(1) Who must file a vessel seller's report of sale? With the exception of certain vessel transfers by registered Washington vessel dealers, Washington law (RCW 88.02.070 and 46.12.101) requires filing of a vessel seller's report of sale by any person or business that transfers their interest in a Washington registered/titled vessel to anyone else. For the purposes of this rule, transferring an interest includes, but is not limited to, selling, gifting, trading or disposing of your vessel, but does not include the creation, deletion, or change of a security interest.

(2) When must a vessel seller's report of sale be filed? Vessel seller's report of sale must be received by the department within five days of the date of sale, gift, trade or other disposition of the vessel, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state and federal holidays.

(3) Who is the seller? The seller is a person (individual or business) who transfers their right of ownership of a vessel to another person or business.

(4) Who is the purchaser? The purchaser is a person (individual or business) who takes a vessel into their possession, by voluntary acquisition.

(5) How do I file my vessel seller's report of sale? You may file your seller's report of sale by mailing it to the department.

(6) What information is required on the vessel seller's report of sale? You are required to provide the following information:

(a) The date of the sale or transfer;

(b) Name(s) and address of seller;

(c) Name(s) and address of transferee (buyer);

(d) Description of vessel including:

(i) Vessel hull identification number; and

(ii) Vessel registration number.

(7) May a vessel seller's report of sale be removed from my vessel record? Yes. As a registered owner, you may have a vessel seller's report of sale removed by notifying the department in writing. You will need to provide the reason you are removing the report of sale.

(8) How will I show that I filed a vessel seller's report of sale? To obtain a copy of the filed seller's report of sale, you must contact the department.

Washington law makes it clear that it is a felony to knowingly make a false statement of fact. The penalty, upon conviction, shall be a fine of not more than five thousand dollars or imprisonment of not more than ten years, or both the fine and imprisonment. (RCW 46.12.210.)