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State Registration Guide
All US states require registration for all powerboats and most sailboats. When you register your boat, the state issues you a certificate of number. Like the license plate you are issued when you register your car, the numbers on your boat provide a form of identification to aid in rescue operations and law enforcement. Although requirements vary by state, all states require powerboats to register and to display their numbers on the hull. Half the states also require non-powered boats (sailboats, rowboats, jonboats, etc.) to be registered. Some states also require registration of outboard motors.
A majority of states also require titles for motorboats. A title provides a record of legal ownership and is valuable if rightful ownership is contested. Some states require outboard motors to be titled as well as boats. Penalties for not registering and titling are as high as $1,000.
You should register your boat (also called “applying for a certificate of number”) in the state where you use your boat the most. You may use your boat in any state for 60 days before you are required to register and obtain a number from that state. Visit Review Regulations to learn what the requirements are in your state. You can then obtain the proper registration forms to apply for your certificate of number from your state—look for the right office in MariSafe’s Find a State Boating Agency.
If your boat has been previously numbered, the seller must give you the signed title if the state in which the boat is registered has a titling requirement. A bill of sale works in states that have no titling laws. In order for you to transfer title and number into your name, the previous owner must usually surrender his certificate of number to the state within 15 days of the sale or transfer.
For information on how to properly affix your registration numbers to your boat’s hull, see Registration & Documentation FAQs.
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