How to register a boat in Florida
Register within 30 days of purchase
A new owner has 30 days to title and register a vessel with the county tax collector. During that window, keep proof of the date of purchase aboard the boat. Registration is done in person at a county tax collector office or license plate agent.
Bring proof of ownership
Acceptable proof includes an executed bill of sale, a manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) or builder's contract for a new boat, an existing certificate of title properly assigned to you, or a federal marine document for a documented vessel. Bring a photo ID.
Pay sales tax and registration fees
Florida sales/use tax applies to the purchase price unless an exemption is met, in addition to the annual registration fee for your vessel's length class (see the fee table) plus the standard per-transaction service fees.
Receive your registration and decal
You receive a Florida Certificate of Registration and a validation decal. The registration (bow) number must be displayed on both sides of the forward half of the vessel, with the decal placed per FLHSMV rules — except on documented vessels, which display their name and hailing port instead of a bow number.
Florida registration fees by length
Florida sets the annual registration fee by vessel length class. The figures below are the state base fees; counties add statutory per-transaction charges (a service fee, an FRVIS fee, and a small aquatic-plant/manatee trust contribution), so the amount you pay at the counter is a few dollars higher.
| Class | Vessel length | Annual base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class A-1 | Less than 12 ft | $5.50 |
| Class A-2 | 12 ft to less than 16 ft | $16.25 |
| Class 1 | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $28.75 |
| Class 2 | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $78.25 |
| Class 3 | 40 ft to less than 65 ft | $127.75 |
| Class 4 | 65 ft to less than 110 ft | $152.75 |
| Class 5 | 110 ft and over | $189.75 |
Base state fees; confirm the current total, including county service fees and any commercial or antique reductions, with your county tax collector or the FLHSMV fee schedule.
Titling in Florida
Florida titles vessels, and a title is required for most motorized boats. The title is the ownership record filed with the county tax collector.
The major exception is a federally documented vessel: because the USCG Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, Florida does not issue a state title for a documented vessel — but the vessel still must be registered in Florida if it is used on Florida waters. This is the classic "documented but not titled" setup explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Florida requires a Hull Identification Number (HIN) on titled and registered vessels. For a boat built after 1972, the HIN is the 12-character code the manufacturer affixed to the hull, and it must be recorded accurately on the title and registration.
If an out-of-state title or registration shows only a partial or improperly formatted HIN (fewer than 12 correctly formatted characters) for a post-1972 vessel, FLHSMV requires a pencil tracing of the actual hull number to be submitted so the HIN can be verified before Florida titles the boat.
Homemade vessels and vessels with no HIN follow a separate process: FLHSMV assigns a state HIN under its titling procedure for homemade vessels (procedure VSTL-09). Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the paperwork.
Renewal
Florida vessel registrations are renewed annually. For an individually owned vessel, the registration expires at midnight on the first owner's birthday; vessels owned by a business or company expire on June 30. You can renew up to 3 months (90 days) before expiration — online, by mail, or in person at the county tax collector.
Exemptions
Non-motor-powered vessels — canoes, kayaks, and similar human-powered craft — are generally exempt from Florida registration. Federally documented vessels are exempt from Florida titling but are not exempt from registration: a documented vessel used on Florida waters still must be registered (with a copy of the Certificate of Documentation as proof of ownership). Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds are also outside the registration requirement.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register a boat in Florida if it is USCG documented?
Yes. A federally documented vessel is exempt from Florida titling — the Coast Guard document is the ownership record — but it still must be registered in Florida if it is used on Florida waters. You register it with the county tax collector using a copy of the Certificate of Documentation as proof of ownership, and it displays its name and hailing port rather than a bow number.
How much is boat registration in Florida?
The annual state fee depends on the vessel's length class — from $5.50 for a boat under 12 feet up to $189.75 for one 110 feet or longer, with a 16-to-26-foot boat at $28.75. Counties add a few dollars in statutory service fees on top, and sales/use tax applies to the purchase separately.
Does Florida title boats?
Yes. Florida issues a certificate of title for most motorized vessels, filed through the county tax collector, and titling is required within 30 days of purchase. The exception is a federally documented vessel, which is registered but not state-titled.
What if my boat's HIN is missing or from out of state?
For a post-1972 boat whose out-of-state paperwork shows only a partial or malformed HIN, FLHSMV requires a pencil tracing of the actual hull number for verification before it will title the boat. Homemade vessels and boats with no HIN are assigned a state HIN under FLHSMV's homemade-vessel titling procedure.
When does my Florida boat registration expire?
Annually — on the first owner's birthday for an individually owned vessel, or on June 30 for a vessel owned by a business. You can renew up to 90 days early online, by mail, or in person.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- FLHSMV — Vessel Titling and Registrations (retrieved 2026-07-15)
- FLHSMV — Vessel registration renewals, title transfers & duplicates (retrieved 2026-07-15)
- FLHSMV — Titling a homemade vessel (procedure VSTL-09, HIN assignment) (retrieved 2026-07-15)
- FLHSMV — Vessel / vehicle fee schedule (retrieved 2026-07-15)
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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