How To Renew Boat Registration In Florida

Vessel Titling And Registrations

All motorized vessels operating on Floridas public waterways must be titled and registered. Chapter 328, Florida Statutes, designates that FLHSMV is responsible for issuing vessel registrations and titles. Applications for titles and registrations must be filed at a county tax collector or license plate agent office. Owners have the option of registering their vessel for either one year or two years.

A purchaser of a new or used vessel has 30 days to title and register that vessel. During this 30 day period, the owner must have proof of the date of purchase aboard the vessel. Operating an unregistered vessel after 30 days is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Missouri Resident Titling And Registration Requirements

You have 60 days from the date of purchase to title your newly purchased boat, vessel, or outboard motor. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

To title and register a boat, vessel, or outboard motor in the state of Missouri, the owner must submit the following items at any Missouri license office:

For a boat/vessel you will pay:

• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any. Local sales tax is the rate where you live, not where you bought the boat, vessel, or outboard motor. Use our online sales tax calculator for an estimate of the taxes
• The $7.50 boat or vessel title fee
• The appropriate processing fee.

For an outboard motor you will pay:

• State sales tax of 4.225 percent, plus your local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance, if any. Local sales tax is the rate where you live, not where you bought the boat, vessel, or outboard motor. Use our online sales tax calculator for an estimate of the taxes
• The $5 outboard motor title fee
• The outboard motor registration fee of $2 and
• The appropriate processing fee.

Application With An Out

Many states do not require boats to be titled. Proof of ownership on a used boat from a non-title state is the vessel registration. A bill of sale is required with the registration to transfer ownership. If a title is available, it and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle form 82040 must be completed for processing. Sales tax will be collected if applicable.

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Boat/vessel/outboard Motor Titling And Registration

NOTE: Effective August 28, 2012, Missouri law requires that any outboard motor manufactured on or after July 1 of any year shall be labeled âYear Manufacturedâ with the calendar year immediately following the year manufactured, unless the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin indicates a specific model or program year. For more information, you may refer to the instructions on the back of the Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration .

• Boater Safety Certification

When Does A Company Owned Boat In Florida Expire

For company owned boats, the expiration date is June 30th. If you have built a vessel under 16 feet in length, a Vessel Statement of Builder and a Title Application will need to be completed. If the vessel is 16 feet in length or greater, it will need to be inspected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife .

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Transfer Of Ownership On A Florida Title

When seeking to transfer ownership of an vessel in Florida, you must bring the following items to one of the Tax Collectors Service Centers or at an approved Tag Agency in Polk County :

• The Florida title properly completed by the seller
• Each applicant must sign the application for the title
• Proof of identity must be provided:
• Copy of your valid driver license or identification card issued by Florida or another state. This includes any U.S. territory.
• Copy of your valid passport
• Copy of your valid Canadian driver license, identification card, passport, or passport card.

Registering And Titling A Vessel In Florida For The First Time

A vessel that is registered with another state may be used in Florida for no more than 90 days.

An out-of-state vessel owner who does not plan to become a permanent Florida resident but plans to operate a currently registered vessel in Florida waters for more than 90 days must obtain a temporary registration from the Tax Collectors office.

Not all states require a vessel to be titled, however, Florida does require a title.

To permanently register a vessel in Florida, you must present the following information:

• Current registration for the state where the vessel is registered.
• Title Document for the state where the vessel is titled .
• Proof of Sales Tax will be credited if vessel was purchased less than 6 months prior to registration.

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How Do I Get A Hull Identification Number

• Boat owners should use every effort to determine if a boat has an existing HIN or resolve problems with a HIN for use in the registration process.
• A HIN is required for boats manufactured after November 1, 1972. If the HIN is unavailable and unknown, the boat owner must first contact the boat manufacturer to obtain a replacement HIN .
• If the HIN is known but the plate is missing or the HIN not inscribed on the boat, the boat owner is responsible for permanently affixing the HIN to the boat.
• If the HIN is an improper format, the applicant will be asked to electronically upload or send a picture or pencil tracing of the HIN to DNR for verification and further instruction.
• If the manufacturer is out of business or will not assist the boat owner, a DNR HIN Inspection is necessary. DNR will assign a HIN number after the inspection process and the boat owner is responsible for permanently affixing the HIN to the boat. Information on arranging an inspection can be found at .

Registration Numbers And Decal Placement:

• The registration number must be painted or permanently affixed to each side of the bow, above the waterline.
• The registration number must be in bold, block letters and be at least 3 inches high.
• The color of the registration number must contrast with the color of the boat.
• The registration number must be read from left to right.
• Numbers and letters need to be separated by a space or hyphen that is equal to the width of the letters.
• These placement requirements are also applicable to personal watercraft .

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How To Renew A Boat Registration In West Virginia

You can renew your watercrafts registration by submitting: 1 A completed renewal notice OR Application for Boat Renewal, Duplicate Decal, Duplicate Registration, and Change of Address . 2 Proof of personal property tax paid . 3 The necessary registration renewal fees .

Be sure to bring: The boat registration or registration number Proof that youre the registered owner. For a list of exceptions, contact a vehicle/boat licensing office. Renew by mail If you get email renewal reminders, you may print the reminder email and mail it to any vehicle/boat licensing office.

Registering Home Built Vessels

If you have built a vessel under 16 feet in length, a Vessel Statement of Builder and a Title Application will need to be completed. If the vessel is 16 feet in length or greater, it will need to be inspected by the Florida Fish and Wildlife . If the individual taking title is not the person who built it then they will also need a Bill of Sale from the individual they had build it.

Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife for inspection:

P.O. Box 2285, Panama City, FL 32402Physical Mailing Address: 850 W. 11th Street, Panama City, FL 32401

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Vessel & Watercraft Titles & Registration Information

The Tax Collector of Indian River County serves as an agent for the State of Floridaâs Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and must follow the procedures set forth in the Florida State Statutes and Administrative Rules. In order to assist the public, the Tax Collectorâs office is providing general information regarding vessels & watercrafts. For more specific or detailed information, please access the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website or contact the Indian Tax Collectorâs office.

Florida law requires that all motorized vessels & watercrafts used in Floridaâs waterways must be titled and/or registered.

Forms may be obtained from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles form website or by contacting the Tax Collectorâs office.

Vessel & Watercraft Titles

To title and registera vessel or watercraft in the applicant’s name, please bring in the following items to the Tax Collectorâs office:

• NEW Vessel or Watercraft: the Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin completed by the selling dealer.
• USED Vessel or Watercraft: the title properly completed for transfer by the seller, the registration in the name of the seller, and a bill of sale from seller to purchaser.

Every person applying for ownership on a new or used vessel or watercraft must complete one of the following:

• The Application for Disabled Parking Permit may be obtained at theTax Collectorâs office.

Title application fees range from $8.25 and up.$8.25

Can You Register A Boat Without A Title In Florida

No person shall purchase or otherwise acquire a vessel required to be titled by the state without obtaining a certificate of title for it in their name. The purchaser or transferee shall file with the county tax collector an application for a title transfer within 30 days after a change in vessel ownership.

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Florida Boat Registration Fees

It is a requirement for boaters to submit payment for the applicable fees. Boat registration fees in Florida vary based on the size of the vessel and are provided below:

• Class A-1 : $5.50
• Class A-2 : $16.25
• Class 1 : $28.75
• Class 2 : $78.25
• Class 3 : $127.75
• Class 4 : $152.75
• Class 5 : $189.75

However, reduced vessel registration fees are available for certain vessels in certain instances. Namely, lower fees are available for vessels with Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons and for vessel owners who have Personal Locator Beacons .

Registration & Tag Renewals

Under Florida law, all vehicles that operate on Florida roads must have a valid registration. Vehicles with an out-of-state registration must be registered in Florida within 10 days of the owner of the vehicle establishing residency.

Your tag registration consists of three parts:

• A license plate, also known as a tag, attached to the vehicle
• A decal sticker attached to the upper right-hand corner of your tag and
• A paper registration certificate that must be carried in the vehicle or in the possession of the driver of the vehicle.

Registration is valid for a period of one or two years, depending on which registration period you select, and expires at midnight on the first owners birthday. The decal sticker denotes the expiration month and year of the registration. Tags, or license plates, are valid for a period of ten years. On the tenth year of renewal, a new tag will be issued.

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Selling/buying A Used Boat: What Documents Do I Give The Buyer/receive From The Seller

The documents that will later be used to transfer or register a boat in Georgia from a private sale may vary, depending if the boat is already registered in Georgia, if the boat has a paper title issued, if the boat has been reported sold, and if the seller is the owner of record in the Georgia registration system. There are many possible scenarios, but these below are the most common.

A Bill of Sale for a boat must have adequate information to positively link the BOS to the boat.

Registering Or Purchasing An Inherited Boat

When a person dies, title to their property, including any vessels they owned, becomes vested in another person. A formal legal process guides this action. Legal documents may be available to show who gained ownership of a vessel from the estate, or who has legal authority, such as an Executor or Administrator of an estate, to dispose of a vessel.

To transfer registration, the Department of Natural Resources must have a legal document reflecting the change in ownership of the vessel. We have past instances where we learn ownership of a vessel is in dispute. For example, someone may have sold a deceased’s vessel to a third party and others in the family or spouse claim the seller had no ownership claim to legally sell the vessel. Therefore, the person that sold the boat was not the owner and the buyer is unable to legally transfer registration.

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What Is A Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number is a 12 or 14 character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat. The HIN is analogous to a VIN on a car. All boats manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972, must bear a HIN, and this HIN must be identified during the boat registration process. Vessels manufactured or imported before 1972 are EXEMPT because they often do not have a HIN.

The HIN is found on a metal or plastic plate, typically on the transom of the boat, usually on the right starboard side of the transom within two inches of the top of transom, gunwale, or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. On vessels without transoms, or impractical to use transoms, the HIN is usually affixed to the starboard outboard side of hull, aft, within one foot of the stern and within two inches of the top of the hull side, gunwale or hull/deck joint, whichever is lowest. On catamarans and pontoon boats with replaceable hulls, the HIN is usually affixed to the aft crossbeam, within one foot of the starboard hull attachment.

Surrender License Plate By Mail

You can surrender your Florida license plate by mail, without having to visit us in person. To surrender your plate, please download, complete and submit the Surrender License Plate by Mail Form along with your plate to Orange County Tax Collector, P.O. Box 545100, Orlando, FL 32854. Remember to include your email address as notification of receipt of the surrendered plate will be made via email.

Please Note

If a person other than the owner/registrant is surrendering the license plate and decal, a photocopy of their photo identification must be provided with the Surrender License Plate by Mail form.

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Boat Trailering Laws In Florida

• Boat trailers must be equipped with safety chains and tie-down straps.
• Boat trailers must be equipped with proper lighting .
• Boat trailers that weigh less than 2,000 lbs. must be registered, and those weighing more than 2,000 lbs. must be both registered and titled.
• Boat trailers that weigh more than 3,000 lbs. must also be equipped with brakes that act on all wheels.

Vessels And Vessel Trailers

Vessels and vessel trailers are titled and registered independently of each other. Please see the trailer section for information on obtaining ownership and registration for a trailer.

Vessel Titling and Registrations

A vessel, not exempt from titling, must be titled at the same time it is registered.

Vessels required to be titled:

• All motorized vessels
• Non-motorized vessels that are 16 feet or more
• Canoes 16 feet or more

Vessels required to be registered and have a decal affixed to the port side of the vessel:

• All motorized vessels

Vessels that are not required to be registered:

• Non-motorized vessels under 16 feet
• Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, racing shells, or rowing scull

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Where Is The Best Place To Put Pfds While You Are Put On Your Boat

Personal flotation devices should always be placed on the top deck of the boat. They should always be easily accessible, particularly if an accident should happen. There should be no obstructions, gear, or other equipment covering the PFDs. It is best practice to wear a PFD for the entirety of the boat trip.

Requirements For Boater Registration In Florida

The process for registering a boat has numerous requirements. Boaters must complete a new boat registration application and submit it to a license plate office or a local county tax collector. During the vessel registration process, applicants must also submit proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale, a manufacturers statement of origin, a contract from the builder or a federal marine document.

Additionally, decals and the registration certificate are only available after a vessel is titled. Boat owners must title and register all vessels within 30 days, with proof of purchase onboard throughout this period.

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Title Application On A New Vessel

If you have a vessel purchased from a Florida dealership, the dealer will usually process the certificate of title.

If a new vessel from an out-of-state dealership has been purchased or a new Application for Title needs to be processed on a new vessel, you can process your Application for Title at one of the Tax Collectors Service Centers or at an approved Tag Agency in Polk County. For Service Center locations and available services information, .

Note: The Application for Title form is made available through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

The following items are needed in addition to a completed Application for Certificate of Title:

• A manufacturers certificate of origin
• Each applicant must sign the application at the time of transfer
• A bill of sale or invoice listing the purchase price, sales tax paid, and any trade-in allowance
• Any applicable lienholder information