Boat Registration Cost by State
Compare registration fees, title costs, sales tax rates, and renewal periods across 50 US states. All data verified from official state agency sources.
State-by-State Fee Breakdown
| State | Min Fee | Max Fee | Period | Title Required | Title Fee | Sales Tax | Online | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AL Alabama | $18.00 | $98.00 | 1 year (expires December 31) | Yes | $25.00 | 4% | View | |
| AK Alaska | $24.00 | $10.00 | 3 years | No | $20.00 | None | View | |
| AZ Arizona | $20.00 | $66.00 | 1 year | No | — | 5.6% | View | |
| AR Arkansas | $7.50 | $105.00 | 3 years | No | — | 6.5% | — | View |
| CA California | $29.00 | $15.00 | 2 years (biennial, renewed in odd-numbered years) | Yes | $9.00 | 7.25% | View | |
| CO Colorado | $36.25 | $76.25 | 1 year (calendar year, January 1 to December 31) | Yes | $7.20 | 2.9% | View | |
| CT Connecticut | $7.50 | $525.00 | 1 year (expires April 30 of the following year) | Yes | $25.00 | 6.35% | View | |
| DE Delaware | $20.00 | $120.00 | 1 year or 3 years (owner's choice) | No | — | None | View | |
| FL Florida | $5.50 | $189.75 | 1 or 2 years (owner's choice) | Yes | $5.25 | 6% | View | |
| GA Georgia | $35.00 | $210.00 | 3 years | Yes | — | 4% | View | |
| HI Hawaii | $20.00 | $35.00 | 1 year (annual renewal) | Yes | $20.00 | 4% | View | |
| ID Idaho | $31.50 | $67.50 | 1 year (calendar year, expires December 31) | No | — | 6% | View | |
| IL Illinois | $28.00 | $210.00 | 3 years | Yes | $15.00 | 6.25% | View | |
| IN Indiana | $15.00 | $24.00 | 1 year (annual renewal) | Yes | $15.00 | 7% | View | |
| IA Iowa | $28.15 | $155.65 | 3 years (current cycle through April 30, 2028) | Yes | $13.50 | 6% | — | View |
| KS Kansas | $42.50 | $42.50 | 3 years | No | — | 6.5% | View | |
| KY Kentucky | $22.20 | $68.71 | 1 year (March 1 through last day of February) | Yes | $9.00 | 6% | View | |
| LA Louisiana | $36.00 | $99.00 | 3 years | Yes | $26.00 | 4.45% | View | |
| ME Maine | $40.00 | $59.00 | 1 year (calendar year, expires December 31) | No | — | 5.5% | View | |
| MD Maryland | $70.00 | $12.00 | 2 years | Yes | $20.00 | 5% (cap $16,000) | View | |
| MA Massachusetts | $44.00 | $110.00 | 2 years (biennial) | No | — | 6.25% | View | |
| MI Michigan | $14.00 | $448.00 | 3 years | Yes | $5.00 | 6% | View | |
| MN Minnesota | $36.00 | $209.00 | 3 calendar years | No | — | 6.875% | View | |
| MS Mississippi | $10.99 | $48.49 | 3 years (from date of application) | No | $12.70 | None | View | |
| MO Missouri | $25.00 | $150.00 | 3 years (triennial registration) | Yes | $7.50 | 4.225% | View | |
| MT Montana | $65.50 | $295.50 | One-time registration (validation decals renewed every 3 years at no cost) | Yes | $12.00 | None | View | |
| NE Nebraska | $29.00 | $109.00 | 3 years (expires December 31 of the third year) | Yes | $10.00 | 5.5% | View | |
| NV Nevada | $20.00 | $100.00 | 1 year (expires December 31) | Yes | $20.00 | 8.375% | View | |
| NH New Hampshire | $24.00 | $92.00 | 1 year (expires December 31) | No | — | None | View | |
| NJ New Jersey | $19.00 | $115.00 | 2 years | Yes | $60.00 | 6.625% | View | |
| NM New Mexico | $60.00 | $180.00 | 3 years (expires December 31 of the third year) | Yes | $10.00 | None | View | |
| NY New York | $22.50 | $75.00 | 3 years | Yes | $50.00 | 8% | View | |
| NC North Carolina | $34.00 | $154.00 | 1 or 3 years (owner's choice) | Yes | $30.00 | 3% (cap $1,500) | View | |
| ND North Dakota | $30.00 | $60.00 | 3 years (current cycle: 2026–2028) | No | — | 5% | View | |
| OH Ohio | $33.00 | $93.00 | 3 years (expires March 1) | Yes | $15.00 | 5.75% | View | |
| OK Oklahoma | $52.25 | $151.00 | 1 year or 3 years (owner's choice) | Yes | $2.25 | None | View | |
| OR Oregon | $95.20 | $178.50 | 2 years (biennial calendar basis, expires December 31) | Yes | $75.00 | None | View | |
| PA Pennsylvania | $22.00 | $52.00 | 2 years (biennial, expires March 31 of even-numbered years) | Yes | $15.00 | 6% | View | |
| RI Rhode Island | $32.00 | $620.00 | 2 years (biennial, March 1 to last day of February) | Yes | — | 7% | View | |
| SC South Carolina | $20.00 | $20.00 | 1 year (included with county property tax) | Yes | $20.00 | 5% (cap $500) | View | |
| SD South Dakota | $18.00 | $62.00 | 1 year (annual renewal) | Yes | $10.00 | None | View | |
| TN Tennessee | $15.86 | $62.22 | 1, 2, or 3 years (owner's choice at time of registration) | Yes | $14.50 | 7% | View | |
| TX Texas | $32.00 | $150.00 | 2 years | Yes | $27.00 | 6.25% (cap $18,750) | View | |
| UT Utah | $20.00 | $40.00 | 1 year (annual renewal) | Yes | $6.00 | 6.85% | View | |
| VT Vermont | $31.00 | $153.00 | 1 year or 2 years (owner's choice) | No | — | 6% | View | |
| VA Virginia | $32.00 | $50.00 | 3 years (triennial registration) | Yes | $10.00 | 2% | View | |
| WA Washington | $10.50 | $10.50 | 1 year (annual renewal) | Yes | $5.00 | 6.5% | View | |
| WV West Virginia | $30.00 | $75.00 | 3 years (expires March 31) | Yes | $15.00 | 6% | View | |
| WI Wisconsin | $22.00 | $100.00 | 3 years | Yes | $5.00 | 5% | View | |
| WY Wyoming | $30.00 | $80.00 | 1 year or 3 years (owner's choice) | Yes | $15.00 | 4% | View |
What You Need to Know
States Without Boat Titles
13 states do not require boat titles, using registration as proof of ownership:
Registration Validity Periods
States offer different registration periods, affecting the annualized cost:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the cheapest boat registration?
Florida has the lowest starting registration fee at $5.50. However, total costs depend on vessel length, title requirements, and sales tax.
Which state has the most expensive boat registration?
Oregon has the highest starting registration fee at $95.20 for the smallest class. Actual costs for larger vessels can be significantly higher.
Do all states require a boat title?
No. 13 states do not require boat titles: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont. In these states, registration and a bill of sale serve as proof of ownership.
Which states have no sales tax on boats?
Alaska, Delaware, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota have no sales tax on boat purchases.
How often do I need to renew my boat registration?
It varies by state. Some states require annual renewal (Florida, Alabama, Washington, Arizona, Colorado), while others offer 2-year (Texas, California, Maryland) or 3-year (Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio) registration periods.
Find Your State's Requirements
Get detailed registration steps, required documents, and official agency links for your state.