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Jet Ski Bill of Sale Template

A jet ski is a boat in the eyes of most state agencies. It has a hull identification number, it gets registered with the same office that handles boats, and in many states it is titled the same way.

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  • Letter size, 2 pages
  • Notary page included
Page 1 of the jet ski / pwc bill of sale

This template records the ski, its engine hours and the trailer if one is included, which covers what a registration office will ask for.

It's a fillable PDF: type into it in Acrobat, Preview or your browser and save the finished copy, or print it blank and fill it in by hand.

What's on the form

  • Seller and buyer details
  • Year, make, model and color
  • Hull Identification Number (HIN) and registration number
  • Title number where the state titles personal watercraft
  • Engine hours and engine size or horsepower
  • Number of seats
  • Trailer year, make, VIN and plate if one is included
  • Price, as-is clause covering the ski and trailer, and signature lines

How to fill it out

  1. Copy the HIN from the hull

    The Hull Identification Number is a 12-character code moulded into the rear of the hull, usually on the starboard side. It is the jet ski's VIN, and it has to match the registration.

  2. Record the engine hours

    Hours are the real measure of use on a personal watercraft. A dealer can pull them from the ECU if there is no display, and a big gap between claimed and actual hours is a warning sign.

  3. Decide about the trailer in writing

    Trailers are titled separately in most states. Fill in its details if it is included, or write N/A if the buyer is taking the ski only.

  4. List the gear

    Cover, life vests, tow rope, tools, spare key or lanyard. The safety kit matters because the buyer legally needs some of it on the water.

  5. Note anything you know about the engine

    Sunk, flooded or rebuilt engines are common in used skis and expensive to fix. Write the history on the defects line.

Before you hand it over

  • Most states treat a jet ski as a vessel, so it registers through the boating agency rather than the DMV.
  • A trailer transfers separately, with its own title or registration.
  • Check for a lien before paying: personal watercraft are often financed together with the trailer.
  • Test it on the water if you can. A ski that starts on a hose can still fail under load.

Questions

Is a jet ski a boat legally?

In most states, yes. Personal watercraft are registered and often titled as vessels, using the hull identification number rather than a VIN.

Where is the HIN on a jet ski?

Moulded into the rear of the hull, usually on the starboard side above the waterline. It is 12 characters and should match the registration exactly.

Does this cover the trailer too?

Yes. There is a trailer section, and the as-is clause names the trailer and equipment alongside the ski. The trailer still transfers with its own title where one exists.