Boat Registration
and Titling

Laws, government regulations, and paperwork can take the fun out of boating. There are a lot of t’s to cross and i’s to dot and boating agencies make you jump through hoops just to get an annual sticker. Documentation can be complex and confusing and truly does require some special knowledge. We are certified registration and titling experts to help you through your boat transaction, however complex it is. We can protect you from fraud, bad titles, and investigate if liens exist on a vessel. We have had exposed fake Saudi Princes trying to buy boats and helped an Italian transfer ownership to a Spaniard and operated the boat in Hawaii.

Vessels are usually registered and titled federally with the United States Coast Guard if they are over 5 net tons (think 26+ feet) and owned by a US Citizen. However a vessel may be locally registered and titled with the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation Division (DOBOR). For Japanese and other Foreign Nationals, local registration is a common option. A vessel may not be registered with both Federal and State entities simultaneously.

Federal registration and titling is typically favored as the record keeping is more robust and provides a vessel a “passport” and its owner the ability to cruise international and foreign waters, like the South Pacific and Tahiti. Persons with local State registration cannot obtain a complete chain of title records. It can also be difficult to track down liens and outstanding fees owed on a vessel prior to transfer or purchase for local State registered vessels. Moreover, the general process of waiting in line for State registration can be time consuming in itself. Many lending institutions require federal documentation and registration for those that are financing their vessel. At the end of the day, time is money, so hire an expert to guide you through the registration and title process and protect you along the way.