Before you set sail this Fourth of July weekend: review registration and titling requirements for watercraft

Many boat owners say the two happiest days in a boat owner’s life are the day they purchase their boat and the day that they sell their boat. The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) wants to remind Hoosiers of watercraft registration and titling requirements so they don’t get caught adrift with the paperwork ahead of any maiden voyages this Fourth of July weekend.

Prospective boat buyers and sellers should be aware that all watercraft operating on Indiana waterways must be registered and titled with the BMV and display valid watercraft decals unless otherwise exempt.  

Proof of ownership is required to register your watercraft. This can be established with the boat’s title or by filling out a Watercraft Ownership Affidavit (available here on the BMV’s website). 

Once registered, owners will receive a certificate of registration, a registration number, and two decals. Certificates of registration must be kept on the watercraft and be accessible whenever it is in use, just as you would keep the registration for a car with the vehicle.  

The registration number must be clearly displayed on the watercraft’s bow above the waterline. The owner is responsible for affixing the registration number. Numbers and letters for the registration number are not provided by the BMV. Decals must be placed within three inches to the right of the registration number or on each side of the forward half of the bow.  

Just like regular passenger vehicles, watercraft registrations must be renewed annually before their scheduled expiration date. 

Hoosiers must apply for a certificate of title for their watercraft unless it is also exempt from registration within 45 days after the date of purchase or a penalty will be charged. Titling requirements for new Indiana residents, Out-of-State residents who dock their watercraft in Indiana, and anyone brave enough to build their own boat are outlined on the BMV’s website, or by clicking here. 

Some common non-motorized watercraft including canoes, rowboats, and paddleboats are exempt from registration and titling requirements. A full list of exempt watercraft is available here on the BMV’s website. 

The BMV encourages safe boating practices and encourages all boaters to familiarize themselves with this Handbook of Indiana Boating Laws and Responsibilities from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Additionally, DNR requires a permit to use a watercraft on a body of water at many state parks. More information on permits is available on DNR’s website.