How to register a boat in Missouri
Title within 60 days of purchase
Missouri residents have 60 days from the date of purchase to title and register a boat before a penalty applies — $10 on the 61st day, then $10 more every 30 days up to a $30 maximum. Titling is done in person or by mail at any Missouri license office; there is no fully online titling for a new title. Documented-vessel registrations go to the Motor Vehicle Bureau central office in Jefferson City instead.
Bring ownership, tax, and personal-property proof
You need proof of ownership (a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, an assigned Certificate of Title, or a descriptive bill of sale), a signed Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93), and a paid personal-property-tax receipt (or statement of non-assessment) from your county or the City of St. Louis that lists the boat. State and local sales/use tax (4.225% state plus local) is collected unless it was already paid to another state.
Title the outboard motor separately
Missouri titles and registers the outboard motor as its own record, separate from the hull, each with its own fee and decal (trolling motors and electric outboards are exempt). Budget for both the vessel title and the motor title when you buy a rig that includes a gas outboard.
Display your number and decals
Display the number — two letters, four digits, two letters, in the format "MO 1234 AB" — on each side of the forward half of the hull in block characters at least 3 inches high, contrasting with the hull, with 2-inch spaces separating letters from numbers and no other number on the bow. The boat decal goes below each number; the outboard-motor decal goes on a solid part of the metal housing. Keep the pocket card (certificate of number) aboard.
Missouri registration fees
Missouri sets the boat/vessel registration (decal) fee by length, valid for three years, with a $9 processing fee added to each transaction. Title and motor fees are charged on top. The registration fee amounts below are the state figures; some third-party sites quote higher numbers because they fold the processing fee into the line item.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 ft | Under 16 ft | $25.00 |
| 16 ft to less than 26 ft | 16 ft to <26 ft | $55.00 |
| 26 ft to less than 40 ft | 26 ft to <40 ft | $100.00 |
| 40 ft and over | 40 ft and over | $150.00 |
Three-year registration fees plus a $9 processing fee per transaction. Vessel title is $7.50; an outboard motor is $5 title + $2 registration; a state-assigned HIN plate is $7.50. Sales/use tax (4.225% state plus local) applies separately. Confirm current amounts on the DOR fee schedule.
Titling in Missouri
Missouri titles both the vessel and the outboard motor, and titling is mandatory for all motorized boats and sailboats over 12 feet. The vessel title fee is $7.50 and the outboard-motor title fee is $5, each on top of a processing fee.
A federally documented vessel is handled the Missouri way that mirrors Florida's: it is not titled by the state, but it still must be registered. Owners apply for a Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration using Form 4398, filed with the Motor Vehicle Bureau central office with a copy of the Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation and a paid personal-property-tax receipt, and receive decals only — no "MO" number. Residents must do this within 30 days (not the usual 60), and a gas outboard on a documented vessel must still be separately titled and registered. The distinction between the two records is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Vessels model-year 1975 and newer must carry a 12-character factory Hull Identification Number (federal law has required one on boats built after November 1, 1972). Decode any existing hull number with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and year before filing.
If a HIN is missing, shorter than 12 characters, or defaced, the owner submits the Watercraft and/or Outboard Motor Affidavit of Ownership and Inspection (Form 798) and DOR issues a state-assigned metal identification plate for an extra $7.50. The inspection is performed by a law-enforcement agency approved by DOR; for homemade vessels and all 1985-and-newer boats it must be the Missouri State Highway Patrol / State Water Patrol or the Conservation Commission. State-assigned numbers use an "MOZ" prefix for a homemade vessel and "MOZA" for a manufactured vessel whose maker HIN cannot be determined.
Renewal
Missouri boat registrations run three years and expire on June 30 of the final year — a fixed anchor, not the purchase anniversary. There is no late penalty for a renewal that lapses (the $10-plus penalty structure applies to titling, not renewal). Outboard-motor decals are not renewed at all; they are valid until the motor changes ownership. Renew at any license office, by mail, or by phone at 573-751-1957, and bring a current paid personal-property-tax receipt.
Exemptions
Boats propelled solely by paddle or oars are exempt regardless of length, as are sailboats or sailboards 12 feet or less. Also exempt from Missouri titling and registration: vessels owned by out-of-state residents kept or operated in Missouri fewer than 60 consecutive days, vessels owned by the U.S. government, foreign vessels on Missouri waters fewer than 60 consecutive days, and ships' lifeboats. On the motor side, trolling motors and electric outboards are not titled or registered. Documented vessels are exempt from titling but must still be registered.
Frequently asked questions
Does Missouri really title the outboard motor separately?
Yes. Missouri titles and registers the outboard motor as its own record, apart from the hull, each with its own fee and decal. A gas outboard needs a $5 title and $2 registration; trolling motors and electric outboards are exempt. Budget for both records when you buy a boat-and-motor rig.
How long do I have to title a boat in Missouri?
Sixty days from the date of purchase. Miss the window and a $10 penalty applies on the 61st day, rising $10 every 30 days to a $30 cap. Documented vessels are the exception — residents must register those within 30 days.
Why do I need a personal-property-tax receipt to register my boat?
Missouri requires a paid personal-property-tax receipt (or a statement of non-assessment) from your county or the City of St. Louis, with the boat listed on it, before you can title, register, or renew. It is one of the most common reasons a registration gets held up.
My boat is Coast Guard documented — do I still deal with Missouri DOR?
Yes. You do not title a documented vessel, but you must register it: file Form 4398 with the Motor Vehicle Bureau central office with a copy of the Certificate of Documentation and a paid personal-property-tax receipt, and you receive decals only, no "MO" number. Residents must do this within 30 days.
My homemade boat has no HIN — how do I title it?
Have it inspected by the Missouri State Highway Patrol / State Water Patrol using Form 798. DOR then issues a state-assigned number plate — "MOZ" for a homemade hull — for $7.50, which lets you title and register the boat.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Missouri DOR — Boat/Vessel/Outboard Motor Titling & Registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Missouri DOR — Watercraft additional information (numbers, decals, documented vessels) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Missouri DOR — Titling & registration fees (watercraft) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Missouri State Highway Patrol — Serial Number Verification Stations (HIN inspection) (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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