Welcome to Florida where it’s always summer and fishing is a daily activity for most. Fishing requires a boat. Now there are plenty of places that you can rent from however maybe you want one of your own so that you don’t have to wait for your scheduled time or extra fees. So you buy a boat similar to having a car it needs to be registered along with its title.
Why Register Your Boat
Again very similar to having a car registering your boat shows that it belongs to you. This helps in taking care of its aquatic resources and boating amenities like boat ramps and clean waterways.
The numbers on your boat registration allow port and government authorities to identify your vessel in use. Which is why they have to be displayed on your boat at all times. This also is very helpful if anything happens to your boat such as getting stolen.
How to Register
The owner needs to show proof of ownership by submitting an executed bill of sale, a builder’s contract, a manufacturer’s statement of origin, and a federal marine document. With registering comes a fee. There are reduced fees based on the classification of the vessel and if comes with EPIRB or PLB.
And there are always exceptions:
- Vessels used only on private lakes
- Vessels owned by the U.S. Government
- Vessels used exclusively as a ship’s lifeboat
- Vessels issued valid registration certificates and numbers by other states
One year or two?
This may sound familiar again but the registration for your vessel needs to be renewed. This can be done for 1 year or 2 (comes with a price difference). This can all be done up to 3 months before the renewal date so you can get a head start if you need to get a head start preparing for that finishing trip you can!
So you found the boat of your dreams! Remember the simple rule of keeping it registered and you should have no problem out in the high seas. Avoid the hassle of long lines, start the process online with an Auto Tags near you! We are located in North Broward, East Broward, and Oakland Park.