It's the Law: Before Going Out

• Registering and Titling
• Displaying Numbers
• Where to Register
• Fees
• Other Facts
• How To Apply

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

Registering and Titling Your Vessel

You must have a Washington title, current registration certificate, and current registration decals to operate, or moor a vessel on Washington's waters. Exceptions are:

• Vessels that are not propelled by a motor (canoes, kayaks, etc.) and sailboats under 16 feet in length without a motor
• Vessels that are less than 16 feet in length and have a motor of 10 horsepower or less and are used only on non-federal waters
• Properly registered vessels owned by residents of another state or country and using Washington waters for 60 days or less

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.

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

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.
• The color of the numbers must contrast sharply with the 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 decals only must be affixed on each side of the bow, toward the stern of the registration number and in line with the number.

Some vessels have a "tender." This is a dinghy, small boat, or inflatable boat used only to provide transportation between its documented or registered "parent" vessel and the shore. The tender is considered a separate vessel and must be registered and display its registration number and registration decals unless:

• The engine on the tender is less than 10 horsepower and …
• The tender has the parent vessel's registration numbers followed by the number "1" (WN 3717 ZW 1 or WN-3717-ZW-1) affixed to both sides of the bow and …
• The tender is used only for direct transportation from ship to shore and back.

Where To Register

You can submit your registration application and fees to your county auditor or vehicle licensing subagent office (View a list of all Washington State vehicle and vessel licensing offices organized by county).

Registration Questions? 

Contact the Washington Department of Licensing by calling 360-902-3770, option 5 or sending a fax to 360-902-4089. You also may e-mail questions to the Title Division of the Department of Licensing at titles@dol.wa.gov or write to the address above.

Fees To Register and Title Your Vessel

Annual Excise Tax on Vessels

Registered vessels 16 feet or longer are subject to an excise tax. Registered vessels exempt from excise tax are:

• Vessels used exclusively for commercial fishing
• Vessels under 16 feet in overall length
• Vessels owned and operated by the United States or by a state, municipality, or political subdivision of the U.S.
• Vessels owned by a nonprofit organization engaged in character building of boys and girls under 18 years of age and used solely for such purposes
• Vessels owned and held for sale by a dealer

Excise tax is calculated at one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the fair market value of your vessel or the purchase price if it reflects fair market value. To view an excise tax schedule, visit www.dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/boats.html.

Other Facts About Titling and Registration

• 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, click here.
• 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. 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.

How To Apply for Registration or Title

To title or register your vessel, you need to provide:

• Vessel's model year and make
• Vessel's purchase price and purchase year
• Vessel's overall length (See how to measure vessel length.)
• Vessel's hull identification number, if any
• Vessel's U.S. Coast Guard document number*, if any
• Vessel's ownership documents:
  • Out-of-state titles or registration certificates (if registration-only state) or …
    
  • Washington state certificate of title or …
    
  • If vessel has not been titled/registered before and was purchased new as of July 1, 1985, the original Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin

All owners must be present to sign a title application.

* If the vessel is documented by the U.S. Coast Guard, a copy of the documentation papers also is required. All owners listed on the Certificate of Documentation must be present to sign the vessel application.