How to register a boat in Massachusetts
Register before you operate; title within 20 days
A motorized boat must be registered before it is used on Massachusetts public waters. If the boat is titleable (14 feet or over and motor-powered or designed for a motor), you must apply for the title and pay the sales/use tax within 20 days of the purchase date. Original registration and titling are handled by the Boat and Recreation Vehicle Registration and Titling Bureau — by mail or in person at a Bureau office in Boston, Fall River, Hyannis, Springfield, or Worcester.
Bring proof of ownership and a HIN tracing
Complete the Bureau's Motorboat, Snowmobile, and Off-Highway Vehicle Registration and Titling Application. Bring an executed bill of sale, plus a manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) for a new boat or the properly assigned existing title for a used one, a pencil tracing or clear photo of the hull identification number, and a photo ID. Boats registered in a non-titling state come in on their out-of-state registration.
Pay the 6.25% sales/use tax
Massachusetts charges a 6.25% sales or use tax on the boat's purchase price, paid to the Department of Revenue (Form ST-6) by the 20th day of the month following the purchase. The stamped proof of payment is required before the Bureau will issue a title, so pay the tax before or at the time you file.
Pay the registration fee and receive your MS number and decal
Pay the two-year registration fee for your boat's length (see the fee table), plus the title fee if the boat is titleable. You receive a certificate of registration and a validation decal. The registration number — the letters "MS" followed by digits and letters, e.g. MS 1234 AB — must be displayed on both sides of the forward half of the hull in block characters at least three inches tall in a color that contrasts with the hull, with the decal placed within six inches of the number.
Massachusetts registration fees
Massachusetts registration fees are set by boat length and cover a two-year (biennial) period. Titleable boats (14 feet and over, motor-powered) also pay a one-time title fee. Online transactions add a small service fee. These are state fees only — the municipal boat excise tax is billed separately by your town.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 ft | Less than 16 ft | $44 / 2 yrs |
| 16 to under 26 ft | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $66 / 2 yrs |
| 26 to under 40 ft | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $88 / 2 yrs |
| 40 ft and over | 40 ft and over | $110 / 2 yrs |
Two-year registration fees. Titleable boats also pay a one-time title fee (about $27.50); online transactions add a service fee. Confirm current amounts with the Boat and Recreation Vehicle Registration and Titling Bureau. The 6.25% sales/use tax and the municipal boat excise tax are separate charges.
Titling in Massachusetts
Massachusetts titles boats by length: a vessel 14 feet or greater that uses a motor (temporarily or permanently) or is designed for use with a motor must be titled, in addition to being registered. Boats under 14 feet and non-motorized craft are registered where required but not titled. The title application and the sales/use tax are both due within 20 days of purchase.
Federally documented vessels are treated differently in Massachusetts than in many states: a USCG-documented boat is exempt from both Massachusetts titling and Massachusetts registration, because the Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership and identification record. This is unlike Florida, where a documented vessel must still carry a state registration — see state registration vs USCG documentation for how the two systems interact and why the answer is state-specific.
HIN requirements
Every Massachusetts boat must have an approved 12-character hull identification number (HIN) to be registered or titled. For a boat built after 1972 the HIN is the code the manufacturer molded into the hull, and it must be recorded exactly on the registration and title. When you apply, you submit a pencil tracing or clear photo of the actual hull number so the Bureau can verify it.
Boats built before 1972, homemade boats, and any vessel that does not carry a valid 12-character HIN must have the state assign one. The Massachusetts Environmental Police perform the hull inspection — call 1-800-632-8075 to schedule — and issue the inspection certificate the Bureau needs before it will register or title the boat.
Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the paperwork before you submit the tracing.
Renewal
Massachusetts boat registrations run for two years (biennial). The expiration date is printed on the certificate and validation decal, and the registration expires at the end of that period rather than on a fixed statewide anniversary. Renew before the expiration date — online, by mail, or in person at a Bureau office. The renewal fee equals the biennial registration fee for the boat's length class.
Exemptions
Non-motorized craft — canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and sailboats under 14 feet without a motor — do not have to be registered. Federally documented vessels are exempt from both Massachusetts registration and titling. A boat properly registered in another state may be used on Massachusetts waters for up to 60 consecutive days without registering here. Any boat with a motor, of any length, that is used on Massachusetts public waters must be registered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register my boat in Massachusetts if it is USCG documented?
No. Unlike some states, Massachusetts exempts federally documented vessels from both state registration and state titling — the Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation serves as the ownership and identification record. Note this is a Massachusetts-specific rule; a documented vessel kept in a state like Florida would still need a state registration.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Massachusetts?
Registration is a two-year fee based on length: $44 for a boat under 16 feet, $66 for 16 to under 26 feet, $88 for 26 to under 40 feet, and $110 for 40 feet and over. Titleable boats (14 feet and over with a motor) also pay a one-time title fee of about $27.50, and a 6.25% sales/use tax applies to the purchase.
Does Massachusetts title boats?
Yes, by length. A boat 14 feet or greater that uses or is designed for a motor must be titled as well as registered, and the title application plus sales/use tax are due within 20 days of purchase. Boats under 14 feet and non-motorized boats are not titled, and documented vessels are exempt from titling.
What if my boat has no HIN or was built before 1972?
Massachusetts requires an approved 12-character HIN. Boats built before 1972, homemade boats, or any boat missing a valid HIN must be inspected by the Massachusetts Environmental Police (call 1-800-632-8075) so the state can assign a HIN and issue the inspection certificate the Bureau needs before registering or titling the boat.
Is the boat excise tax the same as registration?
No. The state registration fee goes to the Environmental Police's Registration and Titling Bureau. The boat excise tax is a separate municipal charge — commonly $10 per $1,000 of assessed value — owed to the city or town where the boat is habitually moored or docked as of July 1, billed by the local assessors.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Mass.gov — Boat and Recreation Vehicle Registration and Titling Bureau (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Mass.gov — First-time boat registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Mass.gov — Boat registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Mass.gov — Boat Registration FAQs (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- 323 CMR 2.03 — Vessel Identification (registration number and decal display) (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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