Florida Boat Registration

A new boat owner in Florida has countless boating destinations to choose from. There’s the mighty Atlantic ocean side, the expansive gulf of Mexico side, the popular keys down at the bottom, and the often underrated rivers and lakes within.

With all these options, seafaring types are understandably eager to get their vessels out on the water. Yet there’s some paperwork to take care of beforehand, namely registering and titling newly purchased boats with the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSM).

If you’re a first time boat owner, you might find registration to be time-consuming or even confusing. With this reality in mind, this Florida boat registration guide serves to lessen the exasperation and get you afloat sooner.

Key takeaways

Any motorized boat operated on public waterways needs to be registered and titled
Any 16+ft non-motorized boat operated on public waterways needs to be titled and registered
You have 30 days from the date of purchase to title and register your new or used vessel
A Certificate of registration is valid for either 1 or 2 years.

Do I need to register my boat in Florida?

If you plan to operate any motorized boat or non-motorized boat at least 16ft in length on public waterways, you will need to get it registered and titled. However, there are some types of vessels that don’t need to be registered with the FHLSM. These are:

Vessels operated and stored exclusively on private lake or ponds
Non-motorized vessels less than 16ft in length
All Canoes, kayaks, racing shells, or rowing sculls that are exclusively powered by hand
Vessels used exclusively as lifeboats
Vessels owned by the United States Government

Since Florida is a popular destination for out-of-state boaters, it’s also worth mentioning if they need to register with the FHLSM. As long as your boat has a valid registration in another state and does not remain in Florida waters for more than 90 days, it is exempt from Florida registration.

How Does First-Time Boat Registration Work?

You have 30 days from the date of purchase to title and register your new or used vessel. During that 30 day window, you may operate your unregistered vessel as long as you carry proof of your purchase date onboard. Take this seriously because if you are operating an unregistered vessel more than 30 days after purchase, it is considered a second-degree misdemeanor.

The actual application part of registering is fairly straightforward. Just like for the title, registration can be completed at your nearest county tax collector or license plate agent. You’ll need to show proof of ownership, your issued title, and pay the proper registration fee (see below).

Do I need proof of title when I register my boat?

Almost every boat that needs to be registered in Florida also needs to be titled (and vice versa). The only exceptions are hand-powered boats like canoes, kayaks, racing shells/sculls. If they are 16ft or more in length, they need to be titled but not registered.

You need to first get your certificate of title for your newly acquired vessel before you can move onto registration. This can be completed at your local county tax collector or license plate agent. You will need to bring the appropriate titling fee (see below) as well as the following documents:

If you’ve purchased a new vessel, bring the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
If you’ve purchased a used vessel that was previously titled in FL, bring that Florida title signed over to you.
If you’ve purchased a used vessel that was previously titled in another state, bring that state’s title signed over to you.
If you’ve purchased a used vessel that was not previously titled, bring the current vessel’s current registration as well as bill of sale.

Once the Certificate of Title is issued, you can move forward with the registration (usually during the same appointment).

How do I register my boat for the first time?

What are the fees for registering a boat?

As of 2022, Titling fees are as follows:

$5.25 for a strictly electronic record
$7.75 for a paper certificate
$11.00 for expedited processing
An additional dollar for each financing lien attached to the boat
$4.00 extra for a boat that holds a prior registration in another state

Registration fees are assessed according to the length of the vessel; they range from $5.50 (less than 12ft ) to $189.75 (110ft or more). However, those fees are lowered for boaters who possess an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), i.e. transmitters that allow authorities to find a vessel in distress. Depending on where you register, a county fee may also be imposed.

How do I properly display that my boat is registered?

A registered boat must display three pieces of information for proper identification: a hull identification number (HIN), a unique registration number, and a registration decal.

The hull identification number (HIN) should already be on your boat because it’s usually branded into the vessel or attached as a metal plate by the boat manufacturer. It’s usually located on the transom right above the waterline. If non appears, mention it to the FLHSMV and they will assign one.

The registration number must be either painted or otherwise permanently affixed to each side of the bow. In terms of color, the characters should stand out in stark relief against the hue of the boat itself. In addition, the letters must be capitalized and stand at least three inches in height. In general, the number must be legible and read from left to right.

The last component of vessel recognition is the registration decal, displaying the year in which registration is valid. This goes on the port side, either immediately before or immediately after the registration number.

These IDs demonstrate the good legal standing of the watercraft while helping maritime authorities locate it in the event of emergency.

How do I renew my boat registration?

Registrations are renewed either every one or two years during the owner's birth month. If a vessel is owned jointly, then the first name on the registration is the birth month used for renewal.

In the cases where boats are commercially or institutionally owned, registration renewals take place during the month of June. Renewals can be processed online, through the mail or personally at the local FLHSMV office. Fees are the same as those paid at initial registration unless the aforementioned transmitters were acquired in the interim. Renewal is a simpler task since it does not include the titling phase.

Do I need to register my boat trailer in Florida?

As with titling and registration of a watercraft, a trailer too can be registered at either the county tax collector's office or the FLHSMV license plate distribution office.

The exact nature of the registration is determined by the trailer. If the boat trailer exceeds a ton in empty weight, it must be titled separately. Owners need to present a notarized bill of sale and, if the trailer was previously owned, the registration certificate. Without the certificate, the trailer must be weighed free of burden at a county weigh station.

New trailers demand that a manufacturer's statement or certificate of origin come with a title application. A sales tax statement also conveys a description of the trailer as sold by the dealer. Once a title is issued, the trailer can be registered for either one or two years.

How do I register my boat if it's only in Florida for the winter?

Florida is unique for its number of winter residents. Luckily the sunshine makes it easy for snowbirds to bring their boats down with them. If your boat is registered out of state, you may use it in Florida waters for up to 90 days without having to register it in Florida. If you intend to keep your vessel in Florida longer than 90 days, you must register it with a county tax collector or FLHSMV license plate agent. However, Florida will let you retain your existing out-of-state registration number if you plan to return back to your home state in the foreseeable future.

What do I do once my boat is ready for open waters?

When you’re not out on your boat fishing, diving, or simply enjoying the coastal waters of the sunshine state, you’ll want to make sure it’s stored somewhere safe.

Therefore, the next order of business after registering your boat is finding an optimal marina at which you can dock. Have no fear though, we have that step covered too.

Dockwa.com is an online platform that matches boaters with marinas in Florida and elsewhere. Here are 210 Florida marinas that have been visited and reviewed by boaters like you. Find your preferred marina and then reserve a slip for just one night or lease an entire season.

Additional Resources

FLHSMV.gov Vessel Titling and Registrations

FLHSMV.gov Renewals and Title Transfers

FLHSMV.gov Questions and Answers

Boat Registration in Florida