How to register a boat in New Jersey
Title within 10 working days of purchase
A new owner must apply to title a boat longer than 12 feet within 10 working days of purchase or face a $25 penalty. Boats 12 feet or less are not titled, but if powered they still must be registered before use. Titling and registration are done in person at any MVC agency.
Bring proof of ownership and ID
Acceptable proof of ownership includes the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO/MSO) for a new boat, an assigned title or transferable registration for a used boat, or a notarized bill of sale. Bring your Social Security number and satisfy MVC's 6 Points of ID identity requirement. Homemade boats also need material receipts, any kit plans, and photos of the build.
Complete the forms and pay the fees
Use the Universal Title Application (OS/SS-UTA) to title the boat and Form BA-51 to register it. Pay the title fee (currently $60, or $85 with a lien) plus the annual registration fee for your vessel's length class. Sales/use tax on the purchase is collected separately.
Display your bow number and decals
You receive a registration certificate with a New Jersey number in the format NJ-1234-AB and a set of validation decals. The number goes on each side of the bow in block characters at least 3 inches high, and the decal is placed 3 inches aft of the number. A federally documented vessel does not display an NJ number — it shows a validation sticker on each side adjacent to the main steering station instead.
New Jersey registration fees
New Jersey charges an annual registration fee set by vessel length, plus a one-time title fee. The figures below are the non-commercial (pleasure) annual fees from the MVC fee schedule; commercial vessels pay $1 more in each class. The title fee is $60 (or $85 with a lien) and sales/use tax on the purchase is separate.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 ft | Less than 16 ft | $12.00 |
| 16 to 25 ft | 16 ft to 25 ft 11 in | $28.00 |
| 26 to 39 ft | 26 ft to 39 ft 11 in | $52.00 |
| 40 to 64 ft | 40 ft to 64 ft 11 in | $80.00 |
| 65 ft and over | 65 ft or more | $250.00 |
Annual pleasure-vessel fees from the NJ MVC schedule; commercial vessels add $1 per class. Confirm current title and registration fees at nj.gov/mvc/vehicles/regfees.htm.
Titling in New Jersey
New Jersey titles boats, and titling turns entirely on length: a boat longer than 12 feet must be titled regardless of how it is propelled or how old it is. There is no model-year cutoff. Boats 12 feet or less are never titled — they are registered only if powered.
The other exception is a federally documented vessel. Because the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, New Jersey does not issue a state title for a documented boat — but the boat still must be registered with the MVC (and pay the registration fee) if it is kept in New Jersey or operated on New Jersey waters beyond the transient window. A documented vessel displays validation decals adjacent to its main steering station rather than an NJ bow number. This is the classic "documented but not titled" setup explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Before you turn in a title application, New Jersey requires the boat to carry a valid Hull Identification Number (HIN). For a boat built after 1972 this is the 12-character code the manufacturer affixed to the transom, and it must match the number recorded on the title and registration.
Homemade boats and boats with no HIN — or with a damaged or non-conforming HIN — must be inspected by the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau. The Bureau issues a HIN Inspection Report, which you bring to the MVC; the MVC then assigns a state HIN so the boat can be titled. Out-of-state boats carry over the HIN shown on their existing title or registration; an inspection is only needed if that number is missing or invalid.
Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match your paperwork before you visit an MVC agency.
Renewal
New Jersey boat registrations are issued annually and renewed on Form BA-51 — the same form used for the initial registration. The MVC mails a renewal notice before expiration. Note that the New Jersey boat license (the operator credential) is a separate four-year document; do not confuse it with the annual vessel registration. Expired decals must not be displayed on the boat.
Exemptions
Non-powered canoes and kayaks are explicitly exempt, as are non-powered vessels 12 feet or less, non-powered inflatables, surfboards, racing shells, and a tender or dinghy used only for direct ship-to-shore transport. A ship's lifeboat, public/government vessels, and vessels used exclusively in an authorized race are also exempt. Adding any motor — including an electric trolling motor — makes a craft a power vessel that must be registered.
Out-of-state and federally documented vessels may operate in New Jersey on a transient basis, but a boat kept in New Jersey or operated in New Jersey waters for 180 consecutive days or more (or whose owner rents, leases, or occupies space in the state) must be registered with the MVC.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register my kayak or canoe in New Jersey?
No. Non-powered kayaks and canoes are specifically exempt, along with other non-powered vessels 12 feet or less. But the moment you add a motor of any kind — including a small electric trolling motor — the craft becomes a power vessel that must be registered with the MVC.
Does New Jersey title old boats?
Yes. New Jersey titling is based on length, not age: any boat longer than 12 feet must be titled no matter how old it is, and boats 12 feet or less are never titled. There is no model-year cutoff. You have 10 working days from purchase to apply for the title or you owe a $25 penalty.
Do I need a boat safety certificate to register a boat in New Jersey?
Not to register or title it. The boating safety certificate — and the separate New Jersey boat license for operating a power vessel on non-tidal waters — are operator credentials required to run the boat, not to put it on the paperwork. You complete a State Police-approved course to earn them.
My boat is USCG documented — do I still deal with New Jersey?
You will not get a New Jersey title, because the Coast Guard document is the ownership record, but you must register the boat with the MVC (and pay the registration fee) if it is kept in New Jersey or operated on New Jersey waters beyond the 180-day transient window. A documented vessel shows a validation sticker on each side adjacent to the main steering station instead of an NJ bow number.
My boat is homemade or has no HIN — how do I title it?
Take it to the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau for an inspection. The Bureau issues a HIN Inspection Report; the MVC then assigns a state HIN so the boat can be titled. Homemade boats also need copies of material receipts, any kit plans, and photographs of the build.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- NJ MVC — Boating (registration, title, and license) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NJ MVC — Registration and title fees (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NJ MVC — Form BA-51, Application for Boat Registration (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NJ State Police Marine Services Bureau — Boat Registration Information (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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