I am buying a used boat from a private party out of state. The boat is owned and registered in Virginia. We are meeting in either Georgia or South Carolina to run the boat and if everything checks out, transfer it. I will have a notary meet us to notarize documents. I guess my question is, What type of items will WLF and DMV need for registration and title transfer in Louisiana? Will a notary in Georgia and on Georgia paperwork suffice?

Call wlf. They're pretty good about answering every question you have.

A notary is good anywhere in the US. You'll need a bill of sale and La will make you pay sales tax to get registrations. Being that its coming from out of state, you'll have to get new numbers for the boat. If it were an in-state sale, the numbers would just transfer over. If there are titles on boat and motor you'll have sales tax on all three to get new titles. Louisiana likes their notary stamp to be the raised pressed in type, but most notaries now use an ink stamp....if that's what they use (ink), have them include a note stating that's all they're required to have.

You should still contact LDWF to verify tho. Good luck! It can be a PITA!

Make sure you get a bill of sale on trailer too. If he didn't buy trailer new make sure to get a copy of bill of sale he bought trailer from. I bought a bass boat out off miss last year and had all kind of trouble getting trailer registered. Had to get bill of sale from previous owner and state police had to inspect it also

It has been a couple of years, but I believe you need TWO originals copies of bill of sale. Also maybe a LWF form signed by seller.


As you probably know, it is considered a causal sale, so no tax, but local parish try to collect it unless you tell them no tax. Have to mail it off to state tax office to get signed for no taxes paid. Then to WLF for final registration. 4 to 6 week process.

Trailer takes 10 minutes at DMV.... Trailer requires you pay tax, so you must state how much you paid for the boat and how much for the trailer...

Go to a tags and title place and ask them what all is needed to get it all done there before you leave headed out of state. They will even print you off the forms for the bill of sales. Make sure and ask them for specifics like if you need 3 seperate bills of sale for the motor, boat, and trailer etc.....?