Boat Registration

Boating is very popular in New Hampshire. Every region of the state seems to have beautiful lakes and ponds where residents enjoy boating, water skiing, and fishing. In New Hampshire you must register your boat before dropping it into a lake.

If you plan to take your boat to another state and use it there, it is just like taking your car to another state―register it in New Hampshire then use it where ever you want. So before you leave for Florida or Maine make sure your registration is current and valid.

Boats Requiring Registration

Any boat used on public waterways, for commercial or private use, should be registered.

Boat Registration Process

To register your boat, you must complete the Boat Registration Application, which is available online using the free Adobe Reader, and bring it to Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Headquarters.

Proving ownership is similar to the car registration process. You must have a title, title application, Bill of Sale, prior year registration, or Verification of Vehicle Identification form for exempt boats.

You will get an assigned title and a Bill of Sale if you bought the boat privately. A boat dealer will give you a title application and a Bill of Sale. If your boat is exempt from titling because of its age or make, then you can have the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) verified by the New Hampshire State Police or local police officer.

There is a fee for the registration and the boat decal. The fee amount depends on the year and make of your boat. You will receive a registration with a Hull Identification Number and a boat decal.

Some NH residents who register boats believe it is better to call ahead because registering boats is only a small part of the overall Bureau of Registration responsibilities; if you are under tight time constraints you may have a long wait. Once you know the fee amount you can register and renew through the mail:

• Department of Safety

• Division of Motor Vehicles

• 23 Hazen Drive

• Concord, NH 03305

• (603) 271-2251

Boating Rules

New Hampshire has rules about who can drive a boat, under what conditions, and safety equipment required.

You must be 16 to drive a boat that has 25 horsepower or more and you must have completed the Boat Safety Course. If you are younger than 16 and you want to drive the boat, your passenger must be older than 18 and have completed the Boat Safety Course. In fact, the Boat Safety Course is a great idea for all boat drivers.

Life jackets are required for children under 13 years old. There are additional rules about life jackets and flotation devices that you will learn in boat safety.

Driving under the influence is a serious violation. In New Hampshire, boat motorists and swimmers have been injured or killed by drunk driving. There are consequences for DWI while operating a boat; know the rules before you get behind the boat wheel.