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A bass boat on a calm Alabama lake at sunrise, with bald cypress trees and a sandstone bluff along the shore

Donate a boat in Alabama

Alabama boating runs from the Tennessee River lakes in the north, Guntersville, Wheeler, and Wilson, through Lake Martin and Smith Lake to Mobile Bay and the Gulf Coast at Orange Beach. Bass boats and pontoons dominate the lakes; center consoles and bay boats rule the coast.

Start your donation here
Two answers now, the rest takes about three minutes.

Alabama rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Marine Patrol Division
Visit the agency site
Titles and registration
Alabama registers boats rather than issuing boat titles. The current registration certificate, along with a signed bill of sale, is the ownership record we work from.
Where registration happens
Boat registration is renewed through county license offices, with the Marine Patrol Division of ALEA setting the rules.
Outboards and trailers
Outboards are not titled separately. Boat trailers follow Alabama motor vehicle rules and may carry their own registration.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Marine Patrol Division. If the boat was never retitled after a sale, or the owner has passed away, tell us and we will point you to the right forms.
Coast Guard documented vessels
Documented boats transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center with a bill of sale, not a Alabama title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Alabama boat owners call us about

Lake boats that stopped getting used
Pontoons and bass boats kept at a lake house on Guntersville or Lake Martin that the family no longer uses.
Hurricane season on the coast
Mobile Bay and Baldwin County owners who would rather not ride out another storm season with a boat they rarely use.
Registration that lapsed
Boats whose registration expired years ago. That is usually fixable with a bill of sale and a current registration.

Boats we pick up in Alabama

Fishing boats Bass boats on the Tennessee River lakes and bay boats on Mobile Bay. Motorboats Pontoons and deck boats on Lake Martin and Smith Lake. Boat trailers Trailers left behind after a boat was sold.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in Alabama. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Yachts Center consoles Houseboats Sailboats Commercial boats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Marine equipment

Boating in Alabama: seasons and storage

The season
Lake boating runs from spring into late fall, and the Gulf Coast is usable most of the year. Hurricane season, June through November, shapes when coastal owners haul out.
Storage and carrying costs
Covered lake-marina slips and dry storage are common on Guntersville and Lake Martin; coastal owners often use dry stack in Orange Beach. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical Alabama donation
An aluminum or fiberglass bass boat on a trailer, or a lake-house pontoon on a lift. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Alabama by region

Pickup works the same across the state. These are the waters we hear about most.

Tennessee Valley lakes
Guntersville, Wheeler, Wilson, and Pickwick: bass country.
Lake Martin and Central Alabama
Lake homes, pontoons, and wake boats around Alexander City.
Smith Lake and the northwest
Deep, clear water and a busy summer lake-house scene.
Mobile Bay and the Gulf Coast
Center consoles and bay boats from Mobile to Orange Beach.
I donated my Tracker bass boat after upgrading, and the process was shockingly smooth. No fees, no hassle. They even helped me track down an old title issue. Very professional team.
Gary R. · Huntsville, AL

Alabama boat donation questions

Alabama does not title boats. What do I sign?

A bill of sale, plus your current or most recent registration. We handle the new registration.

Can you pick up a boat at a Lake Guntersville marina?

Yes. We coordinate with the marina for a ramp pickup or haul-out.

My registration expired. Is that a problem?

Usually not. Tell us the last year it was registered and we will work from there.

When is the best time of year to donate a boat in Alabama?

Late summer and fall are popular, before hurricane season peaks on the coast and before winter storage bills start on the lakes. That said, you can donate any time of year.

State rules change. We confirm current requirements when we handle your paperwork. We do not provide tax or legal advice.

Start your Alabama boat donation

Takes about three minutes. Your best guesses are fine, or call (888) 228-7320.

BWC Donation: General (guides, states, main pages)

Free pickup by our trusted transport team · We handle title transfer and tax paperwork · No cost to you

OTHER STATES IN THE GULF COAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL
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