30 days late, up to a maximum of $30.

The buyer will pay state sales tax of 4.225 percent plus their local sales tax on the purchase price, less any trade-in allowance. They bring the assigned titles, the bill of sale, and a paid personal property tax receipt or statement of non-assessment to complete the transfer. A temporary permit valid for up to 30 days is available so the buyer can use the boat while the paperwork is processed.

Don't Forget the Trailer

If a trailer is part of the deal, it transfers separately from the boat and the motor. Missouri trailers are titled and registered through the Department of Revenue like other vehicles. Sign the trailer title over separately and the buyer will pay any applicable fee and tax on the trailer when they register it. Make sure all the titles, boat, motor, and trailer, are present and signed before any money changes hands.

If You Can't Be There for the Sale

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

The Full Checklist

Vessel title and outboard motor title both located and in your name. Any lien released with notarized documentation. Bill of sale completed listing the boat, motor, trailer, and equipment with the sale price. All titles signed correctly with no blank fields. Payment confirmed before releasing the boat. Buyer informed of the 60-day titling window and the 4.225 percent state sales tax plus local tax.

Missouri's two-title system is the part that trips people up, but once you know the boat and the motor each need their own signed title, the rest of the sale is straightforward. Document everything, confirm payment, and the transaction stays clean for both sides.

Selling a Boat in a Different State?

Boat title rules vary widely. If you're selling elsewhere, see our guides on transferring a boat title in Florida, Texas, and Minnesota.