District of Columbia Registration Overview
All you should know about registering a boat in Washington DC.
The District of Columbia boat registration and titling overview is a public service designed to inform boaters about operational requirements, recording methods and boat registration search lookups for Washington DC. This includes essential references for the most detailed and accurate information currently available.
Registration Agency
District of Columbia boat registrations and titles are administered by
the by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Special Operations Division
which is headquartered in Washington DC. Contact information can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Registration Services
- Boat registration services are available from an online registration portal,
by visiting the MPD office or through the postal service.
Renewal Services - Registration renewals may be implemented through the
online registration portal, by visiting the MPD office or through the postal
service.
Registration Statistics - There are approximately 1,869 boats
currently registered in the District of Columbia which accounts for 0.0%
nationwide. USCG vessel documentation records indicate 595 owners with a
Washington DC address and 702 documented vessels that display a District of
Columbia hailing
port.
Registration Requirements
The District of Columbia requires registrations 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
- All sailboats must be registered regardless of size.
Dinghies and
Lifeboats - Dinghies must be registered.
Lifeboats
- Lifeboats are exempt from registration.
Documented Vessels - Although Coast Guard documented
vessels must be registered, they are exempt from titling.
Visiting Boats -
Boats currently registered in another state or country are allowed
visitation privileges for 50 consecutive days
without registering.
Boat Titles - Boat titles are
issued on all boats registered in the District of Columbia. It has also
adopted the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act (UCOTVA).
Residency
Requirements - The District of Columbia must be the place of
principal operation in order to register and title a boat.
Boat Trailers
- Titles and registrations are required for boat trailers in the District of
Columbia.
These are administered by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Marking Requirements
Boat registration numbers in Connecticut begin with an
"DC" 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 built after 1972 are required to have a properly
formatted 12 digit hull identification number. Although
typically assigned and installed by the manufacturer, owners
with older, homemade, or imported boats may apply to the MPD for
a hull number assignment. These are prefixed with the letters
"DCZ" in place of the manufacturer's identification code (MIC).
Application Requirements
Boat registrations in the District of Columbia are
implemented by filing an Application for Registration form which
can be found in the referrals for this page. This must be
submitted online, by regular mail or in person at the MPD office . The application
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 repossession and foreclosure statutes must be
presented when registering a foreclosed boat in the District of
Columbia.
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 the District of Columbia mechanic's lien laws have been
fulfilled. Evidence of this must be provided upon registering
the boat.
Abandoned Boats - The District of Columbia has
procedures for claiming abandoned boats on private property.
Contact the MPD for further information.
Title Bonding - Contact the MPD for information about
bonded boat titles.
Registration Fees - The most
current list of boat registration fees for the District of
Columbia 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 the District of Columbia are determined
by various factors. These include the type of debt, obligation
or liability and whether the boat is USCG documented.
Loan Security Interests - Security interests in DC
titled boats are listed on the certificate of title. Security interests
in non-titled and non-documented boats must recorded as UCC
filings with the Office of Tax and Revenue. Information for doing so
can be found in the References for this page, 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 district's boat registration database,
recorded as Uniform Commercial Code filings, court clerk records
or shown on state
revenue records.
Mechanic's Liens
- There are no means of recording mechanics or storage liens on 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 the District of Columbia 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 and lien search lookup methods for boats
registered in the District of Columbia may vary depending on the type of lien
and method of ownership.
Registration Searches - The
District of Columbia boat registration and title records are maintained
in a database administered by the MPD. 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 the District of Columbia
can be found by visiting the Registration Search link
in the References for this page.
UCC Searches -
Uniform Commercial Code filing searches in Connecticut are
available online from the Office of Tax and Revenue. Additional
information may be found in the referrals for this page.
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, 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.
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 - Use tax must be
paid upon titling a boat in the District of Columbia.
Personal Property Tax -
Contact the Office of Tax and Revenue for boat tax information.
Insurance
Requirements - Proof of insurance coverage is required when
registering a boat in the District of Columbia
Operator Requirements
Operator Licensing - District of Columbia requires any person who is operating or navigating any vessel
shall have in his or her possession satisfactory evidence of having completed an
approved boating safety course.
Accident Reporting
- You should contact the Metropolitan Police Department
immediately in the event of a boating accident or casualty.
Notifications - The MPD must be notified within 15 days
whenever a registered boat has been stolen, lost, abandoned.
This also applies to ownership and address changes.
Enforcement Agency - The Metropolitan Police Division is
primarily responsible for boating law enforcement in the
District of Columbia.
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