Boat Registration and Licenses
Choose Your State
If you're adding a boat to your lifestyle, there's a strong chance that you will need to have it registered in your state. To simplify the process, we have provided detailed information to help you keep your vessel legally afloat.
We provide current information that is specific to your state, with special emphasis on where to register. Unlike cars, not every state's DMV handles boats. In many states, it is a parks division or a fish-and-game department that oversees boat registrations.
DMV.org tells you exactly what information to submit when registering your boat. We provide your state's downloadable application forms, when available, to spare you the inconvenience of having to drive around town trying to find them.
But we don't stop there. Fees, most of which are determined by boat length, are also listed in absolute detail in our state-by-state guides. We even include renewal information and whether your state allows you to renew online (if it does, we'll take you there). You can also find careful instructions on how to affix your assigned registration number to your vessel.
Don't feel like a boat without a rudder―read your state's boat registration guide for smooth sailing.
Choose Your State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- Washington DC