Selling a boat with special status: VAT-unpaid, foreign flag, financed or charter-registered

VAT not paid

A buyer in the EU owes the VAT or needs a regime that allows the boat to stay without paying it. That narrows the pool and lowers the price. See Buying a VAT-not-paid yacht and Importing a yacht into the EU and temporary admission for non-EU yachts.

• State the status in the listing, with the price excluding VAT stated clearly.
• Collect the customs papers, the dates the boat entered the EU and the history. See Proving and verifying VAT status: which documents count, and checking before you offer.
• Consider paying the VAT yourself before listing if the numbers favour it. Ask an adviser.
• Check any temporary admission deadline. A boat close to the end of its period is hard to sell.

Foreign flag

A buyer from another country may need to re-flag. Gather the registration papers, the deletion procedure and its timing. See Transfer of ownership, flag change and de-registration and Choosing a flag and registering your yacht. Tell buyers which register the boat is on, and whether it carries a mortgage.

Financed

• Ask the lender for the payoff procedure and whether it must consent to a sale.
• The lender may hold registration papers. Ask for the release in advance.
• The buyer's funds go first to the lender. See Closing, paying off finance and de-registration.
• If the price is below the loan, you must make up the difference before closing.

Charter-registered

A boat on the Spanish charter list, Lista 6, may have a management contract, bookings, a charter licence and tax conditions. See How to register a yacht in Spain: Lista 6 vs Lista 7 (commercial vs private) and Chartering your boat to offset costs.

• Read the management contract for the notice period and the cancellation of future bookings.
• Tell the charter company, and agree the date the boat leaves the fleet.
• A boat registered under the charter exemption from registration tax may carry conditions that private use can affect. Ask a tax adviser before you stop charter or sell to a private buyer. See Spanish taxes beyond VAT: registration tax and transfer tax (ITP).
• Charter boats show high hours and wear, so price and present them honestly. See Try before you buy: chartering the model first.

Start early

Special status raises the work. Begin the papers before you list, and brief your broker on every point.

Related guides

• The seller's document pack: VAT, registration, CE, service history
• Closing, paying off finance and de-registration
• Yacht VAT explained: VAT paid vs VAT not paid