Wyoming Boat Registration Summary
Wyoming boat registration summary is a free resource designed to inform the boating public about registration requirements, recording methods, and title search guidelines for the State of Wyoming. The data is maintained as an open wiki forum where readers are encouraged to participate by sharing knowledge and experiences with this particular state. Simply click on the "Wiki-Share" link to contribute further details or suggest a revision.
This information is subject to change and should be confirmed with the respective agency.
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State of Wyoming
Game and Fish Department,
Watercraft Section
Boat Registration Website
Boat Registration Overview
Wyoming issues both registrations and titles for all boats operating within their jurisdiction. Registrations are administered by the Game and Fish Department in Cheyenne. Boat titles are handled by the Motor Vehicles Services in Cheyenne. This state does not title or register outboard boat motors. Boat trailer registration is required in Wyoming. Titling is required for those weighing over 1,000 lbs. It is optional for those weighing less. Sales tax is levied on first time boat registrations and ownership transfers in Wyoming. There are approximately 26,022 boats registered in the State of Wyoming. This accounts for 0.2% of all nationwide registrations.Registration Requirements
Wyoming registers all motorboats powered by propulsion machinery of any type and operated on its waters. These include but are not limited to, motorboats, rowboats, sailboats, sailboards, canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, rowing shells, or sculls, all terrain vehicles used in the water, and inflatable craft. Coast Guard documented boats are not subject to registration. Boat titling in this state is handled by the Motor Vehicle Services. Coast Guard documented vessels are neither title or registered. A complete list of requirements and exemptions may be found on the Game and Fish Department website. Wyoming has provisions for bonded boat titles. Transfers of ownership, abandonments, destructions, and thefts must be reported within 15 days.Marking Requirements
Wyoming boat registration numbers begin with a "WY" designation which is followed by four numbers and then two letters. These must be displayed on all non-documented boats along with registration sticker tabs. Coast Guard documented vessels may not display the state registration numbers. However they must display an owner designated vessel name, and a hailing port. An official documentation number must also be affixed to a visible interior location in the hull itself or an integral part of the hull. All boats manufactured after 1972 are required to have a 12 digit hull identification number affixed to the vessel by the manufacturer. State assigned hull numbers prefixed with the letters "WYZ" are available for home made boats and those without factory designations. The boat must be inspected by a Wyoming law enforcement official if there is a discrepancy with the hull identification number.Ownership and Liens
Wyoming issues titles on all registered boats except for those which are Coast Guard documented. These are administered by the Motor Vehicle Services and County Clerks offices. Registrations are handled separately by the Game and Fish Department. Security interests in state titled boats are recorded with the Motor Vehicle Services department. These will be shown on the title certificate. Security interests in boats that are neither titled or USCG documented are recorded with the Secretary of State as Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. Tax liens may be flagged on boat registration records, recorded as UCC filings, shown on state revenue records, or filed with a county clerk's office. There are no provisions for recording mechanic's liens or other non-secured claims against state titled boats. If the vessel is USCG documented, a lender's security interest must be perfected by filing a preferred vessel mortgage. These are recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center and priority is attained according to the date filed. Other maritime liens can be filed in the same manner although they function as notifications only. All mortgage and lien filings are indexed on the vessel's underlying abstract of title.Boat Title Searches
Boat title records in Wyoming are maintained by the Motor Vehicle Services. This agency does not facilitate online searches for the general public due to strict privacy laws. However, record printouts may be obtained by an owner or otherwise qualified party by submitting a boat record request form. Although designed for vehicles, this form also applies to boats. It is also reported that MVS offices will check for hull numbers by telephone or verify information shown on boat title or registration certificates in hand. Registration records are handled separately through the Game and Fish Department. They do not offer online searches but will respond to telephone inquiries. A printout of the registration record can be obtained by submitting a record request form. Uniform Commercial Code searches are available online from the Secretary of State but only through a commercial account. It will therefore be necessary to submit a UCC information request form or use a public record provider. If there are any suspected state or federal tax liens however, it may be advisable to use a public record vendor as they have a much broader access to such filings nationwide. Ownership, mortgage, and lien search recordings for USCG documented vessels can be obtained by ordering an abstract of title and a copy of the certificate of documentation from the National Vessel Documentation Center. However, these are encoded and can be difficult to interpret, especially on older vessels with numerous recordings. It may be worthwhile to contact a professional vessel title company for assistance in this regard. Non-recorded maritime liens may also be a factor when conducting boat title research in Wyoming. These include liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel, storage, parts, supplies, and damages which can become attached to the boat itself regardless of ownership. One of the most useful tools for doing this kind of research is our premier boat history search database. It offers a gathering of eight nationwide databases into a single interface which can be searched by numerous criteria. These include records for stolen boats, marine lien claims, boating accidents, pollution incidents, auctioned boats, factory recalls, and documented vessels. Yacht brokers, documentation companies, and attorneys do not warrant or guarantee titles. It is therefore incumbent on the owner to stand behind any such representations. Of course it will be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent, non-cooperative, or can not be located. This calls for a thorough background check to ensure the owner's wherewithal for making good on any hidden liens or title deficiencies.Advertisement
