Boat Registration

Before you can sail the California waterways in your new boat, you'll need to register it through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. DMV law requires that all sailboats more than eight feet long and powerboats of any length be registered, unless they are already documented through the U.S. Coast Guard.

If you bring a vessel into California to be primarily used here, the DMV requires that you register it before you put it in the water and within 120 days.

Exceptions

You will not be required to register the following vessels:

• Any vessel propelled by oars or paddles alone.

• Sailboats (no motor) eight feet or less in length.

• Surfboards or sailboards.

• A ship's lifeboat―acording to the DMV, a dinghy is not a lifeboat.

• Vessels currently and lawfully registered by another state and that are principally used outside California.

• Vessels brought into California for racing are exempt while racing or during tune-ups.

• Commercial vessels of five net tons or more, or 30 feet or more in length, must be registered by the U.S. Coast Guard, not the California DMV.

How to Apply for Registration

To register your boat in person, make an appointment at any local DMV office. Remember to bring proof of ownership along with a completed boat registration application.

To register by mail, just send the proof of ownership and the completed application form to:

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• P.O. Box 942869

• Attn: Vessel Section

• Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

Registration Fees

To register and title a new or used vessel, the application fee is $20 for state residents and $40 for nonresidents. However, if you are a nonresident purchasing a boat here that will not be used primarily in California, you do not need to register it here.

In addition, any boat or vessel registered in California will be assessed property taxes by the county tax collector in the city where it is stored or moored.

Placing the Hull and Registration Numbers

The placement of the registration numbers and associated decals is strictly governed in California. While you may exercise a bit of an artistic touch when painting your vessel's name board, resist the temptation to get artistic with the registration numbers.

Registration Renewal

Vessels registered through the California DMV must be renewed every other year on odd-numbered years. The DMV will send you a renewal notice that you must return with a $20 fee by mail before December 31. Current DMV registration stickers must be affixed to the hull of the vessel, adjacent to the permanent registration numbers.

Selling Your Boat

You must notify the California DMV within five days of selling your boat. You must file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability with the DMV, and you must relinquish ownership by signing the title document over to the new owner. Be sure to complete a bill of sale.

More Information

• Registering a boat in California

• ABCs of the California Boating Law