It's the Law: Before Going Out

All operators are required to obey laws that regulate your vessel's registration, titling, and operation.

Registering Your Vessel

• You must have a Michigan Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals to operate your vessel legally on public waters in Michigan. The only exceptions are:
  • Privately owned non-motorized canoe, kayak, or rowboat of length 16 feet or less
  • Vessels with valid registration in another state or country used temporarily on the waters of Michigan
• The Certificate of Number and validation decals are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to any Secretary of State branch office.
• This Certificate of Number (registration card) must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is being operated.
• The registration number and validation decals must be displayed as follows.
  • Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow as high above the waterline as practical.
  • Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
  • Number must be in at least 3-inch-high BLOCK letters.
  • Number's color must contrast with its background.
  • Letters and numbers must be separated by a space or hyphen; for example: MC 3717 ZW or MC-3717-ZW.
  • No other numbers can be displayed on either side of the bow.
  • Decals must be affixed on each side of the vessel and placed three inches after the last character of the registration number.

  

Where to Title and Register

The Certificate of Number and validation decals are obtained by submitting the proper application and fee to any Secretary of State branch office. You can find your closest branch office:

• By calling 517-322-1460
• On the Internet at www.michigan.gov/sos

Where to Renew Your Certificate of Number

A Certificate of Number is valid for three years and may be renewed:

• Over the Internet at www.michigan.gov/sos
• At any Secretary of State branch office

Other Facts about Titling and Registration

• All vessels that are of length 20 feet or greater or have a permanently affixed engine must be titled also.
• As the owner of a vessel, you must notify the Secretary of State and surrender your Certificate of Number within 15 days if:
  • Your vessel is abandoned or destroyed or ...
  • Your vessel is sold or ownership is transferred or ...
  • You change address.
• If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number or decal, you must apply to the Secretary of State for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.
• Vessels registered in another state may operate on Michigan waters for 60 days before Michigan registration and numbering are required.
• Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG's Documentation Center at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Documented vessels are required to be registered also.

Schedule of Fees to Register Your Vessel