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

Requirements for vessel registration vary from state to state. In Washington, you must have a Washington title, current registration certificate, and current registration decals to operate or moor– To keep a vessel in place by setting anchor or tying the vessel to a fixed object or buoy a vessel on Washington's waters. Exceptions to registration and titling are:

Cut out the wallet sized registration information as indicated in lower left hand corner of the Vessel Registration Certificate. This registration information must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated on the water.

The registration number and registration decals must be displayed as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to the forward half of each side of the vessel, placed to be clearly visible.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high, bold, vertical, BLOCK characters.
• Number’s color must contrast sharply with its background.
• Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: WN 3717 ZW or WN-3717-ZW.
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• Current year decals only must be affixed on each side of the bow, toward the stern of the registration number and in line with the 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 registration decals.

Other Facts About Registering and Titling Your Vessel

• A vessel’s registration is valid through June 30. It must be renewed beginning July 1 of each year.
  • Courtesy renewal notices are no longer mailed to registered vessel owners.
  • To sign up to receive e-mail renewal reminders for a vessel, trailer, or vehicle, visit the Washington State Department of Licensing. Click on "Get e-mail renewal reminders" under "Vehicle and Boat Registration" on the home page.
• All vessels that require registration must be titled also. Titles are obtained through the Washington Department of Licensing.
• The owner of a registered vessel must notify the Department of Licensing within 15 days if any of these events occur:
  • The vessel is abandoned, destroyed, lost, or stolen or...
  • The owner’s address changes or...
  • The registration card is lost or destroyed.
• The owner of a registered vessel must notify the Department of Licensing in writing, on the appropriate form, within five business days of the date of sale or transfer of the vessel.
• 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. Documented vessels also must be registered in Washington but are not required to display the registration number.

Registration Questions?

Contact the Washington Department of Licensing by calling 360-902-3770 - option 4, or sending a fax to 360-902-4089. You may also email questions to the Title Division of the Department of Licensing at titles@dol.wa.gov or write to:

Department of Licensing
Vessel Licensing
P.O. Box 9909
Olympia, WA 98507-8500

Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit or 17-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.
• Are required when applying for Washington registration.

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.