REGISTRATION, NUMBERING, AND
DOCUMENTATION

Registration

You can submit your registration or title applications and fees to:

Massachusetts Environmental Police
Registration and Titling Bureau
251 Causeway St., Suite 101
Boston, MA 02114

or... Renew your registration online at www.mass.gov/massoutdoors.

Contact the Registration and Titling Bureau by calling 1-617-626-1610 or on the Internet at www.state.ma.us/dfwele/dle/.

How to Apply for Registration

To register a vessel, you need to provide:

• Bill of Sale (name and address of seller).
• Sales tax form (ST-6) or (ST-6E).
• Pencil tracing of Hull ID number (serial number). If your vessel was built prior to 1972, or does not have a 12 character Hull Identification Number (HIN), a vessel inspection may be required.
• Required fees.
• Properly completed and signed registration application.

If the vessel is 14 ft. in length or more, in addition to the documents above you also need to provide:

• The title or, if vessel is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard, Termination of Documentation (“Deletion Letter”) from the U.S. Coast Guard.
• If the vessel is purchased new from a registered boat dealer or department store, an original “Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin” is required in lieu of title. When a boat is purchased from a private party from a non-titled state, the previous owner's registration is required in lieu of title.

Titling Your Motorboat

• All vessels 14 feet or greater in length that require registration, must also be titled.
• The title application must be made to Massachusetts Environmental Police within 20 days of purchasing a vessel.
• The title certificate is valid for the life of the vessel, or until the vessel is sold or otherwise transferred, at which time the new owner must transfer the title.

• A Certificate of Number is valid for two years from the date of issuance. Current owners will be sent a renewal notice to their residence about one month prior to the expiration of their current registration.

The registration card must be carried on board whenever the boat is underway.

15-day Rule

Notify the Massachusetts Environmental Police within 15 days if:

• The sale, trade or transfer of ownership of a registered vessel
• The abandonment, destruction, loss or theft of a registered vessel
• The change of address of the owner of a registered vessel
• The destruction or loss of a Certificate of Number or validation decal
• Boat trailers are registered and titled under the same requirements as passenger cars. Application is made through the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

60-day Rule

If registered in another state and now operating in Massachusetts for sixty consecutive days or more, the owner must change registration to Massachusetts . A new application form with fee shall be filed with the department and a new certificate of number shall be awarded.

Numbering; exceptions

Every motorboat on the waters of the Massachusetts must be numbered, except:--

  (1) A motorboat owned in a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of the commonwealth.

  (2) A motorboat owned by an agency of the United States government or by a state, county, city or town.

  (3) Ship's lifeboats.

  (4) A motorboat numbered in accordance with a numbering system established by the secretary; provided, that the certificate of number or similar document awarding a number to such motorboat is in full force and effect; and provided, further, that such motorboat shall not have been within the commonwealth for a period of time in excess of sixty consecutive days.

  (5) A motorboat numbered in accordance with the numbering system of another state, which system has been approved by the secretary; provided, that the certificate of number or similar document awarding a number to such motorboat is in full force and effect; and provided, further, that such motorboat shall not have been within the commonwealth for a period of time in excess of sixty consecutive days.

  (6) A vessel which has a valid marine document issued by the Bureau of Customs of the United States government or any federal agency successor thereto.

Subject to the above exceptions, no person shall maintain, operate or suffer or permit the operation of any motorboat on the waters of the commonwealth unless such motorboat is numbered in accordance with this chapter. In any prosecution under this section wherein one or more of the above exceptions is alleged in defense, the burden of proof thereof shall be on the defendant.

Display of Numbering

Registered boats must display assigned numbers properly. The state will issue you a registration number, which is found on your registration card. The number needs to be displayed in the following manner:

• Numbers must be permanently attached to the forward half of the vessel, generally the bow area.
• At least 3” in height. Block letters and numbers. Must read from left to right.
• Contrasting in color to the hull (black/white, dark red/white, etc)
• Properly spaced. There must be a separation, greater than the width of the number “1” or the letter “I”, between the prefix (state abbreviation), the numbers, and the suffix. Example: MA 00001 AA
• The state currency decal must be displayed within 6” of the Port side registration number, after the number (towards the stern)
• With the exception of the state decal, no other letters or numbers may be displayed nearby.

Federally Documented Boats (issued by the US Coast Guard)

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. Documented vessels are exempt from state registration and titling requirements.

• Official Documentation MUST be carried onboard a documented vessel at all times.
• A Document serves as a certificate of nationality and an authorization for a trade.
• Documented vessels must comply with all state and federal laws.
• Registration fee and display of validation sticker is required in some states.
• Official number must be permanently affixed to an integral structure of the boat. This number is referred to as the “main beam” number.
• The main beam number must match the official number on the document.
• Name and hailing port of the boat must be displayed at least once anywhere on the hull (most boater display this information on the transom) - at least 4” in height, contrasting in color to the hull.
• Name and hailing port must match information on the official document.

Periodically check to see that the numbers and decals are in good condition. A missing number, or having them improperly displayed is a good reason for a law enforcement officer to stop you.