How to register a boat in Alabama
Register promptly after purchase
A new boat must be registered within 72 hours before it is operated on Alabama waters. A used boat bought with a current, valid decal generally must be transferred into your name within about 10 days (some counties say 15 — confirm with yours); a boat whose registration has expired has no grace period and must be registered before use. New registrations and ownership transfers are done in person at a county License Commissioner or Probate office; renewals can be done online.
Bring proof of ownership and the HIN
Bring a bill of sale (notarized for a private used-boat sale), a manufacturer's statement of origin for a new boat, and the seller's most recent registration. For an out-of-state or never-registered boat you must also bring a clear photo of the hull identification number. Bring a photo ID.
Pay the registration fee and any tax
You pay the annual registration fee for your boat's length class plus a $5 state reservoir-management fee and your county's issuing fee, so the counter total varies by county. Sales or use tax on the purchase is collected separately at the local rate.
Display your number and decal
You receive a certificate of registration, an Alabama number (format AL 1234 AB), and a validation decal. The number must be painted or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the hull in block characters at least three inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull, with the decal placed alongside per regulation. Federally documented vessels do not display AL bow numbers — they carry the state decal only.
Alabama registration fees
Alabama sets the annual registration fee by vessel length class. The figures below are the state base fees; every county adds an issuing fee, and the state adds a $5 reservoir-management fee, so the total at the counter is several dollars higher and differs from county to county. Registration is not prorated.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Less than 16 ft | $20.00 |
| Class II | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $25.00 |
| Class III | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $75.00 |
| Class IV | 40 ft and over | $100.00 |
Base state fees only. Add the $5 reservoir-management fee plus your county's issuing fee; total costs commonly run $25–$110 depending on county. The vessel title (Department of Revenue) is a separate $20 application. Confirm current amounts with your county License Commissioner or Probate office.
Titling in Alabama
Alabama began titling vessels on January 1, 2024, under the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act, administered by the Department of Revenue. This is new — for decades Alabama did not title boats at all, so older guides that say "Alabama has no boat title" are out of date.
Titling is required for a vessel constructed after December 31, 2023, or for any vessel for which Alabama becomes the state of principal use on or after January 1, 2024. A vessel under 18 feet is titled only if it is powered by an engine of 75 horsepower or more, and an owner of a vessel 26 feet or longer may title voluntarily. Boats whose construction was complete by the end of 2023 are grandfathered out of the mandatory-title requirement. The title application fee is $20.
Federally documented vessels are expressly exempt from Alabama titling — the USCG Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record — but a documented vessel used recreationally on Alabama waters still must be registered (numbered) with the state. This is the classic "documented but not titled" arrangement explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Boats manufactured after 1972 carry a 12-character hull identification number (HIN), located on the upper starboard corner of the transom. Alabama requires a legible photo of the HIN to register an out-of-state or never-before-registered boat, so the number can be verified against the ownership paperwork.
For a homemade boat, or a boat whose HIN is missing or illegible, the owner files an Application for State-Assigned Hull Number with ALEA Marine Patrol. Marine Patrol schedules an inspection — an officer confirms no valid HIN already exists on the hull and then assigns a state HIN. The inspection verifies the hull number only; it is not a seaworthiness check. A homebuilt vessel generally cannot be sold within 10 years of receiving its state-assigned HIN.
Before you register, decode any existing hull number with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the title and bill of sale.
Renewal
Alabama vessel registration is renewed annually, and the expiration month is staggered by the first letter of the owner's last name — for example A/D renew in January, B in February, and U–Z in October. Renewals can be done online or at the county office; a $5 penalty applies to a lapsed registration. There is no single statewide expiration date, so ignore any source that lists one.
Exemptions
Non-motorized canoes and kayaks are exempt from registration — but attach any motor, even a small electric trolling motor, and the craft must be registered within 72 hours. Sailboats and rental/livery vessels are not exempt and must be registered even without a motor. A boat validly registered in another state may operate on Alabama waters for up to 90 consecutive days before Alabama registration is required. Documented vessels used purely in commerce, and most government-owned vessels and barges, are outside the recreational registration requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alabama title boats?
Yes, since January 1, 2024 — a change from its long history as a non-title state. Boats built after December 31, 2023, or for which Alabama becomes the principal-use state on or after January 1, 2024, must be titled through the Department of Revenue; a boat under 18 feet is titled only if it has a 75-horsepower-or-greater engine. Boats finished by the end of 2023 are grandfathered, and federally documented vessels are exempt from titling.
Do I have to register a kayak or canoe in Alabama?
No — non-motorized canoes and kayaks are exempt from registration. As soon as you add any motor, including an electric trolling motor, the craft must be registered within 72 hours before you operate it.
Do I still register my boat in Alabama if it is USCG documented?
Yes. A federally documented vessel is exempt from Alabama titling because the Coast Guard document is the ownership record, but if it is used recreationally on Alabama waters it still must be registered (numbered) with the state. It carries the state decal and does not display AL bow numbers.
How much does boat registration cost in Alabama?
The state base fee is set by length class — $20 under 16 feet, $25 for 16 to under 26 feet, $75 for 26 to under 40 feet, and $100 for 40 feet and over — plus a $5 reservoir-management fee and your county's issuing fee. Because counties add their own charges, the counter total typically runs about $25 to $110.
When does my Alabama boat registration expire?
Annually, in a month set by the first letter of your last name — for instance A and D renew in January, B in February, and U through Z in October. A $5 penalty applies if you let it lapse.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- ALEA Marine Patrol — Boating Forms and Permits (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Alabama Department of Revenue — Vessel Titles FAQ (what must be titled) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Houston County Probate — Boat Registration (renewal months, grace periods, fees) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Tuscaloosa County License Department — Boat Registration (fee schedule) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
Independent reference tool — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center. Vessel data is derived from public USCG sources and may lag official records; always verify with the issuing authority.
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