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Transfer a vessel

How to transfer vessel registration when buying or selling, by court order or deceased estate.

When you buy, sell, inherit or give away a registered vessel in WA, you must notify the Department of Transport (DoT) to make sure the vessel registration is transferred to the new owner.

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  Buying a vessel

When you buy a vessel with current or expired registration, you will need to complete and submit:

  • Purchaser's copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership (below)
  • Proof of identity.
  • HIN certificate (if HIN is not recorded on the registration certificate).

You can submit your completed form:

You must submit the required documents within 15 days of buying the vessel. 

If the vessel will be jointly owned, you will also need to complete and submit an Additional purchasers/sellers form. 

Selling a vessel

When you sell a vessel with current or expired registration, you will need to transfer the vessel:

  • using DoTDirect, or 
  • by submitting a Seller’s copy of Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership in person or via mail.

You will need to submit the transfer to DoT within 7 days of the sale. 

Transfer using DoTDirect

Online vessel transfers are currently available to individuals only. 

The DoTDirect transfer process for boats must be initiated by the seller. To transfer a vessel online you will need to provide:

  • purchaser’s surname
  • purchaser’s Western Australian driver’s license number
  • date of sale
  • vessel registration number.

You cannot transfer a vessel online if it is:

  • owned by a company
  • part of a court order
  • part of a deceased estate.
  • jointly owned
  • does not have a Hull Identification Number (HIN) (i.e. HIN is not recorded on the registration certificate).

Transfer by form

To transfer your vessel by form, complete the red seller’s copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership and submit the red seller's copy. 

You can submit the form:

If the vessel is jointly owned, you will also need to complete and submit an Additional purchasers/sellers form.

Fees

Vessel transfer fee

Fee type Fee
Recording fee change of ownership private pleasure craft registration $32.55

Transfer a vessel from interstate

To transfer a vessel from another state or territory, you will need to apply for a new vessel registration.

  Transfer of vessel by court order

A vessel can transferred to a new owner by court order.

The court order must specify the vessel.

To complete the transfer:

  1. The current owner must complete the seller’s copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership. 
  2. The new owner must complete the purchaser’s copy of the Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership.
  3. The new owner must submit the completed from with the court order and proof of identify at a Department of Transport office.

Alternatively, the completed form and a certified copy of the court order can be submitted by mail. 

  Transfer a vessel when the owner is deceased

Deceased owner with a will

You may need to make an application to the Supreme Court for a Grant of Probate before a vessel can be transferred from the name of a deceased owner.

When the application is granted, you will be provided with the reference number to complete the Statutory Declaration form to transfer the vessel.  

To transfer a vessel from a deceased estate, you will need to submit a:

  • Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
  • Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

The executor of the will must record the seller's details as 'Estate of (insert full name)' on the boat transfer form. 

You can submit the documents to DoT via mail or in person at a Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) centre, DoT regional centre or authorised agent. 

Deceased owner without a will (intestate)

If the deceased owner of the vessel has not left a will, you will need to make an application to the Supreme Court for a Letter of Administration before a vessel can be transferred.

 When the application is granted, you will be provided with the reference number needed to complete the Statutory Declaration form to transfer the vessel.  

Transfer to next of kin / de facto partner
To transfer a vessel from the deceased owner to next of kin or de facto partner, you will need to submit a:

  • Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
  • Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

Transfer to someone other than next of kin/ de facto partner
If a vessel registration holder dies intestate and the next of kin/de facto partner wants to give away or sell the vessel, the person who acquires the vessel must submit:

  • Boat transfer form: Notification of change of ownership that is signed by the executor or administrator of the estate.
  • Statutory Declaration - Deceased Estate Transfer of Vessel form.

Both forms must be completed by the next of kin/de facto partner. 

The next of kin or de facto partner must record the seller's details as 'Estate of (insert full name)' on the Boat Transfer Form and write 'Next of Kin' or 'De Facto Partner' above their signature in the seller's signature box.

The person who acquires the vessel must pay the transfer fee. 

Page last updated: Thu Jan 18 2024 7:09:41 AM