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Boats & Vessels

All vessels operated on Florida waterways are required to maintain a valid registration that must be properly displayed on the vessel.

In Florida, vessels are classified as either pleasure or commercial. If a vessel’s classification changes, the owner must complete DHSMV Form 87015 and present it along with the current vessel registration at the Tax Collector’s Office. If the current registration is unavailable, the owner may certify the reason for its absence directly on DHSMV Form 87015. A $6.25 processing fee applies.

For non-resident vessel owners changing a vessel’s classification from pleasure to commercial, an additional $50.00 vessel fee is required unless the vessel qualifies under a reciprocal agreement with another state.

General Title Information

All motorized vessels, commercial and private must be titled and registered before they can be used in Florida waters. Titling and registration fees are separate charges.

Unless a vessel is exempt from titling, it must be titled at the same time it is registered.

Applications for vessel registration and title certificates are to be filed by the vessel owner with the county tax collector’s office.

The registration certificate must be on board the vessel when in operation. The purchaser of a new or used vessel has 30 days to apply for registration and title. During this 30-day grace period, the owner is required to have aboard his vessel proof of date of purchase. Operation of an unregistered vessel after 30 days is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Vessel Bill of Sale
DMV Procedures Manual
Application for Certificate of Vessel Title

New Vessel Title

To register a new vessel, never before titled, you must bring the following to any Tax Collector’s office:

  1. A Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin properly completed, signed and either notarized or the perjury clause statement must be signed by the selling dealer/store. If the vessel was purchased in a state or country which does not require the issuance of a manufacturer’s certificate of origin, the original copy of the executed bill of sale or dealer’s invoice with a complete description of the vessel will serve as proof of ownership. If recording a lien, the lien holder’s name, address and the date of lien are required.
  2. Bill of sale or invoice listing the vessel purchase price, sales tax paid and any trade-in allowance. Additional taxes equivalent to Florida’s sales tax and local sales tax may be due.
  3. Each applicant, or their appointed power of attorney, must be present to sign a new application for title. Bring personal identification in the form of a driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a passport or a U.S. Military I.D. card. If you are the appointed power of attorney, the original or certified copy of the original signed appointment must be presented at time of application. Applicant’s date of birth and Florida driver license number are recorded as part of the application.

Title and registration fees are due upon application.

Duplicate Title

Only the registered owner or lien holder on record may make application for duplicate Florida title. If there is an outstanding lien, only the lien holder can apply for a duplicate title. If the lien has been satisfied, a lien satisfaction form must be submitted with the duplicate application.

Duplicate title fees start at $6.50.

An application for Duplicate Florida title is available online.

Used Vessel Purchase – Florida Title

To transfer ownership of a vessel previously titled in Florida, purchased from a dealer or individual you must bring the following to any Tax Collector’s office:

  1. The Florida title properly completed by both the buyer and seller, including signatures, purchase price and date of sale. If the used vessel is purchased through a dealer, the dealer reassignment must be completed. If recording a lien, the lien holder’s name, address and the date of lien are required.
  2. Bill of sale or invoice listing the vessel purchase price, sales tax paid and any trade-in allowance. Additional taxes equivalent to Florida’s sales tax and local sales tax may be due.
  3. Each applicant, or their appointed power of attorney, must be present to sign a new application for title. Bring personal identification in the form of a driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a passport or a U.S. Military I.D. card. If you are the appointed power of attorney, the original or a certified copy of the original signed appointment must be presented at time of application. Applicant’s date of birth and Florida driver license number are recorded as part of the application

Title and registration fees are due upon application.

Used Vessel Purchase – Out of State Title

To transfer ownership of a used vessel not previously titled in Florida, you must present the following to any Tax Collector’s office:

  1. The out-of-state certificate of title, if a title state, or the original registration if not a title state, a bill of sale, or other evidence of ownership required by the law of the state or country from which the vessel was brought into this state. If recording a lien, the lien holder’s name, address and the date of lien are required.
  2. Bill of sale or invoice listing the vessel purchase price, sales tax paid and any trade-in allowance. Additional taxes equivalent to Florida’s sales tax and local sales tax may be due.
  3. Each applicant, or their appointed power of attorney, must be present to sign a new application for title. Bring personal identification in the form of a driver license or identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, a passport or a U.S. Military I.D. card. If you are the appointed power of attorney, the original or certified copy of the original signed appointment must be presented at time of application. Applicant’s date of birth and Florida driver license number are recorded as part of the application.

Title and registration fees are due upon application.

Vessel Title Exemptions

The following vessels are exempt from titling:

  • Non-motor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length
  • Vessels owned by the United States Government
  • Federally documented vessels
  • Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
  • Vessels used solely for demonstration, testing or sales promotional purposes by a dealer or manufacturer
  • Vessels owned and operated by the state or its political subdivisions
  • Vessels from a country other than the U.S., temporarily using the waters of this state for not more than 90 days
  • Vessels already covered by registration numbers awarded according to a federally approved numbering system of another state or by the US Coast Guard in a state without a federally approved numbering system, provided that the vessels are not operated in Florida waters more than 90 consecutive days.

General Information

A decal signifying the year during which the registration certificate is valid will be issued with each registration certificate. The decal must be displayed on the port (left) side of the vessel. It may be placed immediately before or after the registration number. A decal issued to a federally documented vessel may be affixed to a window or windshield on the port side. Any decal for a previous year’s registration must be removed from the vessel.

Registration fees are based on the vessel length. A Florida registration number and decal are issued based on the applicant’s date of birth. All vessels registered to a company will expire on June 30 of the following year. Vessel registrations are renewed during the birth month each year. Pro-rated registrations only apply for original registrations, not renewals.

The registration certificate must be on board the vessel while it is in operation. Operation of an unregistered vessel is a second-degree misdemeanor. 

A non-resident pleasure boater with a valid registration certificate from another state may use their vessel for 90 days without registering in Florida. Vessels used for longer than 90 days must be registered with the Tax Collector’s office.

EPIRB Reduced Renewal Fee

Is your vessel equipped with an emergency position-indicating radio beacon or personal locator beacon? If so, you could be eligible for a reduced renewal fee. Before you renew visit https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/index for further details. NOAA’s Beacon Registration Team can be reached by email at beacon.registration@noaa.gov or via phone at 888-212-7283.

Vessel DHSMV Forms

Fees & Payments

Vessel Registration Fees

Vessel ClassificationLengthVessel Registration FeeReduced Fee (Beacon Vessel)
Class A-1Less than 12’$5.50$2.95
Class A-212’ to less than 16’$16.25$11.00
Class 116’ to less than 26’$28.75$20.40
Class 226’ to less than 40’$78.25$57.50
Class 340’ to less than 65’$127.75$94.95
Class 465’ to less than 110’$152.75$113.40
Class 5110’ or more in length$189.75$141.15
Canoes$5.50
Antiques$4.25
Non-use$3.25
Replacement Decal$2.25
Dealer Registration$25.50

Related Services

Hunting and Fishing License
Florida Fish & Wildlife
Other Services

FAQs

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.

Do I need a Florida registration for my vessel?

Yes. All vessels operated on Florida waters must have a registration officially assigned to it and be displayed on the vessel. The purchaser of a vessel has 30 days in which to apply for registration and title. During this 30-day grace period, the owner is required to have aboard the 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 a vessel in Florida longer than 90 days, must register it. However, the out-of-state registration number may be retained if the owner plans to return to his home state within a reasonable period of time.

How many days does an owner have to register a new vessel?

The purchaser of a vessel has 30 days in which to apply for registration and title. During this 30-day grace period, the owner is required to have aboard the vessel a bill of sale with proof of the date of purchase.

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, the out-of-state registration number may be retained if the owner plans to return to his home state within a reasonable period of time.

Is a non-motor 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, a title is required.

Who should I contact about safety equipment requirements for my vessel?

Information about safety equipment requirements can be obtained on the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation’s website.

Ready to Get Started?

Our team is here to help make your visit as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Visit one of our convenient Hendry County Tax Collector locations in LaBelle or Clewiston to complete your transaction, or contact us if you have questions about what to bring.

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