Vessel title and registration services
1. Florida Title - The transfer of title by seller section must be completed with:
o Purchaser’s name and address
o Date of sale
o Selling price
o Signature and printed name of seller(s). If there are two sellers and their names are joined by
“and” on the title, both sellers must sign. If names are joined by "or", only one seller is required
to sign.
o Signature and printed name of purchaser(s). Anyone listed as an owner must sign and print
their name.
o If appointed power of attorney (POA), the original POA document must be presented at the time
of application.
2. Application for Certificate of Title with/without Registration - form HSMV 82040 must be completed and
signed by the purchaser(s) if both owners are not present.
3. A Bill of Sale - suggested and may be required. If you purchase a boat and motor (excluding an inboard
motor) and have an itemized bill of sale from the seller that lists the cost of each item separately, sales
tax will be calculated only on the purchase price of the boat.
4. Registration Fees - Fees are determined by vessel length, and applicant’s birth month.
5. Sales Tax - 6% sales tax will be collected on the purchase price. If the vessel is registered to a
Sarasota County address the first $5,000.00 of the purchase price is subject to an additional 1%
discretionary sales surtax. If the vessel will be registered in another Florida county, discretionary sales
tax rates may differ.
6. Proof of Identification - May be a valid driver's license or state issued identification card, from any state,
or passport.
7. If recording a lien, the lien holder's name, address, FEI and date of lien are required.
8. If the title will be issued in the name of a trust, copies of the official trust must be presented. If the title
will be issued in a business name then proof that the business is registered in Florida and the FEI
number will be required.
9. NOTE: Cross-outs, white-out, alterations, or erasures may void the title and may require you to submit
a Notarized or Perjury Clause Bill of Sale signed by the seller.
For assistance, please contact our office at 941.861.8300, option 2.
Boat Registration and Licenses in Florida
On This Page
Boats Requiring Title & Registration
Florida Boat Titling Procedures
FL Boat Registration Requirements
Florida Boat Registration Fees
FL Boat Registration Renewals and Replacements
Florida Boater Qualifications
Our goal is to give you the most up-to-date, accurate information about your state DMV's processes.
The date you see here reflects the most recent time we've verified this information with your state
DMV. When they change something, we do, too!
Verified As Of: 6/19/2018
Introduction
Navigating a vessel on Florida's public waters requires more than a boat and sailor's cap. Depending
on your type of vessel, you may first need to title register it with the Florida Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).
Below you'll find information on Florida boat title and registration laws, as well details on the state's
boater education requirements.
Boats Requiring Title & Registration
If the type of boat you own is not included in the exemption lists below, you must title and/or register it
with the FLHSMV.
The types of boats that are exempt from having a title include vessels:
Used only on private lakes and ponds.
Owned by an entity of the U.S. government.
Not powered by a motor AND less than 16 feet in length.
With federal documentation.
Not used on Florida waters for more than 90 consecutive days.
That are amphibious.
Documented with the U.S. Coast Guard OR in another state (with a federally-approved numbering
system) being used on FL waters for 90 days or less.
The vessels exempt from Florida registration include:
Boats less than 16 feet in length AND not powered by a motor.
Regardless of length, all non-motor-powered:
o Canoes.
o Kayaks.
o Racing shells.
o Rowing sculls.
Vessels used only on private ponds and lakes.
Boats owned by the U.S. government.
Lifeboats used solely for that purpose.
Non-resident vessels used on Florida waters for no more than 90 consecutive days.
If you're not sure whether your boat requires titling and registration, call the FLHSMV at (850) 617-
2000.
Florida Boat Titling Procedures
The process for titling your boat with the FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
differs depending on if you bought the boat new OR used. However, in both instances, you must title
the boat within 30 days of the purchase date.
Titling New Boats
After buying a new boat, you can acquire a title by providing the following at your county tax collector
or license plate agent office:
A proof of ownership document such as:
o Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
o Official statement of the vessel's builder.
o Dealer's bill of sale.
A completed application for a boat title.
o Only available in person at the tax collector/license plate agent office.
Payment for the necessary boat titling fees.
Titling Used Boats
To title a used boat, you'll need to present the following to your FL county tax collector or license plate
agent's office:
The vessel's title signed by the buyer AND seller.
o If the boat is from a state that doesn't issue vessel titles, provide:
The current out-of-state registration.
A completed bill of sale.
A completed application for a vessel title.
o Can only be obtained in person at the tax collector/license plate agent office.
All applicable boat titling fees.
FL Boat Registration Requirements
To register your boat, head to the license plate agent or county tax collector's office nearest to you
with the following:
Completed boat registration application.
o Not offered online; can only be obtained in person at from the license plate agent/tax
collector office.
A proof of ownership document, like:
o Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
o Bill of sale.
o Builder's contract.
o Federal marine document.
Your vessel's title (if applicable).
Payment for the applicable FLHSMV boat registration fees.
Vessels can be registered for 1 year or 2 years; make sure to always keep the vessel registration
on board when operating the boat.
Florida Boat Registration Fees
The fees associated with titling and registering your vessel with the Florida Department of Highway
Safety and Motor Vehicles include:
Title fees:
o Electronic copy: $5.25.
o Paper copy: $7.75.
o Expedited title: $11.
o Replacement: $6.
Per lien recorded on a title: $1 in addition to original title fee.
Fee for titling previously out-of-state vessel: $4 in addition to initial titling fee.
Original/renewal registration fees (based on the length of your boat):
o Class A-1 (vessels less than 12 ft and all motorized canoes): $5.50.
o Class A-2 (12 ft to 16 ft): $16.25.
o Class 1 (16 ft to 26 ft): $28.75.
o Class 2 (26 ft to 40 ft: $78.25.
o Class 3 (40 ft to 65 ft): $127.75.
o Class 4 (65 ft to 110 ft): $152.75.
o Class 5 (110 ft or longer): $189.75.
Registration service fee: $2.25.
Florida's Real-Time Vehicle Information System (FRVIS) fee: $0.50.
Please note that some counties may tack on additional fees.
FL Boat Registration Renewals and Replacements
The registration renewal period for your boat depends on its type of ownership:
Privately owned vessel: During the birth month of the owner.
Vessels owned by a corporation or dealer: From June 1 to June 30.
You can renew your boat registration with the FL Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
for either 1 year OR 2 years by submitting the necessary information about your vessel AND
renewal fees:
Online using the FLHSMV's virtual office.
In person at your local county tax collector's office (be sure to bring your renewal card and current
registration).
By mail to the address listed on your renewal card.
Replace Lost Registration or Title
If your vessel registration and/or title is lost or damaged, you can apply for a replacement by visiting
your county tax collector's office and submitting:
A completed:
o Application for Vessel Duplicate Registration, Replacement Decal and Change
of Classification (Form HSMV 87015) for registrations.
o Application for Duplicate or Lost in Transit/Reassignment for a Motor Vehicle,
Mobile Home or Vessel Title Certificate (Form HSMV 82101) for titles.
Payment for the necessary title or registration replacement fees.
For more information about replacing your boat's title and registration, call the FLHSMV at (850) 617-
2000.
Florida Boater Qualifications
If you were born after January 1, 1988 and want to operate a boat (including personal watercraft)
with 10 HP or greater you'll need to have a:
Boating education ID card.
AND
Form of photo identification (e.g. driver's license or state ID card).
You can fulfill Florida's boater education requirements by completing a course approved by the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Check out the FL Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) list of approved courses, available in the classroom and
online.
Non-residents who don't have the equivalent of a safety ID from their home state may apply for a
temporary certificate at a FWC-approved vendor. For details on this and other safety course
matters, call (850) 488-5600.
Forms
HSMV 87015
Application for Vessel Duplicate Registration, Replacement Decal and Change of Classification
Request a replacement boat registration or decal for a boat OR to change a boat's registration
classification with the DHSMV.
