Boats for Sale in Vermont

Registering a motorboat

The Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles registers motorboats, personal watercraft and shuttlecraft. The first registration in Vermont is subject to sales tax unless an exception applies. Exceptions include:

• proof of 6% or more sales tax paid to a dealer in another taxing state
• nonresidents who bought the boat elsewhere while nonresidents
• a transfer to anyone (relative or not) for no consideration

What you bring depends on the boat:

• New boat: the original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin and the bill of sale.
• Used boat titled before: the original title signed by every listed owner, with all liens released, and a bill of sale.
• Used boat never titled: the original or a certified copy of the last registration certificate and every bill of sale since.
• Non-titleable boat: a bill of sale, the seller's signature on form VD-037, or a copy of an out-of-state registration in your name.

Every Vermont bill of sale must list the make, year, HIN, purchase price, date and the seller's signature. Vermont's motorboat classes run from Class A (under 16 feet) up to Class 3 (40 feet or more). Not every boat is titled in Vermont, so ask DMV whether yours needs a title.

Boating education

Under 23 V.S.A. § 3305b, anyone born after January 1, 1974 may not operate a motorboat on public waters without a certificate of boating education. Carry it when operating and show it to an officer on request. Coast Guard licensed commercial operators and people boating on private-property waters are exempt. Vermont's course also covers aquatic nuisance species and how cleaning boats and trailers helps stop them.

Where to boat

Lake Champlain runs along the New York border with Burlington, Shelburne, Malletts Bay and the islands. Lake Memphremagog crosses into Quebec, so think about border rules before you head north. Lake Bomoseen, Lake Dunmore, Lake Willoughby and many smaller lakes are local favorites, and some have special restrictions. Champlain can get rough with wind, and water stays cold into early summer.

Popular boats

Bowriders and pontoons, sailboats on Champlain, fishing boats for bass and trout, and cruisers for bigger trips on the lake.

Buying tips for Vermont

Make sure the bill of sale includes all the details DMV requires, including the HIN and price. If the boat came from out of state, keep proof of any sales tax you paid. Check whether a used boat has liens, and keep the title, registration and bill of sale together. Boats that spend time in Champlain need a check for invasive species before they move to another lake.

Vermont bills of sale must list the make, year, HIN, price and date, so bring a template to the sale. Check whether you'll owe sales tax on the first registration, or whether an exception applies. Lake Champlain boats should be checked for any mussel or weed residue and winter storage damage.