Buying a boat from a private seller? Check it free. Close it right for $29.99.
A step-by-step buyer toolkit that walks you from the first look to a clean title. Check the boat, sign the right papers, pay safely, and walk into the tax collector's office with everything they need. The seller never has to create an account.
Start freeWhere private boat sales go wrong
Most private sales happen in a driveway with a handshake and a handwritten bill of sale. Then the buyer gets to the tax collector and finds out the title was signed in the wrong spot, the HIN doesn't match, or there's a lien nobody mentioned. By then the seller has the money. BC Express catches those problems before you pay, not after.
Who it's for
First-time buyers
Never bought a boat from a private seller? Every step comes in the order you need it, so you don’t miss a signature on the title, a lien, or the 30-day title deadline.
Cautious buyers
Before you drive out, the free HIN check shows the builder, Coast Guard records, and recalls, and the lien check shows whether a lender still has a claim. All free.
Sellers who want it done right
A wary seller sees a proper Florida bill of sale, a signed payment receipt, and their notice of sale already filled in, so the boat comes out of their name. They never sign up.
Deals with people you know
Buying from a neighbor or a friend? Do the paperwork properly anyway. A clean title transfer protects both of you if something comes up later.
Trailers and motors too
Buying just a trailer or an outboard, or all three together? One price covers it, with the right bill of sale for each.
What you get, in the order you need it
1. Before you pay
FREE- HIN check to match the boat to its paperwork
- Lien check: how to find out if a lender still has a claim
- Questions to ask the seller before you go look
- How to pay safely, and the scams to watch for
2. Inspect it
$29.99 UNLOCK- Guided inspection of the hull, engine, systems, sea trial, motor, and trailer
- Mark each item Looks good or Problem, with notes, right from your phone
- Red-flag items that mean walk away, called out
- Dated photos of the boat and the signed title, saved with your purchase
- A condition report PDF to renegotiate the price or ask for repairs
3. At the handoff
INCLUDED- Bill of sale filled in for your deal, with proper as-is wording
- Trailer bill of sale when a trailer is included
- Florida’s official form HSMV 82050, filled in, plus the seller’s notice of sale
- Title signing guide, so nothing gets rejected
- Red-flag checks: two sellers on the title, a lien, an out-of-state boat
4. After it's yours
INCLUDED- Florida title application (HSMV 82040 VS), pre-filled for you
- What to bring to the tax collector, for your exact deal
- Email reminders before your 30-day title deadline
- Every paper saved in one place, plus one closing packet to print
One price, whatever you're buying
Is Express right for your deal?
- You and the seller already agree on the price
- You pay in full at the handoff, with no deposit to hold
- The title is clear, or the lien release is in hand
- You're buying in Florida
- You still need to negotiate offers and counteroffers
- You want a deposit held in escrow by a neutral party
- You need a due diligence period: survey, sea trial, or financing before you're committed
- There's an unpaid loan the sale has to clear
- You both want a signed purchase agreement
Questions
Does the seller have to sign up?
No. You handle everything. The seller just signs the papers at the handoff.
What does it cost?
Starting is free, including the HIN check, lien check, and seller questions. The guided inspection, condition report, and all the paperwork are $29.99, one price whether you are buying a boat, a trailer, a motor, or all three.
Is this only for Florida?
For now, yes. Florida titling rules are built in, so your paperwork matches what the tax collector expects.
What if my deal needs more?
Express is built for a simple sale: the price is agreed, nothing is held in escrow, and the title is clear. If you need to negotiate, put down a deposit, make the sale depend on a survey or sea trial, finance through a lender, or have both of you sign a purchase agreement, full BoatClosers ($249) handles all of that. If you already paid for Express, start it with the same email and your $29.99 comes off the $249.
Buying in Florida? Start now.
Check the boat for free today. Unlock the inspection and paperwork when you're serious about buying.
Start free