How to register a boat in Nevada
Register before you operate; 60 days if you relocate
Every power-driven vessel operated on Nevada public waters must be numbered and registered with NDOW before use. A boat previously registered in another state that becomes principally used in Nevada must be registered here within 60 days. New and untitled boats are registered at any NDOW office or online at nevada.licensing.app; mail is available only for watercraft already titled in Nevada.
Bring proof of ownership and the boat's details
For a new or untitled boat NDOW asks for proof of ownership (the original bill of sale), proof that sales/use tax was paid (private-party sales are tax-exempt), the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, and your Social Security number. If the HIN is handwritten on the MSO, you must bring the boat to an NDOW office for inspection first.
Buy the mandatory AIS decal
Nevada law requires an aquatic invasive species decal on all watercraft capable of retaining water — every motorized boat and most non-motorized craft, including canoes and kayaks. The decal costs $13 for motorized watercraft and $6 for non-motorized, is nontransferable, and is bought annually; you can add it to the same transaction as your registration.
Display your number and decals
Display the number — "NV" plus digits plus letters, separated by a space or hyphen (for example, NV 3717 ZW) — on each side of the forward half of the boat above the waterline, in bold block characters at least 3 inches high in a contrasting color, reading left to right. Only the current validation decal may be shown, placed within 6 inches of and in line with the number. On a personal watercraft the numbers go on the hull, not the removable engine cover.
Nevada registration fees
Nevada sets the registration fee by length, charges flat fees for the title and transfers, and requires the AIS decal on top. Registration is an annual (one-year) term. NDOW notes that nominal processing fees are added.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 ft | Under 13 ft | $20.00 |
| 13 ft to less than 18 ft | 13 ft to <18 ft | $25.00 |
| 18 ft to less than 22 ft | 18 ft to <22 ft | $40.00 |
| 22 ft to less than 26 ft | 22 ft to <26 ft | $55.00 |
| 26 ft to less than 31 ft | 26 ft to <31 ft | $75.00 |
| 31 ft and over | 31 ft and over | $100.00 |
Annual registration fees. An Initial Certificate of Ownership (title) and a title transfer are each $20. The mandatory AIS decal is $13 for motorized and $6 for non-motorized watercraft, bought yearly. Nominal processing fees apply; confirm the current schedule with NDOW.
Titling in Nevada
Nevada does issue a title: NDOW's fee schedule lists an Initial Certificate of Ownership (title) at $20 and a title transfer at $20, and the terms "Certificate of Ownership" and "title" are used interchangeably. So Nevada is not a registration-only state — the Certificate of Ownership is the ownership record that rides alongside the annual registration.
A federally documented vessel is exempt from state numbering and titling under NRS 488.175 (which incorporates the federal documentation system), so a documented boat carries no "NV" number. In practice a documented vessel principally used in Nevada still deals with NDOW for its fees and must display the mandatory AIS decal to use Nevada waters — confirm the exact documented-use handling with NDOW. The relationship between the federal document and state paperwork is explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Nevada verifies hull identity at the point of registration. If the HIN is handwritten on the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, or the boat comes from a non-titling state with no MSO, the watercraft must be brought to an NDOW office where staff inspect and verify the hull number. Decode any existing HIN with the HIN decoder before the visit to confirm the manufacturer and model year.
Nevada statute (NRS 488.175) authorizes the Department to provide by regulation for issuing numbers to motorboats not otherwise required to be registered, but NDOW does not publish a step-by-step homemade-boat HIN-assignment procedure, so owners of a homemade hull with no HIN should contact an NDOW office directly to arrange verification and numbering.
Renewal
Nevada boat registrations are annual and run on a calendar-year cycle: NDOW opens renewals on December 1 for the following year, and boats set to auto-renew renew on January 1, which points to a December 31 expiration. Renew online at nevada.licensing.app, at an NDOW office, or through a license agent, and buy the AIS decal for the new year at the same time. No formal grace-period length is published.
Exemptions
Non-motorized vessels — canoes, kayaks, non-motorized sailboats, and similar craft — are exempt from registration and numbering. Also exempt from state numbering: U.S. Coast Guard-documented vessels (NRS 488.175) and out-of-state motorboats validly numbered elsewhere that stay on Nevada waters 90 consecutive days or less. The AIS decal has its own, narrower exemptions: float tubes, paddleboards, inner tubes, and water toys that cannot retain water are exempt, as are Arizona-registered vessels on Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and the lower Colorado River, and California-registered vessels on Lake Tahoe and Topaz Lake.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the AIS decal even on a kayak?
Yes. Nevada requires the aquatic invasive species decal on any watercraft capable of retaining water, which includes canoes, kayaks, and non-motorized sailboats. It costs $6 for non-motorized and $13 for motorized craft, bought each year. Only true water toys — float tubes, paddleboards, inner tubes — are exempt.
Does Nevada title boats or just register them?
Nevada issues a Certificate of Ownership that functions as the title, in addition to the annual registration. The initial certificate is $20 and a title transfer is $20. So contrary to a common assumption, Nevada is a titling state, not registration-only.
My boat is Coast Guard documented — do I still deal with NDOW?
You do not get a Nevada bow number, because documented vessels are exempt from state numbering and titling. But if you use the boat on Nevada waters you still handle NDOW fees and must display the mandatory AIS decal. Confirm the exact documented-use steps with NDOW.
I'm visiting from out of state — do I have to register in Nevada?
Not right away. A boat with a valid current number from another state may operate on Nevada waters up to 90 consecutive days. If Nevada becomes your state of principal use, register with NDOW within 60 days. Either way, a motorized visitor needs the AIS decal.
The HIN is handwritten on my MSO — can I register online?
No. If the HIN is handwritten on the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, or the boat comes from a non-titling state with no MSO, you must bring the watercraft to an NDOW office for a hull inspection before it can be registered.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- NDOW — Boat Titling, Registration and More (fees, documents, title) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NDOW — How to Register Your Boat in Nevada (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NDOW — Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Program (AIS decal fees) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 488 — Watercraft (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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