Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Registration

• Apply to any Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) License Branch to obtain a certificate of registration.
• You must keep the certificate on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the vessel is operated.
• If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate it or allow others to operate it unless it is registered and properly numbered.
• If you lose or destroy your certificate of registration, you must apply to the BMV for a duplicate and pay a processing fee.
• Registration information must be kept current.
• If you change your address, you must notify a BMV License Branch within 30 days of the change.
• If you transfer ownership of your vessel or if it is destroyed, you should report it to your local BMV License Branch within 15 days.
• Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. USCG–documented vessels also must be registered but are exempt from displaying the “IN” registration number. (Read more about obtaining the U.S. Coast Guard's Certificate of Documentation.)

Display of Number and Decals

You must display the registration number and excise tax decals as follows.

• Number must be painted, applied as a decal, or otherwise affixed to both sides of the bow.
• Number must read from left to right on both sides of the bow.
• Number’s color must contrast with its background.
• Number must be in at least three-inch-high BLOCK letters.
• Number must be a single color and clearly legible from a distance of 100 feet.
• Excise tax decals must be affixed on both sides of the bow, to the right of and within three inches of the number. Certain sailboats may qualify for an alternate display location for these decals.

PWCs also are required to display the certificate’s number and excise tax decals.

Titling Your Vessel

A vessel that must be registered also must have a certificate of title unless the vessel is:

• Acquired by the owner before January 1, 1986.
• Less than $3,000 in value when new.
• Home-built for personal use and not for resale.

Although there are exemptions from titling, you still may want to title your vessel. A title verifies ownership in case the vessel is stolen.

Boat Excise Tax

Indiana law requires that vessels that are operated, used, docked, or stored in Indiana pay the Boat Excise Tax.

• Vessels subject to excise tax include:
  • Motorboats registered in Indiana
  • Sailboats
• The amount of boat excise tax paid is:
  • Based on the value of the vessel when new and is reduced 10% each year up to a 50% reduction of the original amount.
  • $12.00 for vessels that are stored in Indiana for 60 consecutive days or more in a boating year but not used or docked in Indiana waters.
• When you receive your certificate of registration, you also receive two excise tax decals.
• Decals include the date of expiration. Only the current decal may be displayed.
• The boat excise tax decal is valid for one year. Owners of registered vessels will be sent a renewal notice to their residence automatically.
• If you lose or destroy your decals, you must apply to the BMV for duplicates and submit a processing fee.

Motorboat Registration Application

Registration and title application forms can be obtained from:

• Any tax collector’s office
• Many marine dealers, marinas, and bait shops
• Any Bureau of Motor Vehicles License Branch
• The Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ website

Registration Questions?

Call the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 317-232-2859. You also can visit the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles website and download registration forms.

Hull Identification Number

• The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number assigned by the manufacturer to vessels built after 1972.
• Hull Identification Numbers:
  • Distinguish one vessel from another—the same as serial numbers distinguish one car from another
  • Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate permanently attached to the transom
• You should write down your HIN and put it in a place separate from your vessel in case warranty problems arise or your vessel is stolen.
• You may obtain a HIN for a home-built boat or replace a missing HIN by applying to your local BMV Branch Office.