Delaware Boat Registration Overview
All you should know about boat registration in Delaware.
The Delaware boat registration overview is designed to inform the boating public about registration requirements, recording methods, and registration search lookups for the State of Delaware. This includes a comprehensive listing of direct references for the most detailed and accurate information currently available.
Registration Agency
Delaware boat registrations are administered by the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife. Links to their website and contact information can be found in the References for this page.
Registration Summary
Delaware is a boat registration only state and does not issue boat
titles. All non-exempt boats operating in this jurisdiction are administered by the Division of
Wildlife in Dover. Titling and registration is not required in for outboard boat
motors in Delaware. Boat trailers are subject to titling and registration.
No sales, excise, or personal property taxes are assessed on boats registered in
Delaware.
There are approximately 48,703 boats registered in the State
of Delaware. This accounts for 0.4% of all nationwide
registrations.
Registration Requirements
Delaware requires the registration of all non-exempt motorboats,
including those powered by electric motors. Exceptions include vessels which are registered in another state for a period not to exceed
60 consecutive days and Coast Guard
documented vessels.
Delaware is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. Although
current registration certificates may be
recognized as proof of ownership in some cases, they do not qualify as titles when it comes
to security interests.
Ownership transfers, thefts, destructions, and abandonments must be
reported within 15 days. Boat
registration is available to non-residents only if the boat's
principal area of operation is within the State of Delaware or outside of U.S. waters. The Division of Fish
and Wildlife does
not have provisions for registering abandoned boats and does not offer bonding or
conditional registrations where sufficient proof of ownership can not be
provided.
Marking Requirements
Boat registration numbers in Delaware begin with a "DL" 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 the state registration tabs, 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 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 with the Division of Fish and Wildlife for a hull
number assignment. State assigned hull numbers prefixed with
the letters "DLZ" are available for home made boats and those without factory
designations. The hull
number must be inspected by an enforcement official if there is
a related discrepancy.
Ownership and Liens
Delaware does not issue boat titles therefore security interests in
non-documented boats are recorded through Uniform Commercial Code filings. Tax liens are sometimes flagged in the state's registration
database, recorded as Uniform Commercial Code 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 registered boats which are not documented.
If the vessel is USCG documented, a security interest may be perfected by
filing a preferred vessel mortgage. These are recorded with the National Vessel
Documentation Center with the earliest submissions taking priority. Other lien claims can be
filed in the same manner although these function as notifications only. All such filings
are indexed on the vessel's underlying abstract of title.
Boat Title Searches
Boat registration records in Delaware are
administered by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Information
about how to go about searching their database and obtaining
records can be found in the Referrals for this page.
Delaware is a registration only state and does not issue boat titles. State level
boat liens are accordingly filed with the Department of State's Office as Uniform
Commercial Code recordings. Online UCC searches are not available therefore it will
be necessary to use a state approved UCC service provider. The Department of State
will also provide UCC search information by telephone.
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 property lien recordings. Information about
business and legal entities that own boats registered, titled, or documented in
Delaware can be obtained by searching the
Secretary of State's business records online.
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 documentation company for assistance in this
regard.
Non-recorded maritime liens may also be a factor when conducting boat title research
in Delaware. 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 is 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 boat
manufacturers.
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
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections