Boat Registration and Licenses

What to Register

Boats powered by:

• Sail.

• Gasoline.

• Diesel.

• Electricity.

Including personal watercraft and sailboats.

Exemptions

• Non-resident boats currently registered in another state being used in Kansas for less than 60 consecutive days.

Requirements and Procedures

Kansas allows two options for boat registration: in person and through the mail. Regardless of which you choose, your paperwork requirements will vary depending on how you obtained your boat:

• Purchased from a dealer: Sales tax receipt or STD 8 tax form.

• Purchased from a private party: Bill of sale or registered owner's certificate marked as sold.

• Purchased from an out-of-state dealer: Bill of sale indicating sales tax paid (if you didn't pay the tax, do it at a county treasurer's office and get the receipt).

In Person

1. Complete the application form.
2. Locate your sales tax receipt/bill of sale.
3. Take the necessary paperwork and your registration fee to one of the following locations:
   • Boat registration agency.
   • State Park office.
   • Regional office.
   • Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) headquarters (address below).

By Mail

Send your completed application form, bill of sales/sales tax receipt, and fee payment to:

• KDWP Operations Office

• 512 S.E. 25th Ave.

• Pratt, KS 67124

Allow a couple of weeks for processing.

Fees

• All boats: $32.50

Renewals and Replacements

Registrations are valid for three years. About six weeks before your registration expiration date, you'll receive a renewal notice.

Be sure to keep your registration address current by notifying the KDWP of any address changes.

Renew in Person

Simply go to one of the registration locations listed above with your renewal notice and fee payment.

Renew Online

Visit the renewal site. You'll need to have your hull ID and Kansas registration numbers to use the online system.

Pay your fee with your VISA, MasterCard, or American Express cards; there is a small convenience fee.

Replace Lost Registration

Replace a damaged or lost registration by sending a request in writing (along with the $11 payment) to:

• Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

• 1020 S. Kansas

• Room 200

• Topeka, KS 66612-1327

Or, visit a regional office or State Park office.

Boater License

Those born after January 1, 1989, need to have a boater education card to operate a sailboat or motorized boat on the state's public waterways unsupervised. If you don't have a card, you must be with someone who is at least 18 years old who either has the boater education card or is exempt from the requirement.

You can receive a boater education card by completing a state-approved safety education class.

Boater Safety Courses

Receive your boater education card by completing a course through one of the following methods:

• You can also take the course online through state-approved providers, such as BoaterExam.com.
  • Or Classroom study (see for times and locations).
  • Or Home study.

  Even if you're not required to take a class, these courses offer a good way to become a safer boater, and could reduce your insurance rates.

  Related Topics

  • Locations & Hours
  • Forms
  • Car Insurance
  • Other Types of Vehicles
  • Registration FAQs