Boat Registrations in USA
How and where to register your boat varies greatly by state. In general, dealers will usually deal with registering a new boat, while it will be up to you to register a boat you have purchased from a previous owner. And unlike cars, not every state’s DMV handles boats. It may be states park, tax commission, natural resources, fisheries and wildlife department that oversees boat registration.
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| State | Responsible Agency | How to Apply | Credit Card | URL | |
| Alabama | Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Marine Police Division 334-242-3673 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/boating/ | |
| Alaska | U.S. Coast Guard 907-463-2294 |
Printable online form | Yes | http://www.uscg.mil/d17/uscgd17.html | |
| Arizona | Dept. Fish and Wildlife 602-942-3000 |
In person/by mail Registration form not yet available online. |
No | http://www.azgfd.gov/ | |
| Arkansas | Fish and Game Comm. 501-223-6378 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.agfc.com// | |
| California | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 916-657-8013 |
In person/by mail You can renew registration in person or by mail if change of title. If bringing a boat in from out of state, you’ll need to bring the boat to your local DMV. Visit here for a listing of DMV offices by city |
No | http://www.dmv.ca.gov/boatsinfo/boat.htm | |
| Colorado | Div. of Parks and Recreation 303-791-1920 |
Printable online form | No | http://parks.state.co.us/ | |
| Connecticut | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 860-263-5700 |
Request form online | No | http://dmvct.org/boatdocs.htm | |
| Delaware | Dept. of Natural Resources 302-739-3498 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/fwwel.htm | |
| Florida | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 850-488-1195 |
Printable online form Online form available only for new title/registration. Otherwise register by mail or in person at county tax collector’s. |
No | http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/vslfacts.html | |
| Georgia | Dept. of Natural Resources 770-414-3337 |
Online form | Yes | http://www.gadnr.org/ | |
| Hawaii | Dept.of Land & Natural Resources 808-587-1970 |
In person/by mail Refer to website for additional regional contact information. |
No | http://www.hawaii.gov./dlnr/dbor/dbor.html | |
| Idaho | Dept. of Parks & Recreation 208-334-4197 |
In person/by mail | No. | http://www.idahoparks.org/rec/boating.html | |
| Illinois | Dept. of Natural Resources 217-782-2138 |
Printable online form Only renewals allowed online. |
Yes | http://dnr.state.il.us | |
| Indiana | Bureau of Motor Vehicles 317-232-2859 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.state.in.us/bmv/watercraft/ | |
| Iowa | Dept. of Natural Resources 515-281-5918 |
In person/by mail Must register with local county recorder. |
Yes | http://www.iowadnr.com | |
| Kansas | Dept. of Wildlife & Parks 316-672-5911 |
Printable online form Only renewals allowed online. |
Yes | http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us | |
| Kentucky | Dept. of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing 502-564-5301 |
In person/by mail Must register at local county clerks office. |
Yes | http://mvl.ky.gov/MVLWeb/ | |
| Louisiana | Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries 225-765-2898 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.wlf.state.la.us | |
| Maine | Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife 207-287-2766 |
In person/by mail | Yes | http://www.maine.gov/ifw/atv_snowmobile_watercraft/registration.htm | |
| Maryland | Dept. of Natural Resources 877-620-8367 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.dnr.state.md.us/boating/registration/ | |
| Massachusetts | Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife 617-727-3900 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.state.ma.us/dfwele/ | |
| Michigan | Dept. of State 517-334-8305 |
In person Online, fax and phone registration renewals available. Apply in person at a local Secretary of State office for new registrations. |
Yes | http://www.sos.state.mi.us/renew.html | |
| Minnesota | Dept. of Natural Resources 651-296-2316 |
In person Register at any deputy registrar of motor vehicles or at the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul. |
No | http://www.dnr.state.mn.us | |
| Mississippi | Dept. of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks 601-432-2065 |
By mail | No | http://www.mdwfp.com/ | |
| Missouri | Dept. of Motor Vehicles | By mail Visit website for local DMV phone numbers and addresses. |
No | http://www.dor.state.mo.us | |
| Montana | Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks 406-444-2535 |
In person Boats must be registered at the County Treasurer’s office in the county where the owner resides. |
No | http://fwp.mt.gov/doingBusiness/licenses/boatRegistration.html | |
| Nebraska | Game and Parks Commission 402-471-0641 |
In person Applications available from dealers, Game & Fish offices, and county clerks and treasurers. Completed applications should be submitted to the County Treasurer of your county of residence. |
No | http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/boating/guides/boating/BGregister.asp | |
| Nevada | Division of Wildlife 775-688-1511 |
In person | No | http://www.state.nv.us/cnr/nvwildlife/license/how2.htm | |
| New Hampshire | Division of Safety Services, Bureau of Marine Patrol 603-293-2037 |
In person | No | http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/ss/index.html | |
| New Jersey | Motor Vehicle Commission 609-292-6500 |
In person Application must be done in person at a motor vehicle agency. Click here for regional phone numbers and addresses. |
No | http://www.state.nj.us/mvs/boats.htm | |
| New Mexico | State Parks Division 505-827-7173 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/main/index.htm | |
| New York | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 518-486-4714 |
In person/by mail Call 1-800-CALL-DMV for locations of DMVs in New York state. |
No | http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/boats/regfaq/ | |
| North Carolina | Wildlife Resources Comm. 1-800-628-3773 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.ncwildlife.org/License/Vessels_Registration_Titling_Info.htm | |
| North Dakota | Game and Fish Dept. 701-328-6335 |
In person/by mail Application forms available from county auditors and Game & Fish Dept. personnel. |
No | http://gf.nd.gov/licenses/ | |
| Ohio | Dept. of Natural Resources 614-267-5255 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/registration/tabid/2774/default.aspx | |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Tax Commission, Motor Vehicle Division 405-521-3221 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.tax.ok.gov/motveh.html | |
| Oregon | State Marine Board 503-378-8587 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/BoatReg/index.shtml | |
| Pennsylvania | Fish & Boat Comm. 717-705-7940 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.state.pa.us/Fish/boatinf.htm | |
| Rhode Island | Dept. of Environmental Mgmt. 401-222-6647, ext. 2102 |
Printable online form | Yes | http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bpoladm/manserv/hfb/boating/boating.htm | |
| South Carolina | Dept. of Natural Resources 1-800-277-4301 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.dnr.sc.gov/boating/registration.html | |
| South Dakota | Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles 605-773-3311 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Boating/Index.htm | |
| Tennessee | Wildlife Resources Agency 615-781-6522 |
In person/by mail Register at local county court clerk’s office or from any office of the TWRA. |
No | http://www.state.tn.us/twra/boatregistrations.html | |
| Texas | Parks & Wildlife Dept. | Printable online form Visit this page for phone numbers of local boat registration office information. |
No | http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us | |
| Utah | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 801-297-7780 |
In person/by mail Registration is handled by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Utah State Tax Commission. To obtain a certificate of registration, submit a signed application to the Motor Vehicle office in the county in which you reside, either in person or by mail. Application must be accompanied be a validated tax certificate from the county assessor. |
No | http://dmv.utah.gov/ | |
| Vermont | Dept. of Motor Vehicles 802-828-2000 |
In person/by mail Forms are available at any DMV or State Police station. |
No | http://dmv.vermont.gov/registrations | |
| Virginia | Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries 804-367-6135 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.dgif.state.va.us/boating/index.cfm | |
| Washington | State Dept. of Licensing 360-902-3770 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.wa.gov/dol/ | |
| West Virginia | Dept. of Natural Resources 304-558-5349 |
In person/by mail | No | http://www.dnr.state.wv.us/ | |
| Wisconsin | Dept. of Natural Resources 608-267-7799 |
Printable online form | No | http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cs/registrations/boatingregis.htm | |
| Wyoming | Game and Fish Dept. 307-777-4575 |
Printable online form | No | http://gf.state.wy.us/HTML/fish/boating.htm |
Related: Make Sure You Have All The Documents You Need To Finalize The Boat Sales
