Administrative procedures for a boat buyer, owner, or seller

What administrative procedures must a pleasure boater complete when buying a vessel, or when owning or selling a boat? Are the same formalities required for a new versus a second-hand vessel, whether purchased in France or abroad?

The Bateau-immatriculation.com team outlines all the administrative boat procedures to be carried out as a buyer, owner, or seller of a vessel.

Formalities to be completed when buying a vessel

When purchasing a boat under the French flag

When purchasing a boat, the seller and the buyer must jointly complete a Bill of Sale for a pleasure craft. The document is completed in multiple copies depending on the characteristics of the vessel (1 per party + 1 for the authorities, i.e., 3 copies for a sale between 1 buyer and 1 seller). It is the buyer's responsibility to provide the information to the relevant departments.

Sale by multiple sellers or to multiple buyers

In the case of selling a boat under co-ownership, the procedures are the same, but all co-owning sellers or buyers must be signatories to the document.

Sale by a single co-owner to a buyer or sale of shares

If the sale concerns only one share of the boat, only the co-owner in question is required to sign the bill of sale with the new buyer.

Fill out and draft a bill of sale according to current regulations

Declaring the purchase of the vessel

The buyer of a boat is required to declare the purchase of their craft to the relevant departments within one month of the transaction.

Making administrative changes

When a pleasure boater buys a boat, changes to the home port or the boat's name, for example, must be subject to an administrative declaration. Once again, the professionals at Bateau-immatriculation.com can assist you with all the administrative changes you wish to make.

Which boats must be registered?

Maritime

All vessels with a hull length equal to or greater than 2.50 meters, for which owners wish to navigate at sea, or in both sea and inland waters, must be registered.

Inland

For navigation in inland waters, registration concerns boats measuring up to 5 m with a motor power equal to or greater than 4.5 kW, or vessels with a length of 5 to 20 m with a displacement of less than 100 m³. It is precisely the boat registration procedure that allows the boater to obtain a Certificate of Registry and a registration number corresponding to their registration! Without this, they are not authorized to sail. Beyond a fine, the insurance question is paramount!

For a boat purchase under a European flag

Obtaining an intra-community acquisition certificate or Tax Quitus

For a purchase, in France or abroad, of a boat flying a European flag, the new owner must carry out all the previously mentioned steps, with some additional specificities depending on the flag of origin. If they acquire a vessel with a hull length of more than 7.50 m purchased within the European Union, the buyer will also have to prove their tax compliance by obtaining an Intra-community acquisition certificate, more commonly known as a boat Tax Quitus.

Request a tax quitus

If purchasing a boat registered outside the European Union

VAT on boats purchased outside Europe

When purchasing a boat registered in a country that is not part of the European Union, the new owner must carry out certain additional procedures: they must comply with the vessel's import and customs clearance procedure, which involves settling import taxes and VAT, and providing a Certificate of Deletion from the foreign flag as well as a Customs Quitus.

Compliance of boats purchased outside Europe

There are two scenarios to distinguish here:

Motorboats, sailboats, and jet skis (PWC) built before June 16, 1998

These constructions must systematically be accompanied by a written declaration of conformity, a key document attesting to the vessel's CE marking. This is provided the boat purchased was intended to be placed on the European market at the time of its construction. If this is not the case, the new owner must imperatively use a PCA (Post-Construction Assessment) to "bring their boat into compliance" and obtain the CE marking.

This procedure is expensive and can only be performed by a notified body. Other European bodies can also intervene; be sure to verify their accreditation before starting the procedure.

Motorboats, sailboats, and jet skis (PWC) built after June 16, 1998

In a more delicate situation, boats built without CE marking have three options:

1. - Prove that the boat has been registered under a European flag at least once since its construction (NO, Great Britain is not accepted). Based on the principle of reciprocity, the targeted European flag will agree to register the vessel.
2. - If this is not the case, recourse to a PCA (procedure explained above) will be necessary.
3. - Opt for a flag that accepts boats without CE marking.

Administrative procedures as an owner

Annual Tax on Maritime Pleasure Craft (formerly DAFN)

If applicable, the buyer is informed of their duty to pay the Annual Tax on Maritime Pleasure Craft (TAEMUP). This applies regardless of whether the vessel flies a French or foreign flag, without distinction based on the navigation zone. The taxpayer is any owner of a pleasure craft who is a tax resident in France or lives there for more than 6 months of the year.

The following are concerned:

• Boats registered for sea use only
• Vessels for personal use with a hull length equal to or greater than 7 m
• Those with a motor power with an administrative rating equal to or greater than 22 HP
• Personal watercraft (PWC) with a real propulsion power greater than or equal to 90 kW

To find out the amount of your DAFN, we invite you to use our page dedicated to its calculation.

Calculate my DAFN

When must the Annual Tax on Maritime Pleasure Craft be paid?

The Annual Tax on Maritime Pleasure Craft (TAEMUP), formerly called DAFN (annual right for francization and navigation), is not requested upon vessel registration, but is due every year by all affected boat owners.

The tax is paid annually, starting from the first year of registration. Some boats may be exempt or qualify for a reduction. Do not forget that the owner registered as of January 1st is liable for the tax.

Only boats registered during the year arriving from a foreign flag, or previously registered in inland waters, must pay the tax at registration pro rata temporis (registration in June = 6 months of tax to be paid).

Reporting a change

A boat owner is required to report any change in circumstances.

Thus, formalities must be completed to modify the boater's address, the vessel's port of registration, or the shore contact on the Certificate of Registry. These are all administrative procedures for which we can support you!

Reissuing documents

In the event of loss or theft, administrative procedures allow a boat owner to obtain, for example, a duplicate of their Pleasure Craft license or the reissuance of their vessel's Certificate of Registry.

Registering new equipment

Throughout the period of owning a boat, the registration of new nautical equipment may also be necessary: while obtaining a radio license is mandatory for the use of VHF on board, whether fixed or mobile, the boater must complete specific formalities to report a change when acquiring new equipment.

Formalities to be carried out when selling a boat

Completing and communicating the bill of sale

When selling a boat, both parties – seller(s) and buyer(s) – are responsible for completing and signing the bill of sale.

Fill out a bill of sale

Declaring the sale of the vessel

The seller of a boat can declare the transfer of their vessel. It is the vessel's bill of sale that will finalize the transaction and definitively validate the purchase once the buyer carries out their own formalities.

We can handle the formalities to perform the change of ownership.

It is recommended that the seller carry out these formalities quickly to release themselves from liability as soon as possible in case of issues... and no longer be liable for the TAEMUP for the vessel in question!