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Maryland Jet Ski Bill of Sale

Maryland requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Maryland jet ski bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration looks for, matching the fields on VR-181. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

Maryland
Jet Ski Bill of Sale

Seller

Buyer

Jet ski details

Price and terms

How to sell a jet ski in Maryland

A jet ski bill of sale works like a boat bill of sale: it identifies the personal watercraft by hull identification number, records engine hours, the price and the date, and lists the trailer if it is part of the sale. PWCs are registered through the state boat registration office, which accepts a signed bill of sale as proof of purchase.

Seller steps

  1. Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
  2. Agree on the price and fill in the Maryland jet ski bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the HIN.
  3. Sign it. Signing in front of a notary is not always required in Maryland, but offices ask for it often enough that it is worth the few dollars.
  4. Sign the title over to the buyer exactly as your name appears on it, and complete the odometer section on the title if the jet ski has one.
  5. Hand over the jet ski and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.

Buyer steps

  1. Bring the signed bill of sale (or Maryland's VR-181), the signed title and your ID to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
  2. Expect to pay sales or use tax on the price shown on the bill of sale, plus title and registration fees.
  3. Register within Maryland's deadline, commonly 10 to 30 days from the sale date, to avoid late penalties.

Before you sign

  • The HIN is on the rear right of the hull, 12 characters.
  • Record engine hours from the gauge cluster.
  • If a trailer is included, add its VIN and generate a separate trailer bill of sale if the DMV asks for one.
  • Note the condition of the seat, hull and any aftermarket parts.

Why a bill of sale matters for a jet ski

  • Boat registration offices want the price for tax and the HIN for the record.
  • Engine hours are the mileage of a PWC; recording them prevents disputes.
  • The trailer is titled separately through the DMV and should be listed.
  • An as-is clause covers hull and engine problems found later.

Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.

Maryland at a glance

Bill of sale
Required in common cases
Notary
Notarization recommended
Official state form
VR-181
Where the buyer registers
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (mva.maryland.gov)
License plates
Stay with seller

Maryland strongly recommends a bill of sale and requires a notarized VR-181 when the vehicle is 7 years old or newer and the price is used to set excise tax (sold below book value). Buyers submit it with the VR-005 title application and a safety inspection certificate. Plates stay with the seller.

Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.

Other Maryland forms

Jet Ski Bill of Sale in other states

All states →

Maryland jet ski bill of sale questions

Is a bill of sale required to sell a jet ski in Maryland?+

Maryland requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Maryland strongly recommends a bill of sale and requires a notarized VR-181 when the vehicle is 7 years old or newer and the price is used to set excise tax (sold below book value). Buyers submit it with the VR-005 title application and a safety inspection certificate. Plates stay with the seller. Maryland publishes VR-181 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.

Does a Maryland jet ski bill of sale need to be notarized?+

Notarization is not always required in Maryland, but offices often ask for it, so it is worth doing. The ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page formatted for Maryland.

Where does the buyer take the bill of sale in Maryland?+

To the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration or the county office that handles vessel registration, together with the signed title, proof of insurance where required, and payment for tax and fees.

Does a jet ski need a title?+

Many states title PWCs; others only register them. Check the boat registration page linked on your state page. Either way the bill of sale is required or expected.

Is the trailer included in the jet ski bill of sale?+

You can list it, but some DMVs want a separate trailer bill of sale because the trailer is titled on its own. The trailer form here takes a minute.