Watercraft licenses - registration procedures & fees

Options for boat registration renewals

To expedite your renewal, you can visit a deputy registrar office or renew online and receive a temporary receipt to use immediately. If you previously mailed in your renewal and do not want to wait for it to be processed, you can visit a deputy registrar office or renew online and receive a temporary receipt to use immediately. Your mail-in renewal check will then be returned to you.

For people that are about to renew: We encourage you to renew your watercraft registration online or at your local deputy registrar's office. If you renew online, you will receive a temporary permit/confirmation page to print out for immediate use. Or, you may write down your temporary authorization number from your confirmation page. Your registration card and expiration decals will then be mailed to you.

Registration procedures

Register your new watercraft:

• Options are limited for in-person registrations so check the deputy registrar of motor vehicles listings (where you license your car). You can also visit the DNR License Center, 500 Lafayette Road in St. Paul. 
  If your new boat (except kayaks or canoes) is longer than 16', your dealer will apply for title and registration (license) on your behalf, and is responsible for providing you with license materials.

  When you register your boat for the first time, know its length, manufacturer, type of hull material (wood, metal, or plastic), type of propulsion, model, year, serial or hull identification number (HIN) and have a sales receipt that shows you have paid the sales tax.

  Length is the straight-line distance from the foremost part of the boat (bow) to the rearmost part of the boat (stern). Bowsprits, outboard motor brackets, rudders and other attachments are not included in the measurement.

  A watercraft license is not required for: 
  Non-motorized watercraft 10 ft or less, or a watercraft owned by a person from another state and that state does not require licensing of that type of watercraft and it is not within Minnesota for more than 90 consecutive days. See MN Boating Guide for more information.

  Boat registrations are good for 3 calendar years (for example 1/1/2003 through 12/31/2005).

Renew your watercraft registration:

• In person at any deputy registrar of motor vehicles (where you license your car) or at the DNR License Bureau in St. Paul (500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN).
• Online using the online licensing system.
• If you are not the registered owner a person may renew for you only if they have the DNR generated renewal notice or, they must provide a Consent to Renew Registration form or show proof of being the Power of Attorney.
• Consent to Renew Registration form

Duplicate cards are available:

• At a deputy registrar of motor vehicles

Transfer from a private seller:

Review the procedures below for transferring a boat purchased through a private seller.

Boats titled in Minnesota

Minnesota Watercraft Title sign by the seller on the front of the title. Buyer will complete and sign the back of the title. Transfer fee is $17.00.

Boats previously registered and title in another state

Original signed Certificate of Title if the boat is coming from a state that titles boats or a registration card and bill of sale if the boat is coming from a state that does not title boats.

Boats never registered before (i.e. new boats)

Applications to register new boats, or boats that have never been registered in any state, require the original Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) to be submitted in lieu of Certificate of Title. If this is a home-built boat, copies of the materials, supplies receipt should be submitted, 4 photos of the finish product, and complete and sign the Statement of Facts.

Lien release

If the Certificate of Title identifies lien(s), your application must include a lien release from the listed lien holder to transfer ownership. Lien release documents must identify the lien holder listed on the title, the boat owner on account, and the boat by hull ID number. A lien release can include a signed letter (on company letterhead) from the lien holder or the signed lien notice provided by the department.

Minnesota registered non-titled boat

Bill of sale from an owner listing the year, make, Hull ID Number (HIN) of the watercraft, sellers printed name and signature. Universal registration form completed and signed.

How to submit documentation

Submit documents at your local deputy registrar office. Find their local deputy registrar office. Or submit the title and completed application by mail to:  

Minnesota DNR Box 26 - Watercraft 
500 Lafayette Rd. 
St. Paul, MN 55155-4026  

Note: You must wait until your new registration card and decals arrive in the mail before you can legally operate your watercraft. The only exception is if the application was completed and submitted on their behalf by a DNR authorized boat dealer and they provide the customer with a permit.

Fees

Titles

Watercraft title fees

Registrations

Forms

• Universal registration form
• Watercraft Title and Registration Application
• Affidavit of repossession
• Assignment of watercraft to a surviving spouse or assignment of watercraft not subject to probate
• Duplicate title application
• Corrected title application
• Lien: add, release, reassign
• Statement of facts watercraft title
• Transfer on death
• Correction of Ownership