Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Your Vessel’s Registration, Numbers, and Registration Decals

Just like you must have a vehicle registration for your car, you must have a Utah vessel registration and registration decals to legally operate a vessel on Utah waters. Exceptions to registration are:

• Vessels that are not propelled by a motor or by sail (canoes, kayaks, etc.)
• Sailboards
• Properly registered vessels owned by residents of another state and using Utah waters for 60 or fewer days in a calendar year.

Display of Decals

The bow number and registration decals must be displayed as follows:

• The bow number must be painted or permanently attached to each side of the forward half of the vessel.
• The bow number must read from left to right on both sides of the vessel.
• The bow number must be in at least 3"-high, bold, plain, vertical BLOCK characters.
• The bow number must contrast with the background color of the hull and be legible from a distance of 150 feet.
• The bow number’s letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: “UT 2628 BP” or “UT-2628-BP.”
• No other numbers may be displayed on either side of the bow.
• The Yearly Registration decals must be displayed 3 inches aft of the bow number on each side of the vessel. Only current decals may be displayed. The Month of Expiration decals must be displayed immediately aft of the Yearly Registration decals.

If your vessel requires registration, it is illegal to operate or allow others to operate your vessel unless it is properly registered and numbered.

PWCs also are required to display the bow number and registration decals.

Other Facts About Registering and Titling Your Vessel

Utah registrations expire annually, at the end of the month in which the vessel was originally registered. Renewal notices are usually mailed to the registered owner during the month of expiration.

All vessels manufactured since 1985 and with a motor of 25 hp or greater will be titled. Titles are obtained through the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles.

If the address of the owner of a registered vessel changes, the owner must notify the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days of the change and note the new address on the registration card.

If a registered vessel is abandoned, destroyed, or ownership is transferred, the registration is not valid and the owner must notify the Utah Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days of the event.

If you lose or destroy your registration certificate or decals, you must apply for a duplicate and submit a processing fee.

Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. Contact the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 (www.uscg.mil) for more information. Documented vessels must also be registered with Utah, but are not required to display the bow number. (Read more about obtaining the U. S. Coast Guard's Certificate of Documentation.)

Hull Identification Number

The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a unique, 12-digit number, assigned by the manufacturer, to vessels built after November, 1, 1972.

Hull Identification Numbers:

• Distinguish one vessel from another.
• Are engraved in the fiberglass or on a metal plate attached to the transom.
• Are required when applying for Utah vessel registration.
• Should be recorded by the owner and put in a place other than the vessel in case warranty problems arise or the vessel is lost or stolen.

Motorboat Liability Insurance Requirement

All motorboats and personal watercraft (PWCs) are required to carry owner’s or operator’s liability insurance when operated on Utah waters. Motorboats equipped with engines less than 50 horsepower and all airboats are exempt from this requirement.

• The minimum liability insurance required is $25,000/$50,000 bodily injury/death, $15,000 property damage, and $65,000 of combined liability coverage per incident.
• It is illegal for the owner of a motorboat to operate or allow others to operate it unless the motorboat has the required insurance.
• The insurance requirement does not apply to nonresident owners of motorboats on Utah waters for less than 90 days, unless liability insurance is also required in the owner’s home state.

Proof of insurance must be carried on board the motorboat or PWC and available for inspection if requested by an enforcement officer.