Other Facts About Registering Your Vessel

Here are some additional facts about registering your vessel.

• The Certificate of Number is valid for one, two, or three years, at the option of the owner.
• The owner of a numbered vessel must notify TWRA at Go Outdoors website within 15 days if:
  • They change their address.
  • The vessel is lost, stolen and/or recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold.
• Vessels registered in another state may operate on Tennessee waters for 60 consecutive days before Tennessee registration is required.
• If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number or validation decals, you can apply for a duplicate online at Go Outdoors website or visit a license agent.
• 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.
  • Documented vessels must be registered in Tennessee and carry the Certificate of Number on board, but are not required to display the registration number.
  • The validation decals issued by the TWRA must be placed on both sides of the documented vessel on the windows closest to the main operator station.
    • If the vessel does not have windows, the decals must be placed in the immediate vicinity of the operator and must be clearly visible to enforcement officers.
    • Sailboats may place the decals on both sides of the bottom of the main mast.