Boats & Vessels

Titling & Registering Your Vessel in Florida

Florida law requires most vessels operated on the state’s waters to be titled and registered with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).

How to Title a Vessel in Florida

Most vessels with a motor located in Florida must be titled before they can be registered. Titling establishes legal ownership of the vessel.

Documents Required to Title a Vessel

To apply for a Florida vessel title, you must submit:

Completed Application for Certificate of Title
Proof of Ownership, such as:
- Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO) for new vessels
- Current title from another state
- Properly completed bill of sale, if applicable
Valid Photo Identification
Payment of applicable title and registration fees

If the vessel was previously titled in another state, that title must be surrendered at the time of application.

Registration Decal Requirements

When a vessel is registered, the owner will receive a registration certificate and a validation decal showing the registration year.

Where to place the decal:

The decal must be attached to the port (left) side of the vessel.
It should be displayed close to the vessel’s registration number.
For federally documented vessels, the decal may be placed on a window or port-side windshield instead of the hull.
Remove all expired decals to ensure only the current year’s sticker is displayed.

Registration Fees & Expiration

Florida vessel registration fees are determined by the length of the vessel, as outlined in s. 328.72, Florida Statutes.

Registration validity and expiration:

Registrations issued to individuals expire during the owner’s birth month each year.
Registrations issued to businesses expire June 30 of the following year.
Pro-rated fees only apply when obtaining an initial registration—not when renewing.

Carrying the Registration Certificate

Florida law requires that the registration certificate be kept on board whenever the vessel is operating on state waters.

Operating a vessel that is required to be registered without a valid registration is a second-degree misdemeanor.

Florida Freedom Boater Safety Decal

The 2025 Florida Legislature passed SB 1388, directing the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to offer customers the option to receive a Florida Freedom Boater Safety Inspection Decal during a vessel registration or renewal transaction. Submit the required Vessel Safety Equipment Attestation (Form HSMV 87191).

Vessels exempt from registration (such as non-motorized vessels, kayaks, and similar watercraft) may also submit Form HSMV 87191 and receive a Freedom Boater decal without registering the vessel.

Title & Registration for Undocumented Vessels Arriving from Outside the United States

A vessel entering Florida from another country without a formal ownership document recognized in the United States (such as a foreign title, registration certificate, or other official documentation) is considered an undocumented vessel.

Florida law allows these vessels to be titled and registered, but additional steps and verification are required to establish ownership and compliance.

Non-Resident Vessels

A recreational boater who is visiting Florida may operate a vessel registered in another state for up to 90 days without obtaining a Florida registration. After 90 days of use within the state, the vessel must be registered in Florida.

Reduced Renewal Fee for Vessels with EPIRBs or PLBs

Owners of vessels equipped with a validly registered Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) may qualify for a reduced registration renewal fee under s. 328.72(14), F.S.

Before renewing:

Visit NOAA’s beacon registration site to confirm your beacon registration status: https://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/RGDB/index

NOAA Beacon Registration Support:

Email: beacon.registration@noaa.gov
Phone: 888-212-7283

Steps to Title & Register an Undocumented Foreign Vessel in Florida

Provide Acceptable Proof of Ownership
Because foreign vessels may not have U.S. recognized titles, the owner must provide one or more of the following:
- Foreign registration or ownership certificate (if available)
- Original bill of sale or purchase agreement
- Import documentation (e.g., U.S. Customs import documents such as CBP Form 7501)
- Any foreign government-issued ownership document
- Affidavit of Ownership (required when documentation is limited)
Vessel Identification Number (VIN/HIN) Inspection
If the vessel does not have a U.S. recognized Hull Identification Number (HIN) or the number does not meet U.S. Coast Guard standards:
- A HIN inspection must be performed.
- If the HIN is missing or non-compliant, DHSMV will assign a Florida HIN.
This inspection may be performed by:
- Florida law enforcement
- Division of Motorist Services Compliance Examiner
- U.S. Coast Guard
Complete Required Forms
- Application for Title ( HSMV 82040 )
- HIN Inspection Form, if required
- Bill of Sale or Affidavit of Ownership
Pay Applicable Title and Registration Fees
Fees depend on:
- Whether the title is electronic or paper
- Whether expedited service is requested
- Length of vessel for registration
Obtain Florida Registration
Upon successful processing, the applicant will receive:
- Vessel registration certificate
- Validation decal
- Florida-assigned title
The vessel must display Florida registration numbers unless it becomes federally documented.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Vessel Registration Certificate or Decal

If a vessel registration certificate or validation decal is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, the owner may request a replacement from the Office of the Tax Collector.

1. Complete the required form:

Application for Duplicate or Lost in Transit/Reassignment for Vessel Title/Registration (Form HSMV 87015)

If the item was stolen:

A law enforcement report is not required by statute to obtain a replacement.
Providing a copy of the report (if one exists) may help prevent misuse.

Fees are not waived for stolen decals or registrations.

Lost in Transit

If the registration or decal was never received, the applicant must indicate “Lost in Transit” on Form HSMV 87015.

If the request is made within 180 days of the original issuance, the replacement is free of charge, per DHSMV procedure.