If you buy or sell a boat with another person, the County Clerk collects sales tax on the transaction. If the purchase price is less than retail value according to the NADA records, you may have to provide additional information. Check the value of the boat at www.nada.com. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency registers all boats.

If you purchase a boat from an individual…

Bring the TWRA card and a Bill of Sale containing the seller’s address, purchase price, signature of the seller and the description of the boat to include the year, make, hull or serial number. If the TWRA card is not available, the bill of sale must be notarized.  If the boat has never been registered in Tennessee, bring the current 

registration card or title from the previous state and a Bill of Sale containing the seller’s address, purchase price, signature of the seller and the description of the

 boat to include the year, make, hull or serial number. The title or registration 

must be presented in addition to the notarized bill of sale.

• The person listed as the purchaser MUST be present at the time the boat is registered. If not, the purchaser will need to supply a Power of Attorney for the individual that will be acting on the behalf of the purchaser.

 For up to date information 

regarding boating rules and regulations you may visit the TWRA web site at www.tnwildlife.org.