Other Facts About Titling and Registering Your Vessel

Here are some additional facts about titling and registering your vessel.

• All vessels that require registration must have a Certificate of Title issued by the Harbor Master before they can be registered.
• The Certificate of Number expires on December 31 each year.
• Owners of vessels who have applied for registration may operate the vessel for 30 days if they have evidence of the application on board the vessel.
• The owner of a numbered vessel must notify the Harbor Master within 15 days if:
• He or she changes address or...
• The vessel is lost, stolen, recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold.
• Vessels registered in another state may operate on District of Columbia waters for 50 consecutive days before District of Columbia registration is required.
• If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number, sticker, or title, you must apply to the Harbor Master for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.
• Larger recreational vessels owned by U.S. citizens may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the USCG. Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Documented vessels also must be registered in the District of Columbia and display the registration number and validation stickers.