Keep everything you agree
No commission, no buyer surcharge and no deposit handling fee. What you and the buyer agree is what you get.
Quick answer
Where is the best place to sell a boat privately?
Marine Trader is a boat marketplace built as a low-cost, high-trust place for private owners and marine businesses to advertise. Private sellers get their first advert free, and further adverts are a one-off £4.99. There is no commission on the sale, buyers message sellers directly at no cost, and every advertiser passes a photo ID and live selfie check before publishing.
- First private advert
- Free
- Further adverts
- £4.99
- Commission
- None
- Seller checks
- Photo ID + selfie
How Marine Trader compares with brokers and typical boat classified sites
The left column describes common terms when selling through a broker or a typical boat classified site. The right column is what Marine Trader offers sellers.
| What sellers pay for | Brokers & typical boat sites | Marine Trader |
|---|---|---|
| Selling through a broker | Brokers usually take a percentage of the sale price as commission | No commission — you keep 100% of what you agree with the buyer |
| Cost of a private advert | Often charged per advert, with paid upgrades for more photos or a top spot | First private advert free, then a one-off £4.99 with up to 20 photos |
| Buyer messaging | Sometimes limited or routed through a paid membership | Free and unrestricted — any registered buyer can message you |
| Seller identity checks | Usually email or phone confirmation only | Photo ID plus a live selfie, with proof of address for some documents |
| Boat details | Free-text boxes you fill in yourself | A proper spec sheet: make, model, year, length, hull, engines, hours, berths, HIN and RCD category |
| Reach | Often one country only | Country sites across the UK, Europe, North America, the Gulf and Australasia, in 13 languages |
General comparison of common market terms. Terms on other sites and brokers vary — always check before you list.
What you get as a seller
Buyers reach you for free
Nobody has to buy a membership to ask whether your boat is still for sale, so you hear from far more genuine buyers.
Verified sellers stand out
Every advertiser passes a photo ID and live selfie check, so buyers know your advert comes from a real person.
A spec sheet buyers trust
Engines, hours, hull, berths, HIN, RCD category, survey and VAT status all sit in a clear specification panel on your advert.
Your first advert is free
Identity-verified private sellers get their first boat advert free. Further adverts are a small one-off fee, and there is never any commission on the sale.
Selling questions, answered
How much does it cost to sell a boat on Marine Trader?+
Private sellers get their first advert free. Further adverts are a one-off £4.99. There is no commission on the sale and no fee for buyers to contact you.
Can buyers message me without paying?+
Yes. Any registered, email-confirmed buyer can message you directly for free. Marine Trader never puts seller contact behind a buyer membership.
Do I need to verify my identity to sell a boat?+
Yes. Every advertiser uploads a photo ID and takes a live selfie before their first advert goes live. Some documents also need a recent proof of address. It takes a couple of minutes and keeps scam adverts off the site.
How long does an advert stay live?+
Adverts run for 60 days and you can mark your boat as sold or under offer at any time. We email you before your advert expires so you can renew it.
What paperwork should I have ready to sell my boat?+
Have proof of ownership and a bill of sale ready, plus the hull identification number (HIN), any registration documents, the RCD/CE paperwork, service records and a recent survey if you have one. Proof that VAT has been paid matters to buyers in the UK and EU.
Can I sell engines, trailers and equipment as well as boats?+
Yes. Outboards, inboards, trailers, electronics, chandlery and moorings can all be advertised, as well as motor boats, sailing yachts, RIBs, jet skis, narrowboats and kayaks.