What must be done before a boat can be issued a New York certificate of registration

Here are some additional facts about titling and registering your vessel.

A Certificate of Registration is valid for three years from the date of registration. A renewal form is mailed to the owner prior to the expiration date. If the renewal form is not received by mail, the owner should go to a DMV office and renew in person or visit their website.
The DMV issues a Certificate of Title for model year 1987 and newer vessels that are at least 14 feet long and registered in New York State. This title takes the place of the registration certificate as proof of ownership for these vessels. Titles are not issued for documented vessels.
If you change your address, you must notify the DMV within 10 days.
If your vessel is destroyed, abandoned, lost, or stolen, notify the DMV within 15 days.
If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Registration, you must apply for a duplicate certificate and submit a processing fee.
Any vessel visiting New York from another state has up to 90 days before it must register with the DMV, provided it is currently registered in its state of principal use.
Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). Call the USCG at 1-800‑799-8362 for more information. Documented recreational vessels also must be registered in New York and must display the validation stickers.

Call the New York State DMV at 518-486-9786.
Visit the New York State DMV website.
Visit any DMV office.

All power-driven vessels (whether or not the motor is the primary source of propulsion) that operate in New York state waters must be registered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and display validation decals. Boat registration is valid for three years, starting the month of registration.

Boat Registration Form

Vessels exempt from registration:

Non-motorized vessels, such as canoes, kayaks, rowboats and sailboats without engines
U.S. or foreign documented commercial vessels
Vessels that are properly registered in another state or country and are using New York waters for up to 90 consecutive days
Law enforcement vessels
Competition racing boats
Lifeboats

Once a vessel is registered the owner will receive a registration certificate that must be kept on board and readily available for inspection by a law enforcement officer whenever the vessel is in operation.

The Division of Motor Vehicles must be notified within 15 days if the boat is abandoned, destroyed, lost, or stolen, or within 10 days if the owner changes address. The certificate of registration or title must be signed over to the new owner once a vessel is sold. The original owner must notify the DMV. They should also remove the validation stickers before the new owner takes possession of the vessel.

Titling

The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles issues titles to all vessels that are at least 14 feet in length and that were manufactured in or after 1987.

How to Display the Registration Number and Decals

You must display your boat’s registration number in the following manner:

Painted on or permanently attached to each side of the bow;
Using BLOCK letters at least three inches high and of one solid color contrasting sharply with the color of your boat so as to be clearly legible from at least 100 feet in daylight;
To read from left to right; letters and numbers must be separated by a space or hyphen, for example: NY 1234 AB or NY-1234-AB
No other numbers may be displayed.

Every vessel that requires registration, including personal watercraft, must display validation decals as proof of registration. You must display your decals as follows:

On both sides of the boat
Within three inches aft (towards the stern) and in line with the registration number
Only display current decals.

Documented Vessels

Larger recreational vessels may be documented with the US Coast Guard. For more information: contact the USCG Documentation Center at 1-800-799-8362. Documented vessels must be registered with the Division of Motor Vehicles and display validation stickers, but are not required to display the bow number.

New York is one of the best places in the world for boating, swimming and relaxing out on the water. With thousands upon thousands of miles of sparkling waterfront, lakes, rivers and ponds, owning and operating a boat in New York is the ultimate sunny day must-have. From fishing to watersports, there’s nothing better than being the proud owner of a New York boat.

However, if you’re going to take your boat out on New York waters, it needs to be properly registered to ensure legal operation. Here’s BOATsmart!’s guide to getting your boat ready to be legally taken out on the beautiful waters that call New York home.

How Do I Know If My Boat Needs to Be Registered?

If your boat is even partially motorized, it will need to be registered with New York’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Boat owners must register any boat partially or wholly motor driven, and any boat operated on public New York waters must be registered with the DMV.

What Boats Are Exempt From Boat Registration in New York?

Most boats in New York State need to be registered, with some exceptions. You do not need to register your boat with the state if…

it is a lifeboat
it is a boat racing in competition
the boat is currently registered in another state and will not be kept in New York for more than 90 consecutive days
your boat is non-motorized (like a canoe or kayak)

How Do I Register My Boat in the State of New York?

When registering your boat in the state of New York, you’ll need:

Proof of identity (a New York driver’s license, learner’s permit or current identification card)
Proof of ownership (a manufacturer’s statement of origin, a title, transferable registration or a United States Coast Guard document)
Completed Boat Registration/Title Application
Bill of sale and/or proof of sales tax clearance
Cash, check, money order or credit/debit card payment for fees and sales tax

Register your boat by visiting your local Department of Motor Vehicle office or by mailing the proper materials to your county’s DMV office.

How Much Does Boat Registration Cost in the State of New York?

Those registering their boats in the state of New York will pay a fee for registration along with a fee for boating safety, which all depends on the length of your boat. Approximate registration fees are as follows:

LENGTH	REGISTRATION FEE	SURCHARGE	TOTAL
Less than 16 feet	$22.50	$3.75	$26.25
16 feet to less than 26 feet	$45.00	$12.50	$57.50
26 feet or longer	$75.00	$18.75	$93.75

Depending on other factors, you may also pay a $50 title fee. You can be issued a title certificate for your boat if:

Your boat is model year 1987 or newer
Your boat is at least 14 feet long
Your boat is already registered in New York State

How Do I Transfer Boat Ownership to My New Boat?

Did you just buy a boat from another seller? Congratulations! The directions for transferring boat ownership in New York differ depending on the model of your boat and the length of the boat.

If your boat is model year 1987 or newer, and/or your boat is at least 14 ft. long, this is how you transfer boat ownership:

Seller with current proof of ownership must provide a bill of sale and sign transfer section
If the seller currently has a title certificate that was transferred to them, seller must apply for a new title certificate and transfer that one
- The buyer’s name must be on the new certificate
- Ensure that all information on new title certificate is not at all altered

If your boat is model year 1986 or older, and/or your boat is less than 14 ft. long, this is how you transfer boat ownership:

The owner can use bill of sale or transferable registration
Registration document must be marked as “transferable”
The seller whose name is on the transferable registration must sign the back of the registration

Will I Need to Take a Boater Safety Education Course?

Operating a motorized boat in New York State requires the completion of a boater safety education course, which is where BOATsmart! comes in. As a program officially recognized by the US Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, our course is sure to have you educated, knowledgeable and safe on the water.

In New York State, all boat operators will require successful completion of a boater safety education course by 2025. The New York State requirements are as follows:

BORN	DATE BY WHICH YOU NEED A CERTIFICATE
On or after May 1, 1996	Before you can operate a boat in New York
On or after January 1, 1993	January 1, 2020
On or after January 1, 1988	January 1, 2022
On or after January 1, 1983	January 1, 2023
On or after January 1, 1978	January 1, 2024

What Else Do I Need to Know About Boat Registration in New York?

Your boat registration stickers should be displayed 18 inches from the bow on both sides of the boat.

Your boat registration is good for three years in New York, and can be renewed online, by mail or in person.

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Every motorized vehicle must be currently registered, so keep up with necessary regulations to stay legal and safe on New York waters. There’s nothing as fun as a boat day — especially one where you’re safe, registered and happy — so use BOATsmart! as your boating safety friend.