How to register a boat in Washington
Register within 15 days (out-of-state purchase) or 60 days (new resident)
If you buy a boat in another state while living in Washington, you must title and register it within 15 days of purchase. If you move to Washington with a boat already registered elsewhere, you have 60 days to register it here. A boat bought within Washington must be registered before you operate it on state waters — a dealer typically handles the first application at the point of sale.
Apply at a county auditor or vehicle/vessel licensing office
Registration is applied for through the DOL, a county auditor, or an authorized vehicle/vessel licensing agent (subagent). You apply in person on a DOL-furnished form; a subagent adds a service fee. Renewals can be done online, by mail, or in person, but a first-time registration and title generally start at a licensing office.
Bring proof of ownership and pay tax
Acceptable proof of ownership includes a bill of sale, a manufacturer's certificate/statement of origin (MCO/MSO) for a new boat, an assigned out-of-state title, or the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation for a documented vessel. Use tax (or sales tax) applies to the purchase unless an exemption is met, plus the annual watercraft excise tax and registration fees.
Receive your title, WN number, and decals
You receive a Washington Certificate of Title (for non-documented vessels), a registration card that must be signed and carried aboard, and validation decals. The assigned registration number — the "WN" prefix format, e.g. WN 1234 ZZ — must be painted or firmly attached to both sides of the bow in block characters at least 3 inches high, contrasting with the hull, reading left to right, with the validation decal within 6 inches of the number.
Washington registration fees
Washington's registration fee is essentially flat, not length-based, so there is no per-length fee table. The core statutory vessel registration fee is $10.50, and with the standard filing, service, and license fees plus the $1 derelict-vessel-removal surcharge and the $2 aquatic invasive species fee, the amount collected at the counter comes to roughly $43.25 for a typical boat. The much larger and value-based charge is the annual watercraft excise tax: 0.5% of the vessel's fair market value each year, with a $5 minimum, assessed on a depreciation schedule (WAC 458-20-23801) administered by the Department of Revenue and collected with your registration. Use or sales tax applies to the purchase separately, and a nonresident aquatic invasive species permit ($20) applies to certain out-of-state vessels 19 feet and over.
Washington sets the registration fee as a flat charge (RCW 88.02.640), not by length class, so no fee-by-length table applies. Confirm your exact total — flat fees plus the value-based 0.5% watercraft excise tax — with DOL's fee calculator or your county auditor / licensing agent before you go.
Titling in Washington
Washington titles vessels: DOL issues a Certificate of Title for boats that require registration, and the title is the state ownership record. The one-time title application fee is $5.
The exception is a federally documented vessel. Because the U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation is the ownership record, Washington does not issue a state title for a documented boat — but the vessel still must be registered in Washington if it is operated on state waters, and it still owes the annual watercraft excise tax. A documented vessel is registered but not state-titled, and federal rules prohibit it from displaying the WN registration number — it shows its documented name and hailing port instead. This is the classic "documented but not titled" setup explained in state registration vs USCG documentation.
HIN requirements
A Hull Identification Number (HIN) is required on every vessel used on Washington waters. For a factory-built boat after 1972 the HIN is the manufacturer's 12-character code affixed to the hull, and it must be recorded accurately on the title and registration. Decode any existing hull number first with the HIN decoder to confirm the manufacturer and model year match your paperwork.
Washington does not require a hull-number inspection in the ordinary case. A physical verification is triggered only when there is a discrepancy in the paperwork; for a 1985-or-newer model-year vessel the HIN is verified against the manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO) at the time of application.
If a boat has no HIN, or the HIN has been altered, removed, defaced, or is otherwise absent, DOL assigns a state HIN at the time of registration — a homemade or no-HIN vessel receives a state-assigned number (WNZ prefix) that you apply for at any vehicle/vessel licensing office. The assigned number must then be permanently affixed above the waterline on the outboard starboard side of the transom, at least one-quarter inch in height, per WAC 308-93-280.
Renewal
Washington vessel registrations run on a fixed statewide cycle: every registration expires on June 30, regardless of when you first registered, and is renewed annually. You can renew for the year beginning July 1 as early as January 1. Renew online, by mail, or in person at a county auditor or licensing agent; the annual watercraft excise tax is paid again at each renewal based on the vessel's depreciated value.
Exemptions
Exempt from Washington registration are: canoes, kayaks, and other vessels not propelled by a motor or a sail; sailboats under 16 feet in length; and vessels under 16 feet powered by a motor of 10 horsepower or less used exclusively on non-federal (state) waters. Boats with propulsion of 250 watts or less that cannot exceed 10 mph are also outside the requirement. A vessel already registered in another state or country may be used on Washington waters for up to 60 consecutive days without Washington registration. Federally documented vessels are exempt from state titling but are not exempt from registration — a documented boat operated on Washington waters still must be registered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register a USCG-documented boat in Washington?
Yes. A federally documented vessel is exempt from Washington titling — the Coast Guard document is the ownership record — but it still must be registered with DOL if it is operated on Washington waters, and it still owes the annual watercraft excise tax. Federal rules bar it from displaying the WN registration number, so it shows its documented name and hailing port instead.
Does Washington title boats?
Yes. DOL issues a Certificate of Title for any vessel that requires registration, with a one-time $5 title application fee. The exception is a federally documented vessel, which is registered but not state-titled.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Washington?
The registration fee is flat, not length-based — the core statutory fee is $10.50, and with filing, service, and the derelict-vessel and invasive-species fees the counter total is around $43.25. On top of that you pay an annual watercraft excise tax of 0.5% of the boat's fair market value (minimum $5), plus use or sales tax on the purchase. Use DOL's calculator for your exact figure.
How long do I have to register a boat in Washington after buying it?
If you bought the boat in another state, you have 15 days to title and register it in Washington. If you moved to Washington with a boat registered elsewhere, you have 60 days. A boat purchased inside Washington must be registered before you operate it.
When does my Washington boat registration expire?
On June 30 — every Washington vessel registration expires on that fixed statewide date and is renewed annually. You can renew for the coming year (starting July 1) as early as January 1, online, by mail, or in person.
What if my boat has no HIN or a missing hull number?
Apply at any vehicle/vessel licensing office and DOL will assign a state HIN (WNZ prefix) at registration. A hull-number inspection isn't required unless there's a discrepancy; for 1985-or-newer boats the HIN is verified against the manufacturer's statement of origin. The assigned number must be permanently affixed above the waterline on the starboard transom.
Primary sources
Last verified .
- Washington DOL — Register a boat (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Washington DOL — Boat registration and hull identification numbers (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Washington DOL — Documented boats (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- Washington Department of Revenue — Watercraft excise tax (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- WAC 308-93-280 — Hull identification numbers (retrieved 2026-07-16)
- RCW 88.02.640 — Vessel registration fees by type (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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