California Boat Registration Overview
All you should know about registering a boat in California.
The California boat registration overview is a public service designed to inform boaters about operational requirements, recording methods, and record search lookups for the State of California. This includes essential references for the most detailed and accurate information currently available.
Registration Agency
California boat registrations are administered by the
Department of Motor Vehicles which is headquartered in Sacramento. Field
offices are also situated throughout the state. Location and contact
information for these can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Registration Services - Boat registration services are available from DMV home
and field offices.
Applications must be implemented by mail or personal visitations as there
are no online portals for such purpose.
Renewal Services - Renewals may be implemented online from the DMV boat registration website, by regular mail or at any
field office. Online
renewals will require an account
setup.
Registration Statistics - There are approximately 672,103 boats
currently registered in the State of California which accounts for 5.8%
nationwide. USCG vessel documentation records indicate 24,091 owners with a
California address and 26, 233 documented vessels that display a California hailing
port.
Registration Requirements
California requires both registrations and titles on
non-exempt boats that operate within its jurisdictional waters. The
following are basic requirements and exemptions with further details
available from the Referrals for this page .
Motor Boats - All
motorized boats must be registered regardless of size.
Sailboats -
Sailboats over 8 feet in length must be registered.
Dinghies and
Lifeboats - Dinghies and tenders must be registered if
motorized. Watercraft used exclusively as lifeboats are exempt.
Documented Vessels - Coast Guard documented vessels are
exempt from registration in California.
Visiting Boats - Boats currently registered in another
state or country are allowed visitation privileges for 90 consecutive days
without registering.
Boat Titles - California issues
titles for all registered boats. These are branded for prior salvage and
damage events.
Residency Requirements - California must be the state of
principal operation in order to register a boat.
Outboard Motors - Titling and registration are not
available for outboard boat motors in California.
Boat Trailers -
Titles and registrations are required for boat trailers in
California. These
are administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles, a link to which
can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Marking Requirements
Boat registration numbers in California begin with an
"CF" designation which is followed by four numbers and then two
letters. These must be displayed on all registered boats along
with the current registration decals. State boat numbering
configuration, size and placement requirements are actually
dictated by federal regulations. More detailed information can
be found in the Referrals for this page.
Hull Numbers
- All vessels manufactured after 1972 are required to have a 12
digit hull identification number affixed to the vessel by the
manufacturer. Owners with older boats may apply to the
Department of Motor Vehicles for a hull
number assignment. State assigned hull numbers prefixed with
the letters "CFZ" are also available for home made boats and
those without factory designations. A boat must be inspected by
a California law enforcement official if there is a
discrepancy in the hull identification number.
Application Procedures
Boat registrations in California are implemented
by filing an Application for Registration form which can be
found in the referrals for this page. This may be submitted by
mail or in person at one of the DMV Field offices. It
must be accompanied by sufficient evidence of ownership and
registration fees.
Manufacturer's Statement - When a new boat is to be registered for the
first time, you must present a Manufacturer's Statement of
Origin (MSO) or Builder's certification. The statement or
certification must be properly
assigned into your name or accompanied by a bill of sale.
Previous Title - When a boat was previously state titled,
you must present a properly assigned title certificate or one
that is accompanied by a bill of sale.
Previous
Registration - If a boat was registered in a non-title
state, it will be necessary to present an assigned registration
certificate or one that is accompanied by a bill of sale.
Loan Foreclosures - Evidence of compliance with the
respective non-judicial foreclosure statutes must be presented
when registering a foreclosed boat in California.
Mechanic's Liens
- Mechanic's and storage liens may be foreclosed upon if a boat
is still in the possession of the lien holder and all provisions
of California mechanic's lien laws have been
fulfilled. Evidence of this must be provided upon registering
the boat.
Abandoned Boats - Registering boats that
have been abandoned on private property are handled on a
case-by-case basis. Check with the DMV for further information.
Title Bonding - California has procedures for bonded
titles in cases where there is insufficient proof of ownership.
Visit the Referrals for this page for more information.
Registration Fees
- The most current list of boat registration fees for California can
be obtained by visiting the Referrals for this page.
Lien Recordings
The available options for securing loans, liens
and claims against boats registered in California are determined
by various factors. These include the type of debt, obligation
or liability and whether the boat is USCG documented.
Loan Security Interests - Loan security interests in
California registered boats are listed on the certificate of
title. Those for non-titled or non-documented boats are recorded through Uniform Commercial
Code filings which are handled by the Secretary of State's
office. If a boat qualifies for USCG documentation, the
lender must obtain a preferred mortgage in order to perfect or
prioritize its security interest. These are recorded with the National
Vessel Documentation Center.
Tax Liens -Tax liens are sometimes flagged in the state's
boat registration
database, recorded as Uniform Commercial Code filings, shown on state revenue records,
or filed with a county clerk's office.
Mechanic's Liens
- There are no means of recording mechanics or storage liens on
California state boat registration records. However these may be listed for
informational purposes on a documented vessel's underlying
abstract of title. Our website also facilitates the nation's
only proprietary boat lien claim registry that exposes such
encumbrances to the general public. This may be accessed by
visiting the References for this page.
Stolen Boats -
Although stolen boats do not actually qualify as maritime liens,
the true owner may have rights of recovery regardless of a
subsequent owner's awareness. There are no methods for recording
stolen boats in California other than by filing a report with a
local law enforcement agency. However, our website does facilitate a
proprietary stolen boat registry that exposes such events to the
general public. This may be accessed by visiting the References
for this page.
Ownership and Lien Searches
Ownership an lien search lookup methods for boats
registered in California may vary depending on the type of lien
and method of ownership.
Registration Searches -
California boat registration and title records are maintained in a database administered by the
Department of Motor Vehicles. Access to such data is available
for owners and certain qualified parties as prescribed by
regulatory standards. A comprehensive overview about boat record
searches in California
can be found by visiting the Registration Database Search link
in the References for this page.
UCC Searches - Uniform
Commercial Code filing searches in California are available
online from the Secretary of State's office. Visit the Referrals
for this page for additional information.
Tax Lien
Searches - State and Federal tax liens on boats are not
always recorded in a consistent manner and are therefore
difficult to identify. They may show up as a red flag on state
registration records, as UCC filings, in state revenue records,
in a county clerks records, or on a vessel's abstract of title
for documented boats. Given these disparities, it may be worth
obtaining the services of a public record vendor that has access
to a broad range of personal lien
recordings.
USCG Documentation Searches - Ownership,
mortgage and lien information of USCG documented vessels must be
obtained by ordering an Abstract of Title from the National
Vessel Documentation Center.
Non-Recorded Lens - Non-recorded maritime liens may also
be a factor in conducting lien searches. These may include
liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel,
storage, parts, supplies, and damages which are related to the
boat itself. This type of research must be determined through
personal investigation, owner disclosures, and boat history
lookups.
Owner Background Checks - Yacht brokers,
documentation companies, and attorneys do not warrant or
guarantee titles. There is moreover no such thing as boat title
insurance in the marine industry. It is therefore incumbent on
the owner to stand behind any such representations. This will of
course be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent,
non-cooperative, or can not be subsequently located. This calls
for a thorough background check to ensure the owner's
inclination and ability for making good on any hidden liens or title
deficiencies.
Business Entity Search - You should run
a business entity search when dealing with a boat registered to
an entity such as a corporation or limited liability company.
This will help confirm the legitimacy of such enterprise and identify those authorized to act on its behalf. An online
search portal for doing so is maintained by the Secretary of
State which can be accessed from the Referrals for this
page.
Proprietary Searches - Our website offers a proprietary lien
claims registry and a stolen boat registry which are free of
charge. These may be accessed by visiting the References for this page.
Taxes and Insurance
Sales and use tax may apply when a boat is
purchased, owned, or operated in California. However, there are
no insurance requirements.
Sales and Use Tax - Sales
and use tax are applicable on boats in California unless otherwise
exempted. Detailed requirements are available from the
Referrals for this page.
Personal Property Tax - Personal property tax is not
included in boat registration fees. These are instead assessed
yearly from a respective county assessors office. A statewide
listing can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Insurance
Requirements - Although highly recommended, boat liability
and collision insurance are not otherwise required in
California.
Operator Requirements
Boating laws in California are primarily enforced by
county sheriff officers. However, state and local officers are
also involved in such actvities. Contact your nearest office for
reports, questions or concerns.
Licensing Requirements
- All boat operators in California must carry a boater's
education card and age restrictions are also applicable. Further
details can be found in the referrals for this page.
Accident Reporting - The operator or owner of every boat involved
in a collision, accident or other casualty with property damage
must submit a written report to the California Department
of Parks and Waterways.
Notifications - The California DMV must be notified within 15 days
whenever a registered boat has been stolen, lost, abandoned.
This also applies to ownership and address changes.
Conclusion
The information provided herein is gathered from various sources and may be subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice. You should always consult directly with the appropriate agency or a qualified attorney before taking any actions based on this overview.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections