Guides
Boat guides
Plain-English help for buying a boat at auction, and for getting rid of one you no longer use.
Buying a boat at auction
- How online boat auctions workReserve or no reserve, how bidding and closing work, what a boat really costs, and what happens after you win.
- How to check a used or project boat before you bidA checklist for the hull, transom, engine, trailer and paperwork, and how to budget for what you can't see.
- Boat titles and registration after you buyTitle vs registration, the hull ID number, boats without a title, trailers, and where to register in your state.
- How to get a boat home after you winTowing it yourself or hiring a hauler, what to check before the drive, and what to bring to pickup.
- Where to find boat auctions in the USGovernment surplus, insurance salvage, marina lien sales, online marketplaces and donated boats: where each kind of auction is, and what to check.
Donating or getting rid of a boat
Looking for the auction rules? See How it works and the FAQ.