Other Facts About Registering Your Vessel
Here are some additional facts about registering your vessel.
- Registrations are issued on a staggered basis each year. The first letter of the owner's last name determines the renewal month.
- If you change address, you must notify the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division within 15 days of the change.
- If a numbered vessel is destroyed, stolen, abandoned, or lost, the owner should report it to the ALEA Marine Patrol Division within 15 days of the event.
- If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number, you must apply to the issuing office 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 (USCG). Call the USCG at 1-800-799-8362 for more information. Recreational vessels that are documented must also be registered in Alabama.
- Alabama law does not require registration of boat trailers or titling of vessels.
Vessel Lengths
In Alabama, boats are divided into 4 classes.
| Class | Length |
|---|---|
| Class 1 | less than 16 feet |
| Class 2 | 16 feet to less than 26 feet |
| Class 3 | 26 feet to less than 40 feet |
| Class 4 | 40 feet to less than 65 feet |
