Vessels

Vessel Title Registration Information [TOP]

All motorized vessels, commercial and private must betitled and registered before they can be used in Florida waters. Thefollowing vessels are exempt from titling:

  • Non-motor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length
  • Vessels owned by the United States Government
  • Federally documented vessels
  • Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
  • Vessels used solely for demonstration, testing or sales promotional purposes by a dealer or manufacturer
  • Vessels owned and operated by the state or its political subdivisions
  • Vessels from a country other than the U.S., temporarily using the waters of this state for not more than 90 days
  • Vessels already covered by registration numbers awarded according to a federally approved numbering system of another state or by the US Coast Guard in a state without a federally approved numbering system, provided that the vessels are not operated in Florida waters more than 90 consecutive days.
  • Unless a vessel is exempt from titling, it must be titled at the same time it is registered.

The registration certificate must be on board thevessel when in operation. The purchaser of a new or used vessel has 30days to apply for registration and title. During this 30-day grace period,the owner also needs to have aboard his vessel the proof of date ofpurchase. A properly executed Bill of Sale is acceptable.

Vessel Registration Fees [TOP]

https://www.flhsmv.gov/fees/#mvfees

Duplicate Vessel Title [TOP]

If a title is lost or stolen, a duplicate can be obtained by visiting our office. A registered owner or lien holder may apply for a duplicate Florida title. If there is an outstanding lien on the vessel, only the lien holder can apply for a duplicate title. If the lien is satisfied, but still appears on our database, a lien satisfaction form must be submitted with the duplicate application.

To apply for a duplicate, you must present photo identification in the form of a driver’s license, identification card, or passport.

A duplicate paper vessel title will be mailed. It is $9.00. If you would like your title immediately, we offer a fast title service for an additional fee of $2.50.

If your vessel is titled in another state, you must apply for the duplicate title through that state.

Hull Identification Numbers [TOP]

A hull identification number is unique to the vessel and allows its positive identification. All vessels operated on the waters of this state must have an assigned hull identification number.

Requirements:

  • The numbers must be above the waterline of the vesselin such a way that alteration, removal or replacement would be obvious andevident.
  • The hull identification number must be a minimum of 12characters in length and no less than one-fourth inch in height.
  • Vessels for which the manufacturer has provided no hullidentification number and homemade vessels constructed or assembled by theowner will be assigned a hull identification number by the Department ofHighway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Any questions regarding the hull identification number on a vessel should be directed to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

New Vessel Title [TOP]

To register a new vessel, never before titled, you must bring the following:

  • A Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) properlycompleted and signed by the seller.
  • A copy of the executed bill of sale or dealer's invoicelisting the vessel purchase price, sales tax paid and any trade-inallowance. Additional taxes equivalent to Florida's sales tax and localsales tax may be due.
  • The purchaser’s name on the title application mustmatch the name on the proof of identification exactly.
  • If recording a lien, the lien holder’s name, addressand the date of lien are needed.
  • All purchaser(s) or their power of attorney(s) must bepresent to sign a new application for title. We will need an original orcertified Power of Attorney. The owner(s) and/or their power ofattorney(s) will need to produce photo identification such as a driverlicense, identification card, or passport.

The paper title will be mailed. The fee is $8.25. If a lien is recorded add an additional fee of $1.00. This does not include the registrations fees. We offer a fast title service for an additional fee of $2.50, if the title is needed immediately.

Florida Vessel Title Transfer [TOP]

To transfer the ownership of a vessel titled in Florida, you will need to bring the following to the Tax Collector’s Office:

  • The Florida title properly completed by both the buyerand the seller in its entirety on the “Transfer of Title by Seller”section of title. If a lien is being recorded, the lien holder’s name,their Federal Employer's Identification number, address, and date of lienare also needed. If the lien holder is an individual, their driver’s licensenumber and date of birth will be needed.
  • The purchaser(s) or their power of attorney(s) must bepresent to sign a new application for title. We will need an original orcertified Power of Attorney form. The purchaser(s)and/or their power of attorney will need to produce photo identificationsuch as a driver license, identification card, or passport.
  • The purchaser’s name on the title application mustmatch the name on the proof of identification exactly.
  • Sales tax will be collected on the purchase price ofthe vehicle as stated on the title.

The paper title will be mailed. The fee is $9.25. If a lien is recorded add an additional fee of $1.00. This does not include the registrations fees. We offer a Fast Title Service for an additional fee of $2.50, if the title is needed immediately