Who pays for the HIN?
16th Apr 2024
Who organises and pays for the HIN?
We get asked this question a lot when we get an inquiry about putting a Hull Identification Number (HIN) number on an older boat or verifying an existing HIN when a boat is bought or sold. HIN numbers are required to be affixed and listed on the boat registration certificate before the boat rego can be transferred to a new owner.
It usually goes something like this:
"I just bought a boat off a guy and when I went into the department of transport, they said the boat needed a HIN before I could transfer it.....why do I have to do that and pay for it?"
Well, the correct answer is that is is the sellers responsibility to ensure that the boat they are selling has a registered HIN on the boat that is listed on the registration certificate, before they sell it. Now where it becomes a little gray is that this isn't a legal responsibility, just a guideline, so if the seller flat out refuses to do it, then the buyer has to organise and pay for it otherwise the registration cant be transferred.
This can cause a little friction between buyer and seller and it can cause a deal on a used boat to fall over sometimes.
The best solution if you are a seller is to check your registration certificate before selling the boat. In the boat details section, you will see where it says Certified HIN :
If there is nothing listed like this sample, then you will need to either get a HIN affixed to the boat (if it doesnt have one), or get the existing HIN verified (if it has one that isnt listed on the rego certificate). Doing this before you sell the boat will make things much, much simpler for the buyer and there is less chance of them demanding a discount to cover the cost and time of having to organise it themselves.
If you are a buyer, we would recommend also checking the registration certificate before handing over your final payment and checking to see if there is a Certified HIN listed. If it has one listed, no problem, you can buy and transfer the boat. If it doesnt, consider asking the seller to organise to have a HIN affixed or an existing HIN verified before you make the final payment. If they refuse, then you may have to organise to get the HIN done yourself, but consider checking our HIN prices online at our website https://www.boatcheckwa.com.au/hin-hull-identifica... and then asking the seller to pay for the cost if you organise to have it done.
In summary, the HIN can legally be organised and paid for by either the buyer or the seller, but the correct way is for the seller to arrange it.
One last tip if you are buying or selling an older boat that requires a HIN. Always provide (if selling) or request (if buying) a receipt for the boat that has both the seller and buyers name, address, phone number, purchase price and any conditions, that is signed and dated by both parties. Having a signed, date receipt really streamlines the documentation requirements to have a new HIN affixed or verified.
Boat Check WA are happy to help with your HIN inquiries. We operate from Two Rocks to Mandurah 6 days a week.
Email: info@boatcheckwa.com.au
Phone/text: 0439 942 975