Boat Registration Laws
What you should know about boat registration laws.
Boat registration and titling laws on both federal and state levels originate from legislative acts which are formalized as statutes. These are subsequently interpreted into administrative or regulatory rulings on behalf of the agencies charged with their enforcement. In situations where federal and state laws conflict, those on the federal level will prevail.
United States Code
The United States Code (USC) represents a basic codification of legislative acts as set forth by congress. These are the underlying statutes from which the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is derived. In viewing the various CFRs, you will accordingly find references to the USCs upon which they are formulated.
Code of Federal Regulations
The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) defines the requirements
for vessel documentation and the manner in which it is to be administered.
These enactments also prescribe state level registration standards, boat numbering
methods and hull identification requirements. Links to the respective chapters may be
found in the Referrals for this page.
46 CFR Part 67 - Documentation of Vessels
- 46 CFR Part 67 deals with all aspects of vessel documentation as administered
by the National Vessel Documentation Center. It includes definitions, vessel
qualifications, application requirements, recordable instruments such as
bills of sale, mortgages and supplemental filings.
33 CFR Part 173 - Vessel Numbering
- 33 CFR Part 173 prescribes state boat registration numbering regulations.
It also specifies requirements for accident and casualty reporting.
33 CFR Part 174 - Numbering System
Requirements - 33 CFR Part 174 sets forth specific details about how the
states must structure boat registrations and the manner in which they are
numbered. It creates uniformity throughout the country with respect to the
registration of boats operating on their jurisdictional waters.
33 CFR Part 181 -
Manufacturer Requirements - 33 CFR Part 181 establishes requirements for the
certification of recreational boats, associated equipment and the
identification of boats. It deals with hull number assignments, manufacturer
code assignments, formatting requirements, placement and the affixation of a
second hull number.
33 CFR Part 187 - Vessel Identification System - 33 CFR Part 187
mandates the deployment of a nationwide Vessel Identification System (VIS).
This is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Coast Guard and most states to share vessel documentation and boat registration data
in real time. It includes both current and historical information and is administered by the Coast Guard's Maritime Information Exchange with input from the participating states.
NVDC Rules
The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is charged with the administration of all vessel documentation activities. Their rulings and procedures are based on an interpretation of the respective CFRs. Detailed information on the various aspects of documentation can be found throughout the pages of our website.
State Registration Statutes
Although the states must comply with federal boating requirements, they have a great deal of autonomy in how to go about the process of registering and titling boats. Legislative acts on the state level are typically coded directly into administrative or regulatory statutes. You will find these for each state by visiting the State Registration Overviews, an index of which can be found in the References for this page.
State Agency Rules
Boat registration and titling services vary widely among the respective states. In fact, some are registration only jurisdictions and do not offer boat titling. Although the basic registration and boat numbering rules are uniform throughout the country, there is a wide diversity in how applications are handled. There are also differences in such factors as registration fees, exemptions, insurance requirements and operator licensing. Information in this regard may be found in the References for this page.
Admiralty Law
Admiralty law, also known as maritime law, is the body federal regulations that resides over maritime operations in federal or international waters. This includes commercial activities, incidents, environmental protections, and the settlement of disputes among opposing parties. Matters of litigation under admiralty rules are settled in federal rather than local courts. Recreational boats may become subject to admiralty jurisdiction when USCG documented or upon operating within federal waters. Information and codifications related to admiralty law can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Conclusion
Statutory codifications are sometimes complex and confusing for the layperson. However, they may be useful in determining the scope and meaning of boat registration and titling regulations. Although governmental clerks, officers and marine professionals are typically well versed such matters, their responses may at times seem vague inconclusive. Any such concerns should accordingly be addressed with a qualified attorney.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections