Important Information about Vessel Registration:
- All vessels must be titled and registered before they can be used in Florida waters.
- Vessel trailers must be registered.
- Vessel registration fees are determined by hull length.
- The registration is valid until midnight on the owner’s birthday and renewed annually.
Florida Title Transfer for a Vessel
A Florida Title Transfer is needed when a vessel currently titled in Florida changes/transfers ownership to a different Florida owner.
The Florida Certificate of Title with the “transfer of title by seller” section must be completed.
Please refer to the Title Transfer Vessel Packet for further required documents.
Sojourners
A non-resident boater with a valid registration certificate from another state may use his/her vessel for 90 days (pleasure boats only) without registering in Florida. Vessels used in Florida longer than 90 days must be registered with the State of Florida.
Registration Numbers
A Florida registration number issued to a vessel is permanent. The registration number remains with the vessel as long as it is operated or stored in Florida, even if the vessel ownership changes.
The registration number is to be painted or permanently attached to both sides of the bow (forward half) of the vessel and must be in block letters and numerals at least three inches high. The registration number must read from left to right, must contrast in color with the hull and be maintained in legible condition.
The prefix and suffix must be separated from the numerals by a space equal to the width of the digits, i.e., FL 0001 AB.
