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Boat/Vessel/Outboard Motor Titling and Registration

NOTE: Effective August 28, 2012, Missouri law requires that any outboard motor manufactured on or after July 1 of any year shall be labeled “Year Manufactured” with the calendar year immediately following the year manufactured, unless the Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO) indicates a specific model or program year. For more information, you may refer to the instructions on the back of the Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93).

Obtaining a Temporary Permit (Temporary Watercraft Certificate of Number or Temporary Outboard Motor Registration Number)

Upon purchase of a newly acquired boat, vessel, or outboard motor you may purchase a temporary permit to operate the boat, vessel, or outboard motor on Missouri’s waterways.

To obtain a temporary permit, please bring the following items with you to any Missouri license office:

You will pay:

The temporary permit(s) must be carried in the boat or vessel while the unit is in operation.

Titling and Registering Boats, Vessels, and Outboard Motors

You have 60 days from the date of purchase to title your newly purchased boat, vessel, or outboard motor. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

When the boat or vessel is titled and registered, you will receive:

When the outboard motor is titled and registered, you will receive a decal.

Boats and vessels are NOT required to be titled or registered in the state of Missouri if they are:

Vessels documented by the United States Coast Guard are not required to be titled, but must be registered.

Missouri Resident Titling and Registration Requirements

You have 60 days from the date of purchase to title your newly purchased boat, vessel, or outboard motor. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

To title and register a boat, vessel, or outboard motor in the state of Missouri, the owner must submit the following items at any Missouri license office:

For a boat/vessel you will pay:

For an outboard motor you will pay:

Out-of-State Resident Titling and Registration Requirements

You have 60 days from bringing the boat, vessel, or outboard motor into Missouri to title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor if it is to be kept in Missouri over 60 consecutive days. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

To title and register a boat, vessel, or outboard motor in the state of Missouri, the owner must submit the following;

For the boat/vessel you will pay:

For the outboard motor you will pay:

Boat, Vessel, and Outboard Motor Title Penalties

Missouri Residents:

You have 60 days from the date of purchase to title your newly purchased boat, vessel, or outboard motor. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day after purchase. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

Out-of-State Residents:

You have 60 days from bringing the boat, vessel, or outboard motor into Missouri to title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor if it is to be kept in Missouri over 60 consecutive days. If you do not title the boat, vessel, or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day. The penalty increases another $10 for every 30 days you are late with a maximum penalty of $30.

Boat, Vessel, and Documented Vessel Registration Renewal Requirements

A boat, vessel, or documented vessel registration must be renewed every three years. The registration expires on June 30th in the year specified on the decal. There is no late renewal penalty. Outboard motor decals are not required to be renewed.

To obtain information regarding your renewal, you may visit the Department's Renewal Requirements Inquiry system.

To renew a boat, vessel, or documented vessel registration, the owner must submit the following at any  Missouri license office , by mail, or by phone at 573-751-1957 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your local license office may also provide phone-in renewal services. Visit https://dor.mo.gov/license-office-locator/ for more information.

For a boat or vessel renewal you will pay:

Replacement Decal or Pocket Card for a Boat, Vessel, or Outboard Motor

If your decal or pocket card has been lost, stolen, or mutilated, you may obtain a replacement by submitting the following at any Missouri license office , by mail, or by phone at 573-751-1957 Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your local license office may also provide phone-in renewal services. Visit https://dor.mo.gov/license-office-locator/ for more information.

For a replacement decal or pocket card you will pay:

United States Coast Guard Documented Vessel Certification and Registration

If you are a Missouri resident, you have 30 days from acquiring the documented vessel to apply for a Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration (Form 4086). If you do not apply within 30 days, you will incur a penalty of $10 on the 31st day, increasing another $10 for every 30 days you are late up to a maximum penalty of $30.

If you are a nonresident, you have 60 days from acquiring or bringing the documented vessel into Missouri to apply for a Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration, if the vessel is to be kept in Missouri over 60 consecutive days. If you do not apply, there is a penalty of $10 on the 61st day, increasing another $10 for every 30 days you are late up to a maximum penalty of $30.

To obtain a Certificate of Registration and decal for a vessel documented with the United States Coast Guard, the owner must submit the following items to the Motor Vehicle Bureau's central office:

Outboard motors attached to documented vessels must be titled and registered.

You will pay the following fees:

Upon receipt of all requirements and fees, you will receive:

Documented vessel owners may purchase a temporary permit to allow them to operate the documented vessel for 60 days while the applicant awaits the documentation from the United States Coast Guard. These special permits must be obtained directly from the Motor Vehicle Bureau's Central Office in Jefferson City for a fee of $5 plus a $6 processing fee. Documented vessel temporary permits are nonrenewable or transferable and are no longer valid upon issuance of a Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration (Form 4086).

To obtain a temporary permit, the owner must submit the following to the Motor Vehicle Bureau's Central Office:

For information about documenting a vessel, you should contact the United States Coast Guard, National Vessel Documentation Center.

United States Coast Guard Contact Information

United States Coast Guard website

Boater Safety Certification

Boater Safety Certification is a function of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. For more information, you may click on the following links:

Governor Michael L. Parson

Mo.gov State of Missouri

Click Here to Save a Life

Director Wayne Wallingford

State of Missouri Navigation

Governor Michael L. Parson

Director Wayne Wallingford

State of Missouri Navigation