Boat Registration

If you own a boat of any size with a motor, or if you own a boat that is 19.5 feet or longer, even if it does not have a motor, it must be registered. Here are the details on when, where, and how to do it.

How to Register Your Boat

Like other motor vehicle registration, boat/watercraft registrations can be processed at any Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles branch office or by mail. To register your boat/watercraft with the Connecticut DMV, make sure you have completed:

• A boat/watercraft registration application.

• A bill of sale.

• Proof of payment of sales tax. If the boat was purchased from a dealer, the dealer should collect sales tax and give you a receipt. If the boat was purchased in a private sale, sales tax must be paid when applying for a registration.

• If the seller is not the last registered owner of the boat, you also need to provide copies of the bill of sale for each sale back to the last registered owner.

Take all of the above documentation, along with the proper fee, to a Connecticut DMV office to obtain a boat registration and decal. You can also mail the documentation, along with the fee, to the following address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• Marine Vessel Section

• 60 State St.

• Wethersfield, CT 06161

Cost of Registering a Boat

The cost of registering a boat is based on a sliding scale, depending on the size of your boat and the material it is made from. Check the Connecticut DMV online fee schedule for complete details.

Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) Registration

Personal watercraft (Jet Ski, etc.) are considered motorized vessels and must be registered according to standard registration procedures. But anyone wanting to operate a personal watercraft in Connecticut waters must also complete a safe boating course and obtain a certificate, which must be kept on the watercraft at all times.

Replacing a Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Boat Registration

If you lose or destroy your boat registration, you can get a new one from any Connecticut DMV office for $1.00. However, only the registered owner can make this request in person. You can also send a check for $1.00 and a request for a duplicate to the following address:

• Department of Motor Vehicles

• Marine Vessel Section

• 60 State St.

• Wethersfield, CT 06161

Make sure your correspondence includes your name and address and the boat's registration number, along with the check for $1.