Top What to Register

• Sailboats,

• Boats for hire, and

• Mechanically propelled vessels

Titles aren't needed for registering any watercraft.

What Not to Register

• Boat trailers

• Vehicles documented with the U.S. Coast Guard

Top Exemptions

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides a list of vehicles exempted from the registration requirements.

Top Requirements and Procedures

You must register a new boat within 72 hours, or register a currently registered used boat within 15 days. Here's how:

1. Complete the boat registration form.
2. Locate the previous registration and bill of sale.
3. Have the registration fee ready (see below).
4. Go to your local probate judge's office or license commissioner's office.
5. Keep the registration certificate on board your vessel, and put the current year decal on an easily noticable spot of the bow.

If you have a receipt showing you paid your sales and use tax, you may also register at the Marine Police Division office in Montgomery. (If you're a dealer, you must register at the Marine Police Division office.)

Top Fees

Your registration fee depends on the length of your boat (measured from the outermost point of the bow to the rearmost point of the stern), as follows:

• Class I: Less than 4.9 meters (16 ft.): $18

• Class II: 4.9 meters (16 ft.) to less than 7.9 meters (26 ft.): $23

• Class III: 7.9 meters (26 ft.) to less than 12.2 meters (40 ft.): $73

• Class IV: 2.2 meters (40 ft.) and longer: $98

All classes carry an additional $2 issuance fee.

Top Renewals and Replacements

Registrations are valid for one year. Renew your registration by going to your local probate judge's office or license commissioner's office and paying the renewal fee. Your renewal fee is the same as your original registration fee.

The first letter of your last name determines the month you'll need to renew your registration; the state provides a schedule. (Dealer boats, liveries, and all boats registered under company names need to be renewed in October.)

Replace Lost Registration

You can receive a replacement registration by sending a letter and a $5 fee to:

• Alabama Marine Police

• 64 N. Union St.

• Room 438

• Montgomery, AL 36130

Be sure the letter contains the following information:

1. Name
2. Mailing address
3. Social Security number or birthdate
4. Date of class (an estimate will suffice)
5. Location of class

Top Boater's License

Who Needs One

To legally operate a boat in the state, you must be at least 12 years old and have an operator's license. (If you were at least 40 by April 28, 1994, you can skip the licensing requirement.)

If you're younger than 14, you must have a currently licensed boat driver in the vessel. That person must be at least 21 years old, and able to take immediate control of the boat, if necessary.

How to Obtain a License

There are several ways to obtain a license:

1. Pass a course by an approved third-party provider, such as BoaterExam.com.
2. Successfully complete a boating course given by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadron, or the Alabama Marine Police.
3. Pass the written boating exam at one of the Department of Public Safety Driver License offices. The test costs $5.

Once you've accomplished any of the above, you'll receive a Class V designation (for an $18 fee) on your license, indicating that you're eligible to drive a boat. Your boat operator license will be renewed whenever you renew your driver's license.

If you don't have a driver's license, you'll receive a vessel license instead. It costs $23 and is valid for four years.

Top Boater Safety Courses

As mentioned above, you can obtain a license by completing a variety of state-approved boating courses. The class hours vary with the provider.

Some providers, such as BoaterExam.com, allow you to study the course and take the test online. If you pass the test, you'll receive a completion certificate, which you must take to a driver's license office to obtain your boating license.

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