Boat Registration and Licenses in Alaska

Boats Requiring Registration in Alaska

The State of Alaska requires owners of the following types of vessels to register them through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) if the boats are intended for use on state water*:

• Powered boats.
• Non-powered boats with auxiliary power units.
• Powered and non-powered boats used by sport fishing guides.

*State water includes (regardless of size) all rivers, streams and lakes as well as salt water within 3 miles of land.

AK Vessel Registration Exemptions

The following types of watercraft are exempt from boat registration in Alaska:

• Non-boats, such as:
  • Seaplanes.
  • Ships' lifeboats.
  • Water toys (e.g. inner tubes).
• Non-powered boats
• Documented boats.
• Boats owned by any government agency (federal, state, local level).
• Boats with valid registration from another state/country (not operated more than 90 consecutive days in Alaska).

Alaska Boat Requirements & Procedures

If your vessel requires registration, visit your local DMV office branch with the following items:

• A completed Boat Registration Application (Form B1).
• 1 document of the following proofs of ownership:
  • Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO).
  • Carpenter's Certificate.
  • Bill of Sale (from the previous owner/dealer).
  • Title/registration (from a previous state).
  • Affidavit of Boat Ownership (Form 848).
• The necessary boat registration fees. See below for details.

After successfully registering your boat, the AK Division of Motor Vehicles will give you a Certificate of Number, which you need to have on board whenever your boat's in operation. The registration is valid for 3 years.

AK Boat Registration Fees

To register your boat in Alaska, be prepared to pay the following:

• Powered boats: $24.
• Non-powered boats: $10.
• Replacement of Certificate of Number or Validation Sticker: $5.

Boat Registration Renewals

You must renew your registration by the end of the month in which you first registered the boat. As long as the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles has your current address, you should receive a renewal notice before the registration is set to expire.

Renew Online

If you can pay by Visa or MasterCard AND you have the Registration Renewal Number (RRN) found on your renewal notice, you can use the DMV's online renewal option.

If your address has changed, you must update it with the DMV before renewing. You can conveniently do this online.

Renew by Mail

To renew your boat registration by mail, you'll need the following:

• Signed copies of the pre-bill (sent to you by the AK DMV) .
• Payment for the necessary registration fees (see above).

Then, send the above items to:

• Division of Motor Vehicles
• 1300 W. Benson Blvd
  
• Anchorage, AK 99503

Renew In Person

To renew your boat registration in person, head to your nearest DMV office with payment for the applicable fees AND the:

• Most current registration.
• Pre-bill.
  OR
• Completed Vehicle Transaction Application (Form 812).

You'll have to pay an additional fee for renewing in person.

Replace Lost AK Boat Registrations

If you lose your boat's Certificate of Number or Validation Sticker, you can request a replacement by mail by first gathering the following items:

• A completed:
  • Boat Registration Application (Form B1) if any of your registration information has changed.
  • Boat Transaction Application (Form 841S).
• A photocopy of the most recent registration.
• Payment for the $5 replacement fee.

Send the required items to:

State of Alaska
Division of Motor Vehicles
3901 Old Seward Highway,. Ste. 101
Anchorage, AK 99503