An Australian Jet Ski / Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale is a written legal document that records the sale and transfer of ownership of a personal watercraft (PWC) — including jet skis, wave runners, and similar stand-up or sit-down watercraft — from a Seller to a Buyer. It captures all essential details of the transaction: the identities and contact details of both parties, the Buyer's marine licence number, a precise description of the PWC (including its make, model, year, colour, Hull Identification Number or HIN, current registration number, engine specifications, and engine hours), the purchase price and its GST treatment, the condition of the PWC, any marine survey findings, any known defects disclosed by the Seller, whether a trailer is included in the sale, and the precise moment at which title and risk of loss pass from the Seller to the Buyer.

Personal watercraft are regulated primarily under state and territory maritime safety legislation in Australia. Each jurisdiction — New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, and the Northern Territory — has its own vessel registration system and licencing requirements for PWC operators. The Bill of Sale complements the formal registration transfer process required through the relevant maritime authority but does not replace it.

The primary federal legislation governing personal property security interests in PWCs is the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA). PWCs can be searched by HIN on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) at ppsr.gov.au, and buyers are strongly advised to conduct a PPSR search before completing a purchase. The Australian Consumer Law (ACL), contained in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), applies to commercial sales of PWCs made in trade or commerce. The A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 (Cth) governs whether GST applies to the sale.

This template is suitable for the sale of all types of personal watercraft, including sit-down models (such as Yamaha WaveRunner, Sea-Doo Spark, Sea-Doo GTX, Sea-Doo RXP-X, Kawasaki Ultra, and similar models), stand-up PWCs, and tow sports PWCs, for both private and commercial sales across all Australian states and territories.

An Australian Jet Ski / Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale is needed whenever a PWC changes hands and the parties want a written record of the transaction. A Bill of Sale is particularly important in the following situations:

Private PWC sales. When an individual sells their personal jet ski to another private buyer, a Bill of Sale provides documentary evidence of the transaction, supports the registration transfer with the relevant maritime authority, and records the HIN for PPSR searches.

Dealer sales. When a marine dealer sells a new or used PWC to a retail buyer, a Bill of Sale records the agreed terms and — where the seller is GST-registered — supports the issue of a tax invoice. Consumer guarantees under the ACL apply to commercial sales.

Sales including a trailer. Many PWC sales include a dedicated PWC trailer. A comprehensive Bill of Sale identifies the trailer separately (including its VIN and registration details) and confirms that the trailer is included in the sale price.

Sales with deferred payment. Where the buyer pays in instalments or the full purchase price is not received at the time of delivery, a retention of title clause (supported by PPSR registration using the HIN) protects the seller's ownership interest until full payment is received.

Sales from estate or insolvency. When a PWC is sold by the executor of a deceased estate, a trustee in bankruptcy, or a liquidator, a Bill of Sale documents the authority of the seller and the terms of the transaction.

Hire or charter fleet disposals. When a PWC hire or charter operator disposes of fleet vessels, a Bill of Sale records the commercial terms of each sale and — for GST-registered sellers — supports tax invoicing.

Imported PWCs. For PWCs imported into Australia, a Bill of Sale provides supporting documentation for customs and duty purposes and may be required as part of the compliance assessment and HIN assignment process.

A well-drafted Australian Jet Ski / Personal Watercraft Bill of Sale should include the following key elements to be legally effective and protect both parties:

Precise PWC identification. The PWC must be identified by its HIN, registration number, make, model, year, colour, engine specifications (brand, type, horsepower), and engine hours. The HIN is the most critical identifier as it is used for PPSR searches and registration transfers.

Buyer's marine licence. The Buyer's recreational marine licence or PWC licence number should be recorded to confirm that the Buyer holds the required authorisation to operate the PWC in the governing state or territory.

Trailer details. Where a trailer is included in the sale, it should be separately identified by its VIN and registration number. The transfer of the trailer's road registration must also be completed through the relevant road transport authority.

Marine survey. For second-hand PWC purchases, buyers should consider commissioning a marine survey by an accredited marine surveyor (accredited by the Australian Institute of Marine and Power Engineers or similar body) before completing the purchase. The Bill of Sale should record the survey details and the parties' acknowledgement of the findings.

Known defects disclosure. The Seller should disclose all known defects or damage, including any prior accidents, hull repairs, or mechanical issues. Failure to disclose known defects may give rise to a claim for misrepresentation.

Purchase price and GST. The price must be stated in AUD and the GST treatment clearly specified. A tax invoice must be issued for commercial sales by GST-registered sellers.

PPSR acknowledgement. The Bill of Sale should record the Seller's warranty that no undisclosed PPSR security interest is registered against the HIN, and the Buyer's acknowledgement that it has had the opportunity to conduct its own PPSR search.

Retention of title. For deferred payment arrangements, a retention of title clause protects the Seller, and PPSR registration using the HIN should be completed promptly.

Registration transfer obligations. The parties' obligations to complete the formal registration transfer through the relevant maritime authority should be clearly recorded, including who bears the transfer costs.

Governing law. The governing state or territory should be specified to determine which maritime safety legislation applies.