How to register a boat in Michigan
Register and title within 15 days of purchase
A new owner has 15 days from the date of sale to transfer the title and register the watercraft with the Secretary of State. Miss the window and a late fee applies. Keep the bill of sale and date of purchase with the boat until the paperwork is done. Registration is handled at a Secretary of State office (schedule a visit), and existing registrations can be renewed online at ExpressSOS.com or at a self-service station.
Bring proof of ownership and complete the title application
For a titled boat, complete the Application for Michigan Watercraft Title (form WR-11L). Acceptable proof of ownership includes an assigned certificate of title, a manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO) for a new boat, or a dealer bill of sale. For a used boat bought from a private seller, bring the properly assigned Michigan title (or the out-of-state title). Bring a photo ID.
Pay the 6% use tax and the registration fee
Michigan collects 6% use tax on the purchase price of the boat at the time of transfer (certain family transfers and qualifying out-of-state purchases are exempt), plus the title fee and the length-based registration fee for your vessel's class (see the fee table). The registration fee covers a full three-year term.
Display your MC number and validation decal
You receive a Certificate of Number and a validation decal. The registration number — in the format "MC 1234 AB" — must be painted or permanently attached to both sides of the bow, in block letters at least three inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull. The validation decal goes within a few inches of the number. Federally documented vessels display a decal but are not required to paint an MC number on the hull.
Michigan registration fees
Michigan sets the watercraft registration fee by length class, and the fee buys a full three-year registration (not an annual one). The figures below are the statutory base fees under MCL 324.80124. On top of the registration fee, expect the $5 title fee where a title is required and 6% use tax on the purchase price at transfer.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 12 ft | Less than 12 ft | $14 |
| 12 to 16 ft | 12 ft to less than 16 ft | $17 |
| 16 to 21 ft | 16 ft to less than 21 ft | $42 |
| 21 to 28 ft | 21 ft to less than 28 ft | $115 |
| 28 to 35 ft | 28 ft to less than 35 ft | $168 |
| 35 to 42 ft | 35 ft to less than 42 ft | $244 |
| 42 to 50 ft | 42 ft to less than 50 ft | $280 |
| 50 ft and over | 50 ft and over | $448 |
Three-year fees for motorboats. Pontoons registered as pontoons are a flat $23; non-powered sailboats are $9; a canoe or kayak that must be registered is $5. Add the $5 title fee (where required) and 6% use tax. Confirm the current total with the Secretary of State before you pay.
Titling in Michigan
Michigan titles watercraft, but not every boat needs a title. A title is required for any watercraft 20 feet or longer, and for any watercraft with a permanently affixed engine regardless of length. Smaller boats with only a portable outboard are registered but not titled. The title fee is $5.
A federally documented vessel is the exception in the other direction: because the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, Michigan does not issue a state title for a documented boat — but it still must be registered in Michigan and display a validation decal if it is used on Michigan waters. This "documented but not titled" arrangement is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Michigan records the Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the title and registration. For a boat built after 1972, the HIN is the 12-character code the manufacturer permanently affixed to the hull, and it must match the number on the paperwork.
When a boat has no HIN, or the number has been damaged, altered, or removed — common on older, homemade, or out-of-state boats — the Secretary of State will assign a state HIN when you apply for a title with proof of ownership. Out-of-state and homemade boats may need the hull number verified before the title is issued.
Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match the title application before you go to the SOS office; a mismatch is the most common reason a titling transaction stalls.
Renewal
Michigan watercraft registrations run on a three-year cycle. The term runs April 1 through March 31, so every registration — no matter when in the cycle you buy it — expires on March 31 of its third year. Renew online at ExpressSOS.com, at a self-service station, or at a Secretary of State office. There is no birthday-based staggering as with some states; the whole state is on the same March 31 anchor date.
Exemptions
Human-powered vessels 16 feet and shorter — most canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and paddleboards — do not have to be registered in Michigan; a hand-powered vessel only needs registration once it exceeds 16 feet. Rafts, sailboards, and similar craft are also outside the requirement. Boats owned by the United States or used solely for government purposes are exempt, and a boat validly registered in another state may be used on Michigan waters for a limited reciprocity period without Michigan registration. Federally documented vessels are exempt from Michigan titling but not from registration — a documented boat used on Michigan waters must still be registered and display a decal.
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan register boats through the Secretary of State or the DNR?
Through the Secretary of State. Michigan treats watercraft much like vehicles — the SOS issues the registration (the MC number and decal) and the title. The Department of Natural Resources writes and enforces the on-water boating and safety rules, but it does not handle registration paperwork.
Does Michigan title boats?
Yes, but only above a threshold. A title is required for any watercraft 20 feet or longer, and for any boat with a permanently affixed engine regardless of length. Smaller boats with only a portable motor are registered but not titled. The exception is a federally documented vessel, which is registered in Michigan but not state-titled because the Coast Guard document is the ownership record.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Michigan?
The registration fee is set by length and covers three years — from $14 for a boat under 12 feet up to $448 for one 50 feet or longer, with a 16-to-21-foot boat at $42. Add the $5 title fee where a title is required, plus 6% use tax on the purchase price at transfer.
How long do I have to register a boat after I buy it in Michigan?
Fifteen days from the date of sale to transfer the title and register the boat with the Secretary of State. Registering late adds a fee, so bring your proof of ownership and settle the use tax within that window.
Do I have to register my kayak or canoe in Michigan?
Usually no. Human-powered vessels 16 feet or shorter — including most canoes, kayaks, and rowboats — are exempt from registration. Once a hand-powered vessel is longer than 16 feet, or if you add a motor of any kind, it must be registered.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Michigan Secretary of State — Recreational vehicles and watercraft (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Michigan Secretary of State — Watercraft decal (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Michigan Department of State — Watercraft Dealer Manual (BFS-88) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- MCL 324.80124 — Watercraft registration fee schedule (Michigan Legislature) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Michigan SOS — Application for Michigan Watercraft Title (WR-11L) (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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