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How to Buy and Transport Your Boat from Out of State

Published by Joe Webster.

What's in this article?
  1. What You Need to Know About Buying a Boat Out of State
  2. Buying Your boat
  3. Private sellers
  4. Contacting the seller
  5. Protecting yourself when buying a boat
  6. Make sure that the deal is legitimate
  7. Get references
  8. Do some research
  9. Picking up the boat from a seller
  10. Buying a boat from a dealer
  11. Picking up the boat from a dealer
  12. Buying a boat online
  13. Transporting Your Boat From Out of State
  14. Determining Whether or Not to Drive Yourself
  15. Pros and cons of using a professional;
  16. Pros
  17. Cons
  18. Taxes
  19. Registration Application
  20. Out-of-State Registration
  21. Conclusion
How to Buy and Transport Your Boat from Out of State

When it comes to buying a boat out of state, there are many things you must consider, and it's not just the purchase price.

If you live in Florida, for example, you might want to look into purchasing a boat in Georgia since there are fewer regulations. However, if you live in California, you might want to check out Hawaii because of the lower taxes.

In addition, you may ask yourself what type of boat would suit your needs. For example, a pontoon boat could cost less than a cabin cruiser, but you won't find many places where you can store all of your belongings.

You will likely save a lot of money if you purchase a boat out of state (or even across the country). This means that you can spend more on other essential items. You'll still have to pay sales tax when you buy a boat, but you'll save hundreds of dollars in the long run.

Buying a boat out of state isn't always easy. The process involves a lot of paperwork and waiting around.

First, you'll have to fill out forms, wait for inspections, and finally make an offer. Then, once you've made an offer, you'll have to wait for the seller to accept or reject your offer.

What You Need to Know About Buying a Boat Out of State

Once you understand what buying a boat out of state entails, you should feel better equipped to make the decision.

You'll want to think about how much space you need. You'll probably want to look into larger models if you plan long trips. On the other hand, if you just need something to go fishing, you may opt for a smaller boat that doesn't hold too much cargo.

Finally, you should decide whether you want a new or used boat. New boats usually come with warranties, which makes them safer and more reliable. However, if you're willing to work on maintaining a boat, you could save money by purchasing a used one instead.

Remember that buying a boat out of town isn't always easy. But once you've done it, you'll find that it was well worth the effort.

Buying Your boat

There are multiple places to buy a boat, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Here is a list of the three main ways to buy a boat:

Private sellers

Private sellers aren't required to provide any kind of warranty. They may not be familiar with the value of the boat, so they may sell it at a lower price.

Private sellers don't have to disclose any information about the condition of the boat, and you must get proof of ownership before taking any purchasing steps.

For this reason, you should only buy a boat from a private owner if you trust their judgment and have been shown ownership documents and the original title.

When you buy from a private seller, you'll have to do a little bit of research. Everything from the recommended sales price to its current registration ensures the boat is safe to purchase.

how-to-buy-and-transport-your-boat-from-out-of-state-02.jpg

Contacting the seller

Once you've decided to buy a boat out of state or cross country, the next step is contacting the seller. It's best to send a message as soon as possible after making an offer. If you wait until the last minute, you might miss out on getting the best deal.

Also, ensure that you include any questions in your message. Don't assume that the seller knows everything about his boat. Ask about previous owners so you can properly gauge the boat's condition, just like you would a car.

When you decide to buy a boat out of state, you'll want to ensure that you follow all the necessary steps. Otherwise, you might pay more for the boat than you expected.

Protecting yourself when buying a boat

If you plan on buying a boat, you'll probably want to protect yourself against fraud. There are several ways to do this.

Make sure that the deal is legitimate

Before you agree to purchase anything, ask the boat owner if they have a license to sell boats. This means that they are the legal owner or have the right to sell boats legally without going through a broker.

If the seller doesn't have a license or the boat title, they might be trying to scam you.

Get references

You should also ask the seller for references. Ask them to provide you with the names and phone numbers of previous customers who bought boats from them. Then, call those people and ask them about the experience.

Do some research

You should do some research on the seller. First, check online to see what other buyers say about the seller.

Next, look for reviews of the seller on sites such as eBay or Yelp. If there are many positive comments, you can be more confident that the seller isn't trying to rip off anyone.

Picking up the boat from a seller

Before taking your boat, be sure to inspect the boat thoroughly. Look for any damage that wasn't mentioned during negotiations.

Be sure to take pictures of the boat. These photos will help you later if there are problems in the future.

Also, ensure that the seller gives you all the paperwork necessary to complete the sale. This includes the bill of sale, title transfer documents, and registration papers.

Once you're ready to pick up the boat, ensure that you bring cash to avoid credit card transaction fees. Always ask for a purchase invoice in case anything goes wrong.

Buying a boat from a dealer

The government regulates dealerships. Boat dealers must follow certain rules, such as providing warranties and disclosing all relevant information about the boat. In addition, dealerships are required to inspect the boat before selling it.

When buying a boat from a dealership, you should expect to pay a higher price than when buying a boat from a private person.

The benefit is you'll get a warranty. This means the dealer will cover repairs for a set amount of time. In most cases, you'll also receive free maintenance during the warranty period.

Picking up the boat from a dealer

Picking up a boat from a dealership is easier than collecting it from a private seller because the dealership already knows what they are doing and can help a first-timer with registration laws. However, this does not mean you won't need to pay more.

You'll have to pay sales tax when you buy a boat from an authorized dealer. In addition, you'll have to deal with the dealer's bureaucracy.

The main difference is that a dealer can usually provide delivery, which, although it might be expensive, will cut down a lot of time and effort on your end.

guide-for-buying-shipping-a-boat.jpg

Buying a boat online

There are advantages to buying a boat online, the main one being that you won't have to drive anywhere. Also, there are numerous options to choose from.

However, there are some disadvantages as well. For one thing, you won't know exactly what you're getting until after you've purchased it because you may not be able to see the boat in person before you buy it.

If you decide to buy a boat online, here are some tips:

  1. Make sure that the website is legitimate. Many websites claim to sell boats. However, a lot of these sites are scams. Only reputable companies will give you an estimate on the price of a boat.
  2. Read reviews. Reviewers can tell you whether or not a particular site is trustworthy.
  3. Be careful when paying by credit card. Some sellers will try to charge you extra fees.

Transporting Your Boat From Out of State

Here's everything you need to know about transporting your boat across state lines.

The first step in planning to transport your boat across state lines is to determine the state of exit and entry. You should consider several factors when making this decision.

1) Figure out which states allow you to import your boat without paying taxes. If you live in a state that does require you to pay taxes, then you'll want to look into other options.

2) You'll need to choose between driving your boat or hiring a professional driver. The pros and cons of each option are discussed below.

3) Decide whether or not you want to rent a truck or trailer. Renting a truck or trailer will save you money, but it also means that you'll have to deal with additional costs.

Determining Whether or Not to Drive Yourself

You can either drive your boat yourself or hire a professional driver. Driving your boat requires a lot of time and effort. It also puts you at risk of damaging your boat.

Alternatively, you can hire a professional driver who specializes in transporting boats. These drivers usually focus on one specific area. For example, they may specialize in moving boats from Florida to New York.

When choosing a professional driver, ask them about their experience and qualifications. Also, check to see what kind of insurance coverage they have.

Pros and cons of using a professional;

Pros:

  • You'll avoid any problems that could arise while traveling on public roads.
  • As professionals, they're trained to handle all types of vehicles.
  • You won't have to pay for gas and tolls.

Cons:

  • It takes longer than driving your boat yourself.
  • You can't control what happens to your boat.
  • Much higher transport fee.

Taxes

Before you buy your boat, you'll need to know how much tax you'll owe. Contact your local government to find out how much tax you'll have to pay.

In most cases, you'll have to apply with the IRS. After you fill out the form, you'll receive a letter stating how much tax you owe.

Some states don't require you to pay any taxes when you bring your boat home. Check with your local government to learn more.

guide-for-buying-shipping-a-boat-02.jpg

Registration Application

Most states require you to register your boat before you transport it. If you live near a marina, you should probably register your boat there. Otherwise, you'll need to register your boat somewhere else.

All you have to do is fill out a form and mail it to your local government. After registering your boat, you'll get a certificate showing that you've done so. You'll also receive a copy of the registration number.

Out-of-State Registration

When buying a boat, make sure that you register it in the state where you bought it. If you don't, you risk losing ownership rights to the boat.

You'll also need to apply for a license plate. You can purchase a license plate at your local DMV office or online. Once you have a license plate attached to your boat, you'll be ready to travel.

Conclusion

As you can see, a lot of research goes into buying and shipping a boat over state lines.

Whether you do the entire process alone or go through a dealership or online, you will still need to research precisely what you want, which states have taxes, and secure the correct paperwork.

To avoid a boatload of hassle, contact us for a quote. Choosing the boat you like will soon be the only thing you need to have on your mind.

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Joe Webster always knew the auto transport industry would be a great career option. And with decades of experience, Joe is now an established consultant for A1 Auto Transport.

Joe was born in Santa Cruz, California. During high school, Joe worked as a mechanic; a job continued to work part-time during his bachelor's degree.

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