Do I need a Florida registration for my
vessel?
Any time you want to operate a vessel in Florida waters a
registration must be officially assigned to the vessel and
displayed on the vessel. A Florida registration is displayed
as proof the vessel has been registered in Florida .
The purchaser of a new vessel has 30 days in which to apply
for registration and title through the county tax collector's
office. During this 30-day grace period, the owner is required
to have aboard his vessel a bill of sale with proof of the
date of purchase.
Florida recognizes valid registration certificates and numbers
issued to visiting boaters for a period of 90 days. An owner
who intends to use his vessel in Florida longer than 90 days
must register it with a county tax collector. However, he
may retain the out-of-state registration number if he plans
to return to his home state within a reasonable period of
time. Additional new resident information is available at
http://www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/faqboat.html.
How do I register my vessel? How much
does it cost?
Present acceptable proof of ownership (Certificate of Title,
Bill of Sale) to the tax collector’s office. New to Florida
– important information is available at http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/faqboat.html.
The total cost of registration is determined by hull length
of the vessel, use, whether a Certificate of Title must be
created and other factors. Visit http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/vslfacts.html#13
for a fee schedule that may be helpful for estimating the
cost of registering a vessel.
Why do I need a certificate of title?
It is the officially recognized proof of ownership. Ownership
must be documented on a Florida Certificate of Title before
a vessel may be registered in Florida *.
Information identifying a specific vessel and the name of
its owner is documented on the Certificate of Title. When
vessel ownership changes as the result of a sale, gift, insurance
settlement, act of law, etc., the Certificate of Title must
be completed by the parties to the transaction to prove the
transfer of ownership from one party to another.
The new owner must present the transferred Certificate of
Title to the tax collector so that a new one, showing the
new owner’s name, can be created. If the transfer of
title was the result of a sale, sales tax will be collected
when the new owner makes application for Certificate of Title.
*Federally documented vessels are excluded.
Where do I apply for a title on my recently
purchased vessel?
Applications for vessel registration and title certificates
(original or duplicate) are to be filed by the vessel owner
with the county tax
collector's office in the county where the vessel is located
or in the county where the vessel owner resides.
How many days does an owner have to register
a new vessel?
The purchaser of a new vessel has 30 days in which to apply
for registration and title through the county tax collector's
office. During this 30-day grace period, the owner is required
to have aboard his vessel a bill of sale with proof of the
date of purchase.
Are military personnel exempt from registering
their vessels in Florida?
Out-of-state registration certificates and numbers for vessels
owned by military personnel on active duty in Florida are
valid in Florida until their expiration date. Then they must
be registered and titled in Florida in order to be operated
on state waters.
I only use a small trolling motor when
I use my 12 foot boat in the canal behind my house. Do I have
to register my boat?
Yes, all vessels used on public waterways with any kind of
motor must be titled and registered.
If the seller of a vessel entered the entire
selling price of a boat, trailer and motor as the selling
price on the transfer portion of the vessel title being transferred,
must the new owner pay sales tax on the entire amount?
Yes, sales tax must be paid on the amount entered on the title,
unless an itemized bill of sale listing the price of each
component of the rig is submitted with the application. In
such a case, the owner would only be required to pay sales
tax on the boat and trailer.
I will be vacationing in Florida this summer.
Do I need to register my vessel there?
Florida recognizes valid registration certificates and numbers
issued to visiting boaters for a period of 90 days. An owner
who intends to use his vessel in Florida longer than 90 days
must register it with a county tax collector. However, he
may retain the out-of-state registration number if he plans
to return to his home state within a reasonable period of
time.
I need to apply for an expedited duplicate
vessel title. What should I do?
The owner of the vessel must properly complete an application
for duplicate title, and submit it and a fee of $11 to your
local
tax collector's office. The application will be processed
and the duplicate title mailed within 5 working days from
receipt of the application. Click
here for more information.
Is a non-powered vessel required to be
registered and titled?
If the non-motor powered vessel is less than 16 feet in length,
it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if
the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to
be titled.
What should the purchaser of a vessel
do if he is unable to contact the titled owner to obtain the
certificate of title or an executed bill of sale?
Notify the Department
of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Titles
and Registrations in writing stating the existing problem
and furnish the Florida registration number of the vessel.
The Department will provide the name and address of the titled
owner with the necessary instructions for transferring the
ownership of the vessel.
Who should I contact about safety equipment
requirements for vessels?
For boating safety information contact:
*The
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Boating and Waterways Section
620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399
*or any local FWC
Office.
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