It's the Law: Before Going Out

Buying or Selling a Vessel

• A vessel that requires a Certificate of Number but does not have a Nevada Certificate of Ownership title must be inspected by an agent of the Department of Wildlife when the vessel is sold or transferred to another owner.
• Be certain that the vessel's description on the title matches the vessel that you are buying. Check the year, make, length, and Hull Identification Number (HIN).
  • Do not buy a vessel if the HIN has been altered or removed.
  • Do not buy a vessel that is registered as "homemade" but is obviously a manufactured vessel.
  • Do not buy an outboard motor if the model and serial number plates have been removed.
  • Do not buy a "new" vessel without obtaining a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO).
• Before buying any vessel, be certain the seller can provide you with the current registration, a notarized bill of sale, and proof of ownership.
• Verify the trailer information also.

Proof of Ownership

When applying for a title or selling your vessel, you must supply one of the following as proof of ownership.

• Original bill of sale from the dealer and subsequent bills of sale from all owners up to the present owner
• Previous owner's title for the vessel
• If homemade, a sworn statement attesting to the identity of the builder, location of construction, source of the material used for construction, and a description of the vessel
• If rebuilt, the same statement as for homemade and also receipts for rebuilding materials and documentation showing the source of the hull and proof of ownership from the previous owner