Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Certificate of Registration and Decals

Display of Registration Number and Validation Decals

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.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
• Number’s color must contrast with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen; for example: MI 3717 ZW or MI-3717-ZW.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Decals must be affixed on both sides of the vessel preceding the prefix letters of the registration number and within six inches of the registration number.

If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate it or allow others to operate your vessel unless it is registered and numbered as described above.

PWCs also are required to display the registration number and validation decals.

Other Facts About Titling and Registering Your Vessel

• Effective July 1, 1998, you may choose to title your vessel and/or outboard motor; however, titling is not mandatory.
• A Certificate of Number is valid for three years from the last day of the month in which the original or transferred certificate was received. Owners of vessels that have already been registered will be sent a renewal notice to their residence without any action by the owner.
• If you change your address, you must notify the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks (MDWFP) within 15 days of the change.
• If a numbered vessel is lost, stolen, or abandoned, the owner should report it to local authorities and to the MDWFP within 15 days of such event.
• If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number or decal(s), you must apply to the MDWFP for duplicates and submit processing fees.
• Vessels registered in another state may operate on Mississippi waters for 60 days before Mississippi registration and numbering is required.
• 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. (Read more about obtaining the U.S. Coast Guard's Certificate of Documentation.)

Motorboat Registration Application

Registration and title application forms can be obtained from:

• The website www.mdwfp.com
• Any tax collector’s office
• Many marine dealers, marinas, and bait shops
• Any Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks office
• The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources

Registration Renewal

A vessel registration can be renewed at www.mdwfp.com, at any Hunting & Fishing License agent, by calling 1-800-5GO-HUNT, by mail, or by visiting any MDWFP office. Duplicate registration cards also can be obtained through any of these outlets.

Registration Questions? Contact:

• Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks at 601-432-2181
• Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Marine Patrol at 228-523-4134
• Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Bureau of Boat and Water Safety at 228-523-4126

Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.

Hull Identification Numbers:

• Distinguish one vessel from another­—the same as serial numbers distinguish one car from another.
• Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to the transom.

You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.