If you have a canoe that is equipped with an electric motor, you must register it or risk receiving a ticket; however, unpowered canoes are not required to be registered in most states. Following that, you can read some of our fishing canoe reviews that we have prepared for you. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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When do you need to register or title your canoe?
Boats that are not powered by an engine are exempt from registration requirements. Canoe manufacturers have begun to sell an increasing number of models equipped with electric motors in recent years, which has increased interest in this topic among anglers who use canoes or kayaks for their outdoor adventures.
There are also many businesses that specialize in attaching motors to kayaks and canoes, so even if you purchase a vessel that does not come equipped with a motor, if you end up equipping it with one, you will need to register it with the appropriate authority. Sellers frequently fail to inform customers that most states require these vessels to be titled and registered as motor vessels before they make a purchase.
It was also revealed to us that motorized canoes, regardless of their length, must be registered and titled under state law in the vast majority of states. In some states, you will also be required to display your vessel’s registration numbers and decals on the outside of the vessel.
Some aspects may differ from state to state, which is why it is best to research the issue in-depth depending on the state you intend to use your motorized canoe mainly. If the canoe does not come with a motor, things will be much simpler, and you will not be required to register the craft with the appropriate authorities.
Non-powered boats are only required to be registered when used in an access area or lake managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), as well as in state parks and forests. Alternatively, owners can obtain a Use (Boat Launch) Permit or a Launch or Mooring Permit online using a credit card in these circumstances.
Overall, if you own a canoe that is equipped with an electric motor, you must register it in order to avoid receiving a hefty fine. There is no fee to title a canoe in most states; it is typically less than $100 in most cases, and the fee to register it is even less expensive.
What’s the difference between registration and title?
Having your boat registered is a very similar experience with getting a car registration. You will get issued a registration card and you will need to carry it with you on the boat as proof of registration if you ever get stopped by the authorities.
Registering your boat will also allow you to use it in all the other states and Canada without worry that you will get fined. With that said, the boat does need to be registered in the state of primary use, so you shouldn’t go to another state to get it registered even if you get more benefits there. Registration is not a secure ownership document.
The boat title is similar to a car title – namely it is a legal document which proves ownership of the motorized vessel. Registration does not prove ownership, but a title does and you will need it since lenders require to prove that the seller has clear ownership of the craft.
While a registration card is valid for only two years and needs to be renewed when that period expires, a title only needs to be purchased once. While getting a title for the boat is more expensive than a registration card, it is a one-time purchase. You can get boat titles from the Fish & Boat Commission and that is the only place from which they can be issued.
What you need to know about getting a registration card and title
When new boat owners need to obtain a registration or title, one of the first questions they ask is where they can obtain these documents. The Fish and Boat Commission is the only agency that issues registrations and boat titles in the United States. It is necessary for new canoe owners to obtain a Temporary Registration in order to be able to continue to use their craft while the registration documents are being processed.
Those in charge of boat registration, Commission region offices, and country treasurers are in charge of issuing and approving these temporary registrations. For more information on where to find these boat registration agents, you can consult the websites of your local governments.
The Application for Boat Registration must be completed once you have arrived at the Fish and Boat Commission office. There are numerous marine dealers, Commission regional offices, and treasure offices where you can pick up this form and all of the other required documents.
Most of these forms can also be obtained online, allowing you to arrive at the Commission with all of your documents ready to be filed, thereby avoiding the need to waste any more time than is absolutely necessary. The fees vary depending on which state you live in, and the registration fees increase in price as the size of your motorized canoe increases. A small fee is also charged for the issuance of the temporary registration.
You can easily renew the registration of your boat online once it has been registered, which makes the entire process much simpler. Unfortunately, new registration cannot be completed online at this time; however, you can complete it by mail if you print and complete the necessary forms. Once the documents are complete, you can send them via regular mail to the specified address in your state of residence.
Transfer of ownership will be accomplished by completing a form that will be signed by both the owner and the applicant (the new owner) and then submitting it. The procedure is identical to that of transferring a car title, with the exception that the titled owner must sign the back of the title and have it notarized, while the new owner must submit the required form along with the appropriate fee.
The Commission’s Licensing and Registration Section can provide you with a duplicate registration card or title if you have misplaced your original. It will cost you around $5 to get a duplicate registration card and title, but we recommend that you be cautious with your documents because, while the process of getting a duplicate is not expensive, it is time-consuming.
What are the regulations for the vessel registration number?
Once you have received your registration card, you will also be assigned a registration number, which you will need to display on your canoe in accordance with a number of rules and regulations. It can either be painted on or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the boat, depending on your preference.
This type of display can be achieved by using simple vertical block characters that are no smaller than three inches in height and are arranged so that they read from left to right. The numbers must also be noticeable and contrast with the color of the background in order to be visible in all lighting conditions.
Between the prefix and the number, as well as between the number and the suffix, the vessel registration number must contain spaces or hyphens that are equal to the width of a letter other than “I” or a number other than “1” between the prefix and the number.
Example: CF 3456 AB
It is important to note that the actual letters and numbers are not supplied by the Commission and the owner is the one responsible for purchasing and displaying the registration number on the boat. You can find the letters and numbers required for your registration decal at most boat dealers and hardware stores, or you can also purchase them online.
How long until you receive the car registration and decals?
You should be able to obtain a registration certificate and valid decals in a maximum of 90 days after applying. The Commission will issue a replacement registration certificate along with a new set of validation decals at no additional cost to the customer if they are not received for any reason.
Duplicate registration cards can be obtained from the Commission’s Licensing and Registration Section, which is located in the Commission Building. Once you arrive, you will be required to complete a form before you can be issued a duplicate registration card and/or decals for your vehicle.