How to register a boat in Georgia
Register before you operate on public water
A boat that requires registration is illegal to operate on Georgia's public waters until it is registered and numbered. There is no separate grace period for a newly purchased boat — register it first. If you sell or transfer a boat, or change your address, you must report it to DNR within 15 days.
Gather proof of ownership and the boat's details
You need proof of ownership — a bill of sale, dealer invoice, or manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) — plus the hull identification number (HIN), overall length, make, model year, and hull material. If the boat came from a state that titles vessels, DNR will ask for that out-of-state title as the proof of ownership.
Apply through Go Outdoors Georgia
Register online at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or by submitting the vessel registration application with documents by email ([email protected]), by fax (678-515-9470), or by mail to GA Dept. of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 934943, Atlanta, GA 31193-4943. A per-transaction service fee applies on top of the registration fee.
Run on your TAN, then post your number and decal
Once payment is approved you receive a Temporary Authorization Number (TAN) that lets you operate for up to 60 days while the certificate and decal arrive (keep it aboard). Your GA number must be painted or decaled on both sides of the bow in block characters at least 3 inches high in a contrasting color, reading left to right (e.g. "GA 3717 ZW"), and the validation decal goes on each side of the bow just ahead of the prefix letters.
Georgia registration fees
Georgia sets a single registration fee by vessel length, and that fee covers a three-year registration period (not an annual one). The figures below are the state registration fees; a per-transaction service fee is added when you register or renew online, by phone, or by mail, and a lapsed registration picks up a late fee at renewal.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class I | Less than 16 ft | $35 |
| Class II | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $70 |
| Class III | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $140 |
| Class IV | 40 ft and over | $210 |
Three-year fees. A duplicate registration is $11 and a lapsed registration adds a $10 late fee at renewal; per-transaction service fees (about $10 for an original, $3 for an online renewal) apply on top. Confirm the current schedule with Georgia DNR before you pay.
Titling in Georgia
Georgia does not title boats. It is a non-titling state — the Boat Registration and Verification Record maintained by DNR is the official record of the vessel and its owner, and there is no separate certificate of title issued for a Georgia boat. When a boat arrives from a state that does issue titles, DNR asks for that title as proof of ownership, but Georgia itself does not produce one.
Because there is no state title, ownership is transferred with a bill of sale rather than an assigned title. Coast Guard documentation is a different track entirely: a federally documented vessel used in Georgia still has to be registered with DNR even though the Certificate of Documentation — not a state record — is its ownership document. Documentation only removes the requirement to paint the state registration number on the hull; the boat must still display its current Georgia validation decal. The difference between the two systems is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Every boat manufactured or imported on or after November 1, 1972 must bear a Hull Identification Number (HIN), and that HIN has to be recorded when you register it in Georgia. Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match your paperwork before you file.
If a post-1972 boat has no manufacturer HIN, or the number can't be verified, DNR requires a HIN inspection. Inspections are handled by your County Conservation Ranger (or a DNR law-enforcement officer), who physically checks the hull before the boat can be registered.
Homemade vessels must carry a state-assigned HIN regardless of the year they were built. Contact your County Conservation Ranger to have a Georgia HIN assigned and the vessel inspected; only then can the registration be completed.
Renewal
Georgia vessel registrations run for three calendar years and expire on the last day of the first owner's birth month in the third year. DNR mails a renewal notice once, when 60 days or fewer remain on the registration, and you can renew online at gooutdoorsgeorgia.com, by phone at 1-800-366-2661, or by mail. A registration that is allowed to lapse incurs a $10 late fee at renewal, so renew before the decal expires.
Exemptions
Sailboats 12 feet and under are exempt, as are canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and rubber rafts that have no mechanical propulsion. Boats used exclusively on a private pond or lake do not need to be registered. A vessel with a valid registration from another state can be used on Georgia waters without a Georgia registration as long as it is not operated in the state for more than 60 consecutive days. Federally documented vessels are not exempt: if Georgia is the state of principal use, a documented boat must still be registered and display a Georgia decal, even though it does not display a state bow number.
Frequently asked questions
Does Georgia title boats?
No. Georgia is a non-titling state — it does not issue certificates of title for boats. DNR's Boat Registration and Verification Record is the official record of the vessel and owner, ownership is transferred with a bill of sale, and if your boat came from a title state, DNR uses that out-of-state title as proof of ownership.
Do I have to register a USCG-documented boat in Georgia?
Yes, if Georgia is the boat's state of principal use. Coast Guard documentation does not exempt you from Georgia registration; it only removes the requirement to paint the state registration number on the hull. A documented vessel must still be registered with DNR and display a current Georgia validation decal.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Georgia?
The registration fee is set by length and covers three years: $35 for a boat under 16 feet, $70 for 16 to under 26 feet, $140 for 26 to under 40 feet, and $210 for 40 feet and over. A per-transaction service fee is added when you register or renew, and a lapsed registration adds a $10 late fee.
Which boats have to be registered in Georgia?
Any mechanically propelled vessel — any boat with a motor — and any sailboat more than 12 feet long that is used on public waters of the state. Exempt are sailboats 12 feet and under, non-motorized canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rafts, and boats used only on private ponds or lakes.
What if my boat is homemade or has no HIN?
A homemade vessel must carry a state-assigned HIN regardless of its build year, and any post-1972 boat without a verifiable manufacturer HIN needs a hull inspection. Contact your County Conservation Ranger to assign a Georgia HIN and inspect the boat before you register it.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Georgia DNR (Wildlife Resources) — Boat Registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Georgia DNR — Boat Registration FAQs (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Georgia DNR — Hull Identification Number (HIN) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Boat Ed (Georgia) — Which Boats Require Registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Boat Ed (Georgia) — Displaying the Registration Number and Validation Decals (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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