Boat Registration Regulations
If your boat is used on federally navigable water or the high seas, it must be registered with your state Department of Motor Vehicles. Registering your boat is easy, and it gives the United States Coast Guard and your state a way to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
Other People Are Reading
-
History
-
The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 established safety standards for recreational boats and their equipment. The act also created state numbering systems and provided financial assistance to states for boating safety programs.
Registration Rules
-
Any boat that is motorized, or is more than 14 feet in length must be registered with your State DMV office. This includes vessels that do not use the motor as the primary source of propulsion. So, if your 14-foot sailboat has a 5 horsepower engine--or no engine--the boat must be registered. Boats are registered in their primary state of use, even if the owner does not live in that state.
-
On the Water
-
You must carry your boat's registration card with you on the water at all times. Failure to comply with this regulation can result in a summons from the Coast Guard. Registration numbers must be displayed on both sides of the forward half of your boat.
Numbers and letters must be at least 3 inches high, and must not be cursive or script. Registration numbers begin with a two letter state designation, followed by not more than four numbers, and not more than two letters. Numbers should be displayed with a space or hyphen between the letters and numbers.
Your boat registration sticker shows the month and the year that the registration expires. Attach each sticker in line with the registration numbers on each side of the hull, and 3 inches toward the stern of the boat.
Exemptions
-
Vessels that are documented with the Coast Guard are not required to show their numbers, but states can require the owners to register them and to pay sales tax. Dinghies with less than 10 horsepower motors may be exempt from registration if the owner holds a valid certificate or number for a larger documented vessel.
Registration Checklist
-
Registration typically requires the following items:
Complete Boat Registration / Title Application
Complete Statement of Transaction for Sales Tax or proof of exemption or tax paid. The requirements and forms for boats are the same as those for motor vehicles
Proof of ownership, listed in the boat registration requirements document or title
Proof of identity and date of birth
Cash, check or credit card for the fee
Remember that if you have a boat trailer you must register the trailer
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit S. Byrne
