How to register a boat in Kansas
Register before you operate
A motor- or sail-powered vessel must be registered and numbered before it is operated on Kansas public waters. There is no launch-first grace period, so a new owner should register right after purchase. You can register online, in person at a state park office, a KDWP regional office, or a boat registration agent, or by mailing the application to the KDWP Pratt operations office.
Complete the Certificate of Number application
File the Application for Certificate of Number under the Kansas Boating Act. A federally documented vessel uses the separate Application for U.S. Coast Guard Documented Boats instead. The form captures the owner's information and the vessel's make, year, length, hull material, propulsion, and hull identification number.
Provide proof of ownership and pay the fee
Bring proof of ownership — a bill of sale, the manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) for a new boat, or the prior registration — along with the flat $42.50 registration fee. Because Kansas does not title boats, there is no title application or title fee in the transaction.
Display your KA number and decal
You receive a Certificate of Number and a validation decal. The assigned number takes the form KA 123 AB and must be painted or permanently affixed to both sides of the forward top half of the hull in vertical block characters at least three inches tall, contrasting sharply with the background, reading left to right. Place the decal in line with, and within three inches of, the number on each side. Keep the Certificate of Number aboard whenever the boat is in use.
Kansas registration fees
Kansas charges a single flat fee for boat registration, not a fee that varies by length or class. The original registration and each renewal cost $42.50 for every boat, and that fee covers a full three-year registration period. Kansas does not add a state title fee because it does not title boats.
The flat original/renewal fee is $42.50 for all boats and covers three years. Confirm the current amount and any agent service charge with KDWP before you file — see the KDWP boat registration fee page.
Titling in Kansas
Kansas does not title watercraft. There is no state boat title, and Kansas also does not register or title outboard or inboard motors — only the vessel itself is registered. Ownership is transferred with a bill of sale rather than a state-issued title, which makes a clear, signed bill of sale the key document to keep with the boat.
Because there is no title to surrender, a federally documented vessel is handled on the registration side only. Kansas still requires a Coast Guard documented boat to be registered with KDWP if it operates on state waters, but a documented vessel is not assigned a KA number to paint on the hull — it displays the current validation decals plus its documented name and hailing port instead. This registered-but-not-numbered arrangement is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Kansas requires the Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the Certificate of Number application. For any boat built after November 1, 1972, the HIN is the manufacturer's code permanently affixed to the hull — usually on the upper right corner of the transom — and it must be recorded accurately on the registration.
Boats manufactured before 1973 often have no HIN. When a vessel has no hull number, an illegible one, or a homemade hull, KDWP will assign a state HIN as part of the registration process. The HIN is verified during registration, so the number on the boat must match the number on the application.
If you are registering an older or out-of-state hull, decode the existing number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year line up with your paperwork before you file.
Renewal
Kansas boat registrations are valid for three years and expire three years from the date of registration — a rolling anniversary, not a fixed statewide calendar date. KDWP mails a renewal notice roughly six weeks before the expiration date. Renew online, by mail, or through any registration agent, and replace the expiration decal on the hull, keeping only the current decal displayed.
Exemptions
Vessels that are neither motor-powered nor sail-powered — paddle-only canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and similar human-powered craft — do not require Kansas registration. Federally documented vessels are not exempt: a documented boat used on Kansas waters still must be registered with KDWP, though it displays its name, hailing port, and decals rather than a KA number. Nonresidents whose boats are properly registered in another state may use them on Kansas waters for up to 60 consecutive days before Kansas registration is required.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kansas title boats?
No. Kansas does not title watercraft, and it does not title or register motors separately either — only the vessel is registered, through the Department of Wildlife & Parks. Ownership passes by bill of sale, so keep a clear signed bill of sale with the boat in place of a title.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Kansas?
Kansas charges a flat $42.50 for the original registration or a renewal, the same for every boat regardless of length. That single fee covers a full three-year registration period, and because Kansas does not title boats there is no separate title fee.
How long is a Kansas boat registration good for?
Three years. A Kansas registration expires three years from the date it was issued, on a rolling anniversary rather than a fixed statewide date. KDWP mails a renewal notice about six weeks before it expires.
Do I have to register a USCG documented boat in Kansas?
Yes. A federally documented vessel operated on Kansas waters must still be registered with KDWP, using the Application for U.S. Coast Guard Documented Boats. A documented boat is not assigned a KA hull number — it displays the current validation decals along with its documented name and hailing port instead.
What if my boat has no HIN or an old hull?
Boats built before 1973 often have no hull identification number. When a boat has no HIN, an illegible one, or a homemade hull, KDWP assigns a state HIN during the registration process. Boats built after November 1, 1972 must show their manufacturer HIN, typically on the upper right of the transom, on the application.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- KDWP — Registering Your Boat (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- KDWP — Boat Registrations (licenses, permits & fees) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- KDWP — Register or Unregister Your Boat (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Boat-Ed (KDWP-approved course) — Which Boats Require Registration (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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