Boat Registration
You must present your Driver’s License for all in person DMV transactions per State requirements.
The following boats must be registered if in New Hampshire waters:
- Any boat (homemade or factory produced) with a motor, including canoes with electric motors.
- Sailboats 12 feet in length or more, even without an engine.
- Boats documented with the U.S. Coast Guard and that are using New Hampshire waters.
- Any boat being used in New Hampshire more than 50% of the time. (A NH address is not needed to register a boat.)
- Any boat that is in New Hampshire waters for more than 30 consecutive days.
First Time Registration of a New or “New to You” Boat
You must provide proof of ownership to register a boat in any of the following forms:
- Properly executed bill of sale to include Hull Identification Number (HIN), OR
- A title, OR a certificate of origin, OR a manufacturer’s statement of origin, OR
- A registration signed over to the new owner by the previous owner
Your boat must have a Hull Identification Number (HIN). Any boats manufactured after 1972 with a short or no HIN, homemade boats, and boats that do not have a compliant HIN (should be 12 digits) must be inspected only by a NH marine patrol officer or a NH law enforcement officer. You may print a Verification of Vessel Identification RDMV690 for the officer to complete.
To transfer a registration to another boat:
- The primary owner of the old boat and the primary owner of the new boat must be the same.
- You must have the original current registration for the boat you are transferring from. Copies will not be accepted. This gets surrendered at the time of the transfer.
- You must have the proper proof of ownership for the new boat.
To renew your boat registration, you must have one of the following:
- The previous boat registration, OR
- The mail-in renewal notice mailed to you by the State.
Renewals may be done in person by the owner’s family members. No permission form is needed.
- Online boat registration renewals are not permitted by the State at this time.