How to register a boat in New York
Register before you operate
A motorized boat must be registered before it is used on New York public waters. Registration is done in person at any DMV office; a title-only transaction can be mailed to the DMV Title Bureau in Albany. Use Form MV-82B, the Boat Registration/Title Application.
Bring proof of ownership and tax forms
Proof of ownership is one of: the Manufacturer's Certificate/Statement of Origin (MCO/MSO), a title from New York or another state, a transferable registration, or a US Coast Guard document. Bring the bill of sale, sales-tax form DTF-802 (or DTF-803/DTF-804 for an exemption or out-of-state credit), and proof of identity. Insurance is not required to register a boat.
Pay the registration fee and any title fee
Registration fees are set in three length tiers and cover a three-year term. If the boat is model year 1987 or newer and 14 feet or longer, a $50 title fee applies as well. County sales tax is collected at registration.
Display your number and stickers
You receive a New York registration number and validation stickers. Put the stickers 18 inches from the bow on both sides of the boat, with the number displayed on the bow. A USCG-documented boat gets stickers only — no New York number.
New York registration fees
New York issues boat registrations for a three-year term and sets the fee in three length tiers. The figures below are from the official MV-82.1B instruction sheet. A $50 title fee applies to boats that require a title (model year 1987 or newer and 14 feet or longer), and county sales tax is collected separately at registration.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 ft | Less than 16 ft | $22.50 |
| 16 to 26 ft | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $45.00 |
| 26 ft and over | 26 ft and longer | $75.00 |
Three-year registration fees from DMV form MV-82.1B; title fee is $50 where a title is required, plus a $5 lien fee if financed. Sales tax is additional. Some third-party sites cite a $12.50 title fee — the official figure is $50.
Titling in New York
New York titles boats, but only a defined subset: a boat is issued a Certificate of Title when it is model year 1987 or newer, at least 14 feet long, and registered in New York. Boats older than 1987 or under 14 feet are registered but not titled — their transferable registration serves as the proof of ownership. A New York resident who owns a title-eligible, non-documented boat must obtain the title in their own name before it can be transferred to a new owner.
A federally documented vessel is title-exempt: because the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, New York does not issue a state title for it. But a documented boat operated on New York waters still must be registered — it receives New York validation stickers only, with no New York number. This is the classic "documented but not titled" case explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
All 1973-model-year and newer boats must have a 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN) before the DMV will register them. For a factory-built boat this is the code the manufacturer affixed to the transom; it must match the number on your paperwork.
Homemade boats and boats with no HIN must apply to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) for a HIN using Form OPS-420, which requires two photos of the boat. Parks routes the application to the local marine law-enforcement agency — typically the County Sheriff's Office — which schedules an inspection where the boat is located; ownership proof for major components must be available. After the boat passes, Parks assigns a HIN and you can then register or title it at the DMV. If a registration record shows an incomplete HIN, the DMV may ask for a pencil tracing, photograph, or a police officer's affidavit verifying the number on the hull.
Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match your paperwork.
Renewal
New York boat registrations are issued for three years and renewed on the same three-year cycle. The DMV mails a Boat Registration Renewal Reminder (Form MV-3B); if the reminder is unavailable or wrong (other than an address change), you renew by completing an MV-82B instead. Replacing a lost registration or sticker costs $2; a duplicate title costs $20.
Exemptions
Non-motorized craft — rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and sail-only boats with no motor — do not require registration. A boat registered in another state may be used on New York waters without New York registration as long as it is not kept in the state for more than 90 consecutive days. Lifeboats and racing/competition boats are also exempt, and commercial vessels documented by the Coast Guard are exempt from carrying a New York number. Add any motor — even an electric trolling motor — and registration becomes mandatory.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register my kayak or canoe in New York?
No. New York registration hinges entirely on mechanical propulsion — only motorized boats must be registered. A pure paddle or sail-only craft is exempt. But the moment you add a motor of any kind, including a small electric trolling motor, registration becomes mandatory regardless of the boat's size.
Does my New York boat need a title or just a registration?
It needs a title only if it is model year 1987 or newer, at least 14 feet long, and registered in New York — all three must be true. Boats older than 1987 or under 14 feet are registered but not titled, and their transferable registration is the proof of ownership.
How much does it cost to register a boat in New York?
The three-year registration fee is $22.50 for a boat under 16 feet, $45 for 16 to under 26 feet, and $75 for 26 feet and over. If the boat requires a title, add a $50 title fee. County sales tax is collected separately at registration.
My boat is USCG documented — do I still register in New York?
Yes, if it is operated on New York waters. Documentation exempts the boat from a New York title, but not from registration. A documented boat receives New York validation stickers only — no New York number — and you use the Coast Guard documentation as proof of ownership.
I have a homemade boat with no HIN — how do I register it?
Apply to New York State Parks (OPRHP) for a Hull Identification Number using Form OPS-420, which requires two photos of the boat. Parks routes it to the local marine patrol — usually the County Sheriff — for an inspection where the boat is located. Once a HIN is assigned, you can register and, if eligible, title the boat at the DMV.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- NY DMV — Register a boat (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NY DMV — Form MV-82.1B, Boat Registration/Title instructions and fees (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NY DMV — Form MV-82B, Boat Registration/Title Application (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- NY State Parks — Hull Identification Number (HIN) registrations (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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