It's the Law: Before Going Out

Buying or Selling a Vessel

The procedure for transferring ownership of a vessel is outlined here. The steps are essentially the same whether the “buyer” is purchasing the vessel from a marine dealer or from an individual.

• If a registered vessel is sold or transferred to another person, the buyer must apply for a new Certificate of Registration.
  • If the Idaho registration is still valid, the buyer must apply anyway and pay a small fee for the registration to be transferred to his or her name.
  • If the registration has expired or the purchased vessel is new, the buyer must purchase a new registration.
  • The registration number stays with the vessel as long as it is registered in Idaho—the number is never assigned to another vessel.
• If a registered vessel is sold or otherwise transferred to another person, the seller is required to report the transaction to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation within 15 days from the date of sale.