How to Sell a Boat in North Carolina

In this article, we provide a simplified, yet detailed walkthrough of how to sell a boat in North Carolina.

How to sell a boat in North Carolina involves the following steps:

1. Evaluating your options for selling your boat:
   1. Selling via a dealer, broker, or private sale.
2. Gathering high-quality photos, service and maintenance records.
3. Complete the required paperwork and file it with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

How to Sell a Boat in North Carolina: Step 1

The first step to selling a boat in North Carolina is evaluating which options are available to you, and which option is the best fit for your needs.

• If you want to keep the maximum amount of money from the sale of your boat, and/or you’re confident that you will have time to show your boat to prospective buyers:
  • Selling your boat via private sale can be done by listing your boat on platforms like Craigslist, Yachtlify.com, or Facebook Marketplace.
• If you’re unsure you will have time to show your boat to prospective buyers yourself, or if you want another party to do the heavy lifting with regards to paperwork and managing the buying process:
  • Selling your boat on consignment, to a dealership, or via a broker are good options.
    • Note that some dealers may refuse to buy your boat, sell it on consignment, or offer a trade-in value due to the age or condition of the boat. This can vary by dealership.

How to Sell a Boat in North Carolina: Step 2

One of the most important pieces to selling your boat online is taking great photographs. When selling your boat online, the better the photographs that you have of your boat, the more traffic, visits, and inquiries it will get, and the faster it’s likely to sell.

Photo tips

• Ensure that the photo is in focus and that there is good lighting.
• If possible, take some action shots of your boat on the water.
• Take up-close photos of the cockpit, controls, and seating area.
  • If you have a yacht or larger boat, take photos of the salon, galley, head (bathroom), and all cabins.
• To save both you and your prospective buyer time, it’s best to take photos detailing any damage that is a required disclosure or worth knowing about before the sale takes place.

Service and Maintenance Records

It’s a good idea to keep track of and gather all service and maintenance records of your boat. Keeping your boat on a maintenance schedule is a great selling point, and if you can back it up with documentation, it gives prospective buyers additional peace of when making a purchasing decision.

How to Sell a Boat in North Carolina: Step 3

This step will vary depending on whether you’re a private individual, a manufacturer, or a dealership.

If you’re selling a previously-owned boat:

• If your boat is registered but not titled in North Carolina or another state:
  • A Bill of Sale with the hull ID number (HIN), boat registration number, description of the vessel, and the name of the buyer(s) and seller(s) must be signed and notarized by the seller.
• If your boat is titled in North Carolina or another state:
  • The buyer should receive the title and/or a Title Certificate with the “Assignment Of Title” section of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission VL-1 form (Vessel Registration & Title Application) completed and notarized by the seller.
  • If a lien is listed on the title certificate, the Release Section of form VL-1 (Registration & Title Application) must be signed and notarized by the lender showing the lien as being released. The buyer should receive the Original Title Document as proof of ownership from the seller.

If you’re selling a new boat (i.e. you’re a dealer or manufacturer):

• If you’re a manufacturer:
  • The buyer should receive a completed “Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin” detailing pertinent information about the vessel.
• If you’re a dealer:
  • The buyer should receive a “Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin” and/or a “Dealer’s Bill of Sale” which includes the boat’s hull ID number (HIN).

How to Sell a Boat in North Carolina: Step 4 (Optional, Depending on Whether Your Boat Was Registered with the US Coast Guard)

If your vessel was registered with the US Coast Guard, be sure to complete form CG-1340 (US Coast Guard Bill of Sale) to notify the US Coast Guard of the transfer of ownership.