How to register a boat in Vermont
Register any motorized vessel before you operate it
You must register a boat, personal watercraft (Jet Ski), or shuttlecraft with a motor attached if you own and operate it on Vermont waters. A shuttlecraft (a watercraft towed or pushed by another powered vessel) must be registered as a motorboat in addition to the PWC that pushes it. Unpowered craft — canoes, kayaks, and sailboats with no motor — are not registered. The exceptions are a nonresident whose boat is already registered in the home state and any vessel that carries a valid federal document.
Pick the transaction and gather your documents
For a new boat, bring the original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin plus a bill of sale showing make, year, Hull Identification Number, price, date, and the seller's signature. For a used boat that was previously titled, bring the original prior Certificate of Title signed by every owner with all liens released, plus a bill of sale (photocopies are not accepted). A used boat never titled anywhere needs the original or a certified copy of the last registration certificate and every bill of sale since. A non-titleable boat needs only a bill of sale, the seller's signature in Section 5B, or a copy of an out-of-state registration in your name.
File form VD-037 and pay the tax and fees
Submit the Motorboat Registration/Vessel Validation application (form VD-037) in person at a DMV branch or mobile office, or by mail. The first Vermont registration of a motorboat is subject to 6% sales/use tax on the purchase price unless an exemption applies (for example, proof that 6% or more sales tax was already paid to another state, or a no-payment transfer). Pay the annual fee for your length class (see the fee table), plus a $22 title fee where a title is issued.
Get your assigned number and display it correctly
The DMV assigns the motorboat registration number; you cannot choose it. Vermont numbers read "VT" followed by four digits and two letters (for example, VT 1234 AB). Paint or apply the number to both sides of the bow in block characters at least 3 inches high, in a color that contrasts with the hull. Place the validation stickers on both sides of the bow within six inches of the number — the port (left) sticker precedes the number, the starboard (right) sticker follows it.
Vermont registration fees
Vermont sets the registration fee by the vessel's length class, and you choose a one-year or two-year term. The figures below are the current DMV fees for each class. A first registration also carries 6% sales/use tax on the purchase price (unless exempt), and a title, where one is issued, costs $22 plus $11 per lienholder.
| Class | Vessel length | Base fee |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Less than 16 ft | $31 (1 yr) / $57 (2 yr) |
| Class I | 16 ft to less than 26 ft | $49 (1 yr) / $93 (2 yr) |
| Class II | 26 ft to less than 40 ft | $80 (1 yr) / $155 (2 yr) |
| Class III | 40 ft and over | $153 (1 yr) / $303 (2 yr) |
Transferring a registration to a boat in the same or a smaller class costs $6; transferring to a larger class costs $6 plus the difference in fee. A duplicate registration is $3. Confirm current amounts and any tax exemptions with the Vermont DMV before you pay.
Titling in Vermont
Vermont titles vessels selectively. A boat is titled only if it is 16 feet or longer AND its model year is within 15 years, measured by calendar year (for example, during 2026 the state titles vessels of model year 2012 or newer that are at least 16 feet). Shorter or older boats are registered as "non-titleable" motorboats — they get a registration but no title.
Separate title exceptions apply regardless of size or age: a canoe, kayak, or similar manually propelled craft (or one with a motor of 10 horsepower or less); a vessel in interstate commerce that holds a valid title from another state; a U.S. Government vessel (unless registered in Vermont); and a dealer's or manufacturer's inventory held for sale.
A federally documented vessel is neither titled nor registered by Vermont — the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership and numbering record. However, if a documented boat is used on Vermont waters for 30 days or more in a year, its owner must still obtain a Vermont vessel validation sticker (form VD-113), which runs through December 31. This is the classic split between state paperwork and federal paperwork explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
Every motorboat manufactured on or after November 1, 1972 must carry a 12-to-17-character Hull Identification Number (HIN), and it must be recorded accurately on the application. Confirm the code matches your paperwork before you file — run it through the HIN decoder to check the manufacturer and model year.
A visual verification of the hull number is required for any titleable vessel that was last registered or titled in another state (unless bought from an out-of-state dealer specifically to register in Vermont), carries a salvage title, is registered under bond, was imported from Canada without a Certificate of Origin or new-vessel information statement, has title documentation from another country, or has a U.S. Government Certificate of Release. Verifications done outside Vermont must be performed by motor-vehicle officials or other state-authorized VIN verifiers (military personnel may use the base Commanding Officer or Provost Marshal) and must arrive with a letter of identification on official letterhead.
Homemade vessels follow a separate path: they require a Statement of Origin (form VD-27) and an Assignment of HIN (form VT-03), under which the state assigns a HIN before the boat can be registered.
Renewal
Vermont vessel registrations expire on December 31 regardless of when you register during the year. You choose a one-year or a two-year term at registration; a two-year registration still expires on December 31 at the end of the second year. Renew before the boat is used again the following season, in person at a DMV office or by mail.
Exemptions
Unpowered vessels — canoes, kayaks, sailboats with no motor, and other manually propelled craft — are not registered by Vermont at all. A nonresident whose boat is validly registered in the home state may operate on Vermont waters under reciprocity for up to 90 consecutive days, provided the home state extends the same courtesy to Vermont boats; but any out-of-state or federally documented boat used on Vermont waters for 30 days or more in a year must obtain a Vermont vessel validation sticker (form VD-113) rather than a full registration. Federally documented vessels are exempt from Vermont registration and titling. U.S. Government vessels and dealer inventory held for sale are also outside the ordinary registration and titling requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vermont title boats?
Only some. Vermont issues a title for a vessel that is 16 feet or longer AND within 15 model years (by calendar year). Shorter or older boats are registered as non-titleable motorboats — they receive a registration but no title. Canoes, kayaks, manually propelled craft, interstate-commerce vessels titled elsewhere, government vessels, and dealer inventory are also excepted from titling.
Do I have to register a boat in Vermont if it is USCG documented or registered in another state?
A federally documented vessel is not registered or titled by Vermont — the Coast Guard document is the record. An out-of-state boat can operate under reciprocity for up to 90 consecutive days. But either way, if the boat is used on Vermont waters for 30 days or more in a year, the owner must obtain a Vermont vessel validation sticker (form VD-113), which is valid through December 31.
Do I need to register a canoe, kayak, or sailboat in Vermont?
No. Vermont only registers vessels with a motor attached. A canoe, kayak, or a sailboat with no motor is not registered. Add a motor and it must be registered as a motorboat.
How much does Vermont boat registration cost?
The fee depends on length class and your chosen term: $31 (one year) or $57 (two years) for a boat under 16 feet, $49/$93 for 16 to under 26 feet, $80/$155 for 26 to under 40 feet, and $153/$303 for 40 feet and over. A first registration also owes 6% sales/use tax on the purchase price unless exempt, and a title costs $22 plus $11 per lienholder.
When does my Vermont boat registration expire?
Every registration expires on December 31, whether you chose a one-year or two-year term (a two-year registration expires on December 31 of the second year). There is no birthday or purchase-anniversary anchor as in some states.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Vermont DMV — Registering Your Motorboat (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Vermont DMV — Motorboat Tax & Title Application Instructions (form VD-037i: fees, title rules, HIN verification) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Vermont DMV — Vessel Validation (out-of-state and documented vessels) (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Vermont DMV — Registration Fees (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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