How to register a boat in Illinois
Apply within 15 days of purchase
State law requires the purchaser of a watercraft to submit an application to IDNR within 15 days after purchase. Until the permanent Certificate of Number and decals arrive, keep your dated proof of purchase and the application copy aboard the boat.
Complete the Watercraft Registration/Title Application
Fill out IDNR form IL 422-0321 (Watercraft Registration/Title Application). Attach proof of ownership: the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) for a new boat, or the properly assigned Illinois title and registration for a used boat, plus a bill of sale if you bought from a private party. New-boat and title applications with original ownership documents are mailed to IDNR; renewals can be done online through the DNR Direct system or at a license vendor.
Pay the registration fee, title fee, and use tax
Pay the three-year registration fee for your boat's length class (see the fee table), the $15 title fee if the boat is over 21 feet, and the 6.25% watercraft use tax on the purchase price. A $2.00 processing fee is added to every watercraft application transaction.
Display your number and decals
IDNR issues an Illinois registration ("IL") number and expiration decals. The IL number must be painted or permanently attached to both sides of the forward half of the hull in block letters at least 3 inches high, reading left to right, with a space or hyphen between letter and number groups. The validation decals go next to the number as directed. Federally documented vessels display their name and hailing port instead of an IL bow number.
Illinois registration fees
Illinois sets the registration fee by length class, and the fee covers a full three-year period (not an annual charge). New and transfer registrations cost more than renewals. A $15 title fee applies to boats over 21 feet, and a $2.00 processing fee is added to every transaction. The figures below are the state fees; the 6.25% watercraft use tax on the purchase price is separate.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | All powered watercraft less than 16 ft | $28 new / $18 renewal |
| Class 2 | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $60 new / $50 renewal |
| Class 3 | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $160 new / $150 renewal |
| Class 4 | 40 ft and over | $210 new / $200 renewal |
Three-year fees. Add the $15 title fee (boats over 21 ft), a $2.00 per-transaction processing fee, and the 6.25% use tax. Duplicate title, duplicate decals, corrected title/registration, and a title search are $7.00 each. Confirm current amounts on the IDNR transaction-fees page before you file.
Titling in Illinois
Illinois titles watercraft, but only above a length threshold: vessels 21 feet and under in length are not required to have a Certificate of Title, while vessels over 21 feet must be titled. Owners of smaller boats may still title them voluntarily as proof of ownership, but it is optional under 22 feet. The title fee is $15.
A federally documented vessel is the standard exception. Because the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, Illinois does not issue a state title for a documented boat — but a documented vessel kept on Illinois waters for 60 or more consecutive days must still be registered with IDNR. This is the classic "documented but not titled" setup explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is the 12-character code the manufacturer permanently affixed to a boat's hull after 1972. Illinois records the HIN on the Certificate of Number and, for boats over 21 feet, on the Certificate of Title, so the number on your paperwork must match the hull exactly.
All homemade watercraft, and any watercraft that has no valid hull identification number or no previous registration, must be inspected by IDNR before a title and registration can be issued. The inspection confirms the hull and, where needed, lets the state assign a HIN.
An Illinois state-assigned hull number begins with the special manufacturer code "ILZ" followed by the remaining digits of the 12-character HIN. If you are buying a used or out-of-state boat, decode the existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the title and application before you submit.
Renewal
Illinois watercraft registrations are valid for three years and expire on September 30 of the expiration year — a fixed statewide date, not the owner's birthday. All new and transfer registrations issued on or after June 1, 2018 carry that September 30 expiration. IDNR mails renewal notices before expiration, and you can renew online through DNR Direct, by mail, or at a license vendor. Renew before the September 30 expiration to avoid operating on lapsed decals.
Exemptions
Non-powered watercraft — canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, paddleboards, and sailboards under 22 feet — are no longer required to be registered or titled in Illinois (effective June 1, 2018), unless the craft carries a motor or a sail. Owners may still register a non-powered boat voluntarily. Also exempt from Illinois registration are government-owned vessels, ships' lifeboats, foreign vessels temporarily on Illinois waters, boats used exclusively for racing, and out-of-state registered or U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels operating on Illinois waters for fewer than 60 consecutive days. Once an out-of-state or documented boat is kept in Illinois for 60 or more consecutive days, it must be registered with IDNR.
Frequently asked questions
Do kayaks and canoes need to be registered in Illinois?
No. Since June 1, 2018 non-powered watercraft — canoes, kayaks, paddleboats, and paddleboards under 22 feet — are no longer required to be registered or titled in Illinois, and the old Water Usage Stamp for them was eliminated too. The exemption ends if you add a motor or a sail, which makes the craft registerable.
Does Illinois title boats?
Yes, but only above a length cutoff. Vessels 21 feet and under are not required to have a Certificate of Title; vessels over 21 feet must be titled. Titling smaller boats is optional. The title fee is $15, and a federally documented vessel is titled by the Coast Guard rather than the state.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Illinois?
The registration fee depends on length and covers a full three years: $28 new / $18 renewal for a powered boat under 16 feet, $60 / $50 for 16 to under 26 feet, $160 / $150 for 26 to under 40 feet, and $210 / $200 for 40 feet and over. Add a $15 title fee for boats over 21 feet, a $2.00 processing fee, and 6.25% use tax on the purchase price.
How long do I have to register a boat after buying it in Illinois?
Illinois law gives the purchaser 15 days after purchase to submit the registration/title application to IDNR. New-boat and title filings with original ownership documents are mailed to the department in Springfield; renewals can be handled online through DNR Direct or at a license vendor.
My boat has no HIN or is homemade — what do I do?
All homemade watercraft, and any boat with no valid hull identification number or no previous registration, must be inspected by IDNR before it can be titled and registered. When Illinois assigns a hull number, it begins with the state manufacturer code "ILZ" followed by the rest of the 12-character HIN.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- IDNR — Registering A New Boat In Illinois (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- IDNR — Watercraft Transaction Fees (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- IDNR — Watercraft Frequently Asked Questions (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- IDNR — Illinois Registered Watercraft (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- IDNR — Illinois Boat Registration and Safety Act (publication 00000055) (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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