How do I register a documented vessel?
Documented vessels can only be registered in-person at a DMV hub or branch office. Visit a DMV Hub or Limited Service Office with the documents and fees listed below.
- Submit a copy of the Coast Guard Final Documentation Paper.
- Provide a Bill of Sale (form H-31).
- Include the 12 digit hull number.
- Complete Vessel Registration Application (form B-148). Download this form, fill out online and print. Please reference form B220.
- Sales tax is due if not already paid.
- The Registration Fee is determined by the length of the vessel.
- Note: If the vessel is in the process of being documented, CT numbers will have to be assigned until the final documentation is received.
Does Connecticut title vessels?
Effective January 1, 2016, Connecticut will title vessels with the model year of 2017 and newer. For a list of vessels exempt from title requirements, please download this document.
What is the cost for a title?
If a vessel title is needed, the cost is $25 and $10 for the lien, as applicable.
Are personal watercraft, such as jet skis, required to be registered?
Personal watercraft, such as jet skis, are registered in the same manner as vessels - learn more.
Are there any special requirements needed for operating personal watercraft, such as a jet ski?
Personal watercraft, such as jet skis, are registered in the same manner as a vessel or boat—learn more. Additionally, you must have a Certificate of Personal Watercraft of Operation from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Do I need to register a vessel or boat that’s less than 19.5 feet in length if it’s powered without the use of a motor (e.g., a sailboat powered by sail alone)?
No, vessels and boats not powered by any motor are exempt from registration.
Do I need to register a vessel or boat that’s less than 19.5 feet in length if it’s powered/propelled solely by oar or paddle?
No, those types of vessels and boats are exempt from registration—except for a canoe with a motor, which is charged a $7.50 registration fee.
My vessel has been registered with CT numbers and I now have my documentation paper. What do I do?
A Vessel Registration Application (form B-148) must be completed and submitted with the current registration certificate, including the CT numbers listed, and a copy of the document.
A fee of $3 will be charged if registered for the current year. Otherwise, the Registration Fee is determined by the length of the vessel.
I’m an out-of-state resident with a current out-of-state registration on my boat and will be using it on Connecticut waters. What do I need to do to use my water vessel here?
You have up to 60 days in a calendar year to use the vessel in Connecticut before you need to apply for a certificate of decal.
How do I get a copy of my last registration, bill of sale, proof of sales tax paid or a copy of an original application?
All inquiries are sent to the Marine Vessel Section (60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161). Fees are as follows:
- Copy of Application to Register - $20
- Copy of a Bill of Sale - $20
- File information - $20
- Complete Search of Each Vessel - $20 plus $20 per copy
- Certified Copies - additional $20
How do I request an "invitation to renew" for my vessel registration?
You may call the DMV’s call center or write to the DMV Marine Vessel Unit at the address below. You’ll need to provide your vessel number.
- Mailing address:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Marine Vessel Section
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
- Call center:
860-263-5700 (within the Hartford area or outside Connecticut)
800-842-8222 (elsewhere in Connecticut)
I received an invitation to renew a registration on a vessel I no longer own. What should I do?
Please return the required portion of your renewal invitation to the DMV Marine Vessel Unit at the address below or change of address can be done online also. Include a note indicating the name of who you sold the vessel to, or, if you don’t know the name of the person you sold the vessel to, please indicate “person unknown.”
- Mailing address:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Marine Vessel Section
60 State Street
Wethersfield, CT 06161
I’m selling my vessel and have purchased another. Can I get credit for the fee I paid on the previous vessel registration applied to the new registration?
You can get credit for the fee paid on the previous vessel if that vessel has been sold, traded, destroyed, or stolen prior to the time of registering the new vessel. Please note:
- You must submit the registration certificate indicating the status of the old vessel.
- The registration fee on the current registration will be applied towards the registration fee for the new vessel, plus any additional amount if the new vessel is larger.
- An additional $1 fee will be applied to the final total.
How do I register a previously repossessed vessel?
Vessel registration can only be completed in-person at a DMV hub or branch office. You can make an appointment online.
Bring the following to your appointment:
How do I register a vessel that up until now has only been used as a row boat?
Vessel registration can only be completed in-person at a DMV hub or branch office. You can make an appointment online.
Bring the following to your appointment:
- Completed notarized ownership affidavit (Form B-203), specifying all required information.
- Completed application for vessel registration (Form B-148).
- An acceptable form of payment for the registration fee, which is determined by the length of the vessel. See fee schedule chart for details.
- Connecticut numbers will assigned to the vessel as part of the registration process.
- An acceptable form of identification, such as a driver’s license or U.S. passport, for each person listed as an owner of the vessel.
How do I register a vessel that I received as a gift?
How do I register a vessel that was previously registered to a now deceased person?
How do I register a vessel that doesn't have a hull number?
- Complete the Vessel Registration Application (form B-148) and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Application for Hull Number (form EPB-502).
- A temporary registration will be issued until DEP checks the vessel and assigns the number.
- Vessels built prior to 1973 do not require a hull number.
How do I register a vessel I have just finished building?
What should I do if I observe suspicious activities?
- Call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802 or 877-24WATCH.
- If there’s immediate danger to life or property, call 911.
How is sales tax calculated on vessels?
The sales tax will be 6.35% of the purchase price for vessels and trailers used for transporting a vessel with a purchase date before July 1, 2018. Vessels and trailers used for transporting a vessel with a purchase date on or after July 1, 2018, will be charged a tax rate of 2.99 percent.
Can I register or renew my boat if I owe property tax on a motor vehicle?
No, you won’t be able to register or renew your water vessel registration if you are delinquent on motor vehicle property tax. Learn more about compliance issues and how to resolve them so you can register your vessel.