Boat/Vessel Registration

If you own a sailboat over eight feet long or a boat/vessel with a motor (no matter the size), you must register it with DMV in order to legally operate it on California waterways.

To register your boat/vessel, you will need:

• A completed Application for Vessel Certificate of Number (BOAT 101) form.
• Proof of ownership, such as the original California Certificate of Ownership (title) or the out-of-state title (if it is currently registered in another state).
  • If the original certificate is lost or damaged, complete an Application for Replacement or Transfer Title (REG 227) form to request a copy.

  You may also need:

  • To complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a California Boater Card if you plan to operate a motorized vessel on a state waterway.
  • Bill(s) of sale (if you bought your boat/vessel from a private party instead of a dealer).
  • A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form, in case you do not have a copy of the bill of sale.

  You can register your boat/vessel at any DMV field office, or mail your registration application and related documents to:

  Department of Motor Vehicles
  PO Box 942869
  Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

  You may also need to pay the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Fee and obtain a Mussel Fee sticker. Please see the Mussel Fee sticker request page for more information.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  What type of boats/vessels have to be registered with DMV? plus minus

  Any boat or vessel that you can use to transport yourself on water, such as a:

  • Sail-powered boat/vessel that is over eight feet long.
  • Vessel/boat with a motor (no matter how big it is).

  If you bought your boat/vessel from an out-of-state seller, or if you recently moved to California, you need to register your boat/vessel with DMV within 120 days of bringing it into the state.

  There are some boats/vessels that do not have to be registered:

  • Canoes, rowboats, or any boats/vessels that use paddles or oars
  • Sailboats shorter than eight feet long
  • Sailboards or parasails
  • A ship’s lifeboat
  • Seaplanes on the water
  • Boats that run on a track, such as amusement park rides
  • Floating structures that are tied to land and use power, water, and a sewage system on the shore.

  Dinghies must be registered with DMV.

  Houseboats that have a motor must be registered with DMV.

  Commercial boats/vessels that weigh more than five net tons and are longer than 30 feet must be registered (documented) by the U.S. Coast Guard.

  I am only going to use my boat/vessel on a private lake. Do I still have to register it? plus minus

  Yes. Any boat/vessel that travels or is moored in California waterways, including private lakes, must be registered with DMV.

  What is the difference between a documented boat/vessel and an undocumented boat/vessel? plus minus
  • A documented boat/vessel is registered with the U.S. Coast Guard and has a marine certificate. These boats/vessels do not have to be registered with DMV.
  • An undocumented boat/vessel is registered with DMV and does not have a marine certificate from the U.S. Coast Guard.

  If you buy a new boat/vessel, it is automatically considered undocumented, so you have to register the boat/vessel with DMV before you can put it in California waters.

  What is a Vessel Registration Number? Do I get one when I register? plus minus

  Your boat/vessel will get a vessel registration number (beginning with CF before the numbers) when you register your boat/vessel with DMV.

  You have to display your vessel registration number on your boat/vessel. Make sure it meets the following requirements.

  Your Vessel Registration Number must:

  • Be painted on or permanently attached to each side of your boat/vessel’s bow.
  • Be written in plain, vertical block letters and numbers that are more than three inches high.
  • Be properly arranged so you can read it from left to right.
  • Contrast with the color of the background so that it is easy to see and read.
  • Have spaces or hyphens that are the same size as letters other than “I” or numbers other than “1”.
    • Example A: CF 1234 AB
    • Example B: CF-1234-AB
    Do I get a registration sticker for my boat/vessel? How do I display it? plus minus

    In addition to your vessel registration number, you will also receive a registration sticker. You should attach it to the both sides of your boat/vessel, three inches apart from your vessel registration number.

    Your registration sticker must be clearly visible at all times. Please do not place any numbers, letters, or devices near the registration sticker (other than your vessel registration number and Mussel Fee sticker (if required)).

    

    What is the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation Prevention Program? plus minus

    Assembly Bill (AB) 2443 (Chapter 485, Statutes of 2012) authorized the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways to require DMV to collect a quagga and zebra mussel infestation prevention fee.

    Since 2013, this fee has been due on all DMV-registered vessels boating in freshwater bodies. Vessels used exclusively in marine waters are exempt from this fee. The sticker must be purchased every two years to remain current; however, you can still purchase the sticker throughout the year.

    Funds from the sale of the Mussel Fee Stickers are used to implement infestation prevention programs including planning, mussel monitoring, vessel inspection, and boater education.

    Mussel Fee Stickers are purchased separately from vessel registration. A unique identifying Mussel Fee Sticker will be issued for the vessel as evidence of payment of this fee and must be displayed on the vessel next to the registration sticker.

    Additional information regarding quagga and zebra mussels is available from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways www.dbw.ca.gov/stopQZ or by calling 1-888-326-2822.

    Regulations

    Effective with the December 2013 registration, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways adopted regulations to establish the procedures for the collection and use of the quagga and zebra mussel infestation prevention fee as required by California Harbors and Navigation Code Chapter 5, Division 3, Article 1.3 §675 through 676. These regulations specify how the fee will be collected and the criteria for administering the grants in accordance with the statutes.

    To pay the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Infestation fee and obtain a Quagga sticker, please go to the Mussel Fee Sticker Request page.

    Do I need to purchase a Mussel Fee sticker? How do I display it? plus minus

    If you boat in California fresh waters such as the Delta, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and streams, you must purchase and display a Mussel Fee sticker next to your registration sticker. The Mussel Fee sticker matches the registration sticker by color and date.

    You may purchase the Mussel Fee sticker online. The vessel registration/renewal and sticker transactions are separate. Once you receive your Mussel Fee stickers, place them on either side of the registration sticker as shown below.

    

    What is a Hull Identification Number? Do I need one? plus minus

    Since 1972, all boats/vessels manufactured in the U.S. come with a Hull Identification Number (HIN).

    The HIN must be:

    • Painted on or permanently attached to your boat/vessel so that it cannot be changed or removed.
    • Assigned and attached by manufacturers to commercially built boats/vessels.
    • Assigned by DMV for homemade boats/vessels.
    My certificate or registration sticker was lost, stolen, or damaged. What do I do now? plus minus

    If your California Certificate of Ownership is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can submit a completed Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title (REG 227) form.

    If you lost your sticker, you can submit a completed Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (REG 156) form to replace the lost certificates and/or stickers.

    You can then mail the forms to DMV or visit a DMV field office in person.

    When do I renew my boat/vessel registration? plus minus

    You must renew your boat/vessel registration by December 31 of every odd-numbered year (for example, 2013, 2017, etc.), even if you do not use your boat/vessel.

    To remind you that you need to renew your registration, DMV will mail you a renewal notice 60 days before your registration expires.

    Can I renew my registration online? plus minus

    Visit our online registration page to see if your vessel is eligible to be renewed online.

    You can also renew your registration by phone (automated system), mail, or by visiting a DMV field office in person.

    Phone: 1-800-777-0133
    Mail:
    Vehicle Registration Operations
    Department of Motor Vehicles
    PO Box 942869 MS C271
    Sacramento, CA 94269-0001

    If you renew your registration by mail, please return the bottom portion of your renewal notice in the envelope provided with a check, cashier’s check, or money order to cover your fees.

    If you do not receive or lose the renewal notice, you may contact DMV and pay your fees.

    I just bought a boat, but it’s already registered in California. What do I do? plus minus

    When you buy a boat/vessel from another person, you should also get the California Certificate of Ownership from the person who sold it to you. That person should sign/endorse the certificate on line 1. If there is a lienholder, you need their signature on line 2.

    Once you have the California Certificate of Ownership, write your name and address on the back. Then you can submit the certificate to DMV along with the transfer fee, use tax, and any renewal fees that might be due.

    If the boat/vessel has a trailer, you need to get the trailer title. If you cannot get a copy of the title, you can complete a Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) Certification and Application (REG 4017) form to transfer it into your name.

    What if I decide to sell my boat/vessel? plus minus

    If you decide to sell your boat/vessel, you need to:

    • Give the Certificate of Ownership to the person who buys it. Make sure you sign the certificate on the front.
    • Contact the DMV within five days of the sale and fill out a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) form.

    You must provide the boat/vessel information (vessel registration number, HIN), the name and address of the buyer, and the sale date on the form.

    • Submit the form online or by mail.

    If the boat/vessel has a trailer, give the titling and/or registration documents to the buyer and submit a separate Notice of Release of Liability (REG 138) form.

    Additional Information

    Boats and vessels registered in California are included in property taxes by the county tax collector, depending on where the boat/vessel is stored or moored. DMV might deny registration renewal or transfer if the county tax collector tells DMV that you have not paid your personal property taxes.

    Vessel registration becomes invalid when a boat/vessel is:

    • Required to be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard.
    • Transferred to a new owner.
    • Destroyed or abandoned.
    • No longer used primarily in California.

    You must tell the DMV when a boat/vessel is:

    • Sold.
    • Moved to a different storage location.
    • Documented through the U.S. Coast Guard.
    • Destroyed, lost, or abandoned. Return the California Certificate of Ownership to DMV within 15 days.

    Learn more about vessel registration transaction requirements by visiting the Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual.