How To Register A Boat In Pa

Gunkhole REGISTRATION & TITLING FAQs

1. Do I need to annals or title my boat?

REGISTRATION

Boats that must be registered:

Any gunkhole powered by a gasoline, diesel fuel or electric motor.
Vessels documented by the U.S. Declension Baby-sit for recreational purposes. Documented vessels are large pleasure boats, such as yachts.
Boats such equally sailboats that use gasoline, diesel or electric motors for auxiliary power.

Gunkhole - the Commission defines a boat equally: Every description of watercraft constructed or sold for the main purpose of being used as a means of transportation on the water. The term does not include:

Surfboards and other similar nonpowered contrivances used primarily equally pond aids.
Commercial craft field of study to Federal manning and inspection requirements.

Go to our Registration/Titling folio to detect out how to register or title a boat.

UNPOWERED BOATS

Unpowered boats are boats without motors such as certain kayaks, canoes, rowboats, sailboats, rafts or inflatable boats. Unpowered boats are not required to be registered – unless used at a Fish & Boat Commission access area or lake, or at Pennsylvania state parks and land forests; or required by the possessor.

Committee access areas
DCNR listing of PA state parks
Register or title a boat in PA

Another option for unpowered boats (only) is a Use (Boat Launch) Permit from the Fish & Boat Commission, or a Launch or Mooring Permit from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Agency of State Parks.

Permits can also exist purchased at huntfish.pa.gov, our secure e-commerce site.

TITLING

Whatever boat purchased, transferred or sold, must be titled if the gunkhole is:

Powered by an inboard motor, including personal watercraft, 1997 model year or newer.
Powered by an outboard motor, 14 feet or longer, 1997 model year or newer.
Currently titled in Pennsylvania.
Currently titled in some other state when Pennsylvania becomes the state of master uses.

Once a boat is titled, it must remain titled by all hereafter owners.

Whatever boat can be voluntarily titled. Boat titling assures the buyer of a boat that the seller has articulate ownership of a boat offered for sale. Some lenders won't finance a boat without a championship, so securing a loan to purchase a boat may exist easier if the boat is titled. Titling is also a deterrent to boat theft. Boat dealers and other purchasers are more certain that someone offering a boat for auction has the legal right to do then.

2. What is the difference between a registration and championship?

A boat registration is like to a car registration. A registration card is issued and must be carried on the boat as proof of registration. It is valid for and renewed every two (2) years. Registrations expire March 31 of the second year. Registering your boat allows you to gunkhole in all other states and Canada. A gunkhole must be registered in the state of master use. Registration is not a secure ownership document.

A boat title is like to a car title. A gunkhole title is a legal document proving ownership; a registration does non prove ownership. Titles are oft required by lenders to prove the seller has clear ownership of the boat. A championship needs to be purchased only once. Boat titles are only issued by the Fish & Boat Committee.

three. Where can I get a registration or championship?

PA boat registrations and titles are issued exclusively by the Fish and Boat Commission.

In near cases, new boat owners will desire a Temporary Registration and so they can employ their boats while registration documents are processed. Temporary registrations are issued by approved Gunkhole Registration Agents, county treasurers and Commission region offices. To find locations, consult our online list, or call toll-costless: 866-262-8734.

One time in that location, you must complete an Application for Boat Registration/Title, REV-336. This course and other registration and titling forms are available at many marine dealers, county treasurer offices and Committee regional offices. Near forms are also available online or you can view Commission region office locations.

4. Tin I use my boat while I'1000 waiting for my registration to exist processed?

In most cases, new gunkhole owners volition want a temporary registration so they tin apply the gunkhole while the application is candy. Simply canonical boat registration agents can issue a temporary registration.

5. How much does it cost?

REGISTRATION FEES

Fees embrace a 2-yr period, which expires March 31 of the 2nd twelvemonth.

Unpowered Boats - 2 years

$22

Motorboats nether 16 feet

$26

Motorboats sixteen anxiety to less than 20 feet

$39

Motorboats 20 feet and over

$52

Commercial Passenger

Transfer of Registration Fee - same owner with a current registration buys a new boat

Agent Fee(for issuing temporary registration)

TITLING FEES

Document of Championship (new or corrected)

$15

Lien recording

Indistinguishable

LAUNCH PERMIT FEES

Unpowered boats only.

1 yr

$13.97

ii years

$23.97

*Pricing includes $1.00 agent fee and $0.97 transcation fee.

The following boats are required to register but are exempt from registration fees:

Motorboats owned or operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Motorboats owned by public service organizations canonical by the Commission and used exclusively for grooming, education, h2o safety and other public service functions.
Motorboats endemic by political subdivisions and quasi-public organizations, such as police departments, volunteer fire departments and river rescue units, and used exclusively in the performance of their work in enforcement or public safety.

6. Can I renew my registration online?

Yes. The renewal process tin can exist completed online at huntfish.pa.gov. After completing the required fields, your gunkhole registration volition be mailed to the accost that is currently on file with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (address will be displayed for confirmation). A $2 fee is assessed for each boat renewal done at huntfish.pa.gov.

New registrations and boat transfers cannot exist completed at huntfish.pa.gov, these must exist washed by mail.....download REV-336 for new boat registrations and boat registration transfers.

7. What forms do I need?

NEW REGISTRATION

Grade REV-336 must be completed and signed by all parties. Proof of ownership must be provided in the form of a title from Pennsylvania or another country, or the manufacturer's document of origin* and a copy of the bill of auction.

* An bidder for initial registration of a boat with a retail value of less than $2,000 that is existence registered voluntarily may substitute the original receipt issued by a dealer or other retailer for the manufacturer'due south certificate of origin.

REGISTRATION RENEWAL

Form PFBC-730A is mailed to gunkhole owners several months earlier the current registration expires. Check the course carefully and correct any errors. Signal the estimated gallons of gasoline used from the previous boating flavour. Point whatsoever duplicates you need and return the form with the applicable fee.

Form PFBC-730A is the automatic renewal awarding mailed each December. If the boat possessor doesn't receive this form or the registration has been expired for several years, and so form PFBC-733 is the supplemental renewal form to use.

TRANSFER OF Ownership

The last registered owner and applicant (new owner) must complete and sign class REV-336 to transfer ownership of the boat. A nib of auction, signed by the final registered owner selling the boat, may be substituted for the seller'due south signature on class REV-336. Transferring buying of a titled gunkhole is simply similar transferring a automobile title. The titled possessor must sign the back of the title and have information technology notarized. The new owner must complete, sign and submit form REV-336 with the applicable fee..

Pennsylvania State Sales Tax: Sales tax is six percent (6%), a local sales taxation applies to boats and related accessories purchased by residents of Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties. Allegheny County residents are subject to 1 percent local sales tax, and Philadelphia residents are discipline to 2 percent local sales revenue enhancement. Credit may be given for taxation paid in some other state.

8. What if I lose my boat decals, registration carte du jour or championship?

A duplicate registration card is $3; a duplicate title is $5. There is no charge for replacement decals. Indistinguishable registration cards, decals and titles tin be obtained but from the Commission Licensing and Registration Section. Utilize form PFBC-732 for a indistinguishable registration card and/or decals and form PFBC-T1 for a duplicate title.

9. What if I never received my boat registration and decals?

If the Commission is notified within xc days of issuing a registration certificate and validation decals that the intended recipient has not received them inside xc days, the Commission will issue a replacement registration document and a set of replacement validation decals at no cost to the client.

If the Commission does not receive notification within 90 days of issuing a registration certificate and validation decals that the intended recipient has not received them, the client shall be required to purchase a indistinguishable registration card at the cost of $3 and shall be issued a set of replacement validation decals at no cost.

Indistinguishable registration cards, decals and titles tin be obtained simply from the Commission Licensing and Registration Department. Utilise form PFBC-732 for a duplicate registration carte du jour and/or decals.

x. Do I need to report a alter of accost?

Yes. You must report the following changes within 15 days to the Licensing and Registration Section using grade PFBC-732.

Change of address.
Alter of ownership.
Lost, stolen, destroyed or abandoned watercraft.

11. What is a Hull Identification Number (HIN)?

All boats built for sale since 1972 accept a Hull Identification Number (HIN) assigned past the manufacturer. The HIN is located on the exterior of the transom (rear) on the starboard (right) side above the waterline. If the boat is homemade or built before 1972, the Commission will assign a HIN to the boat.

Example of a Hull Identification Number

12. How exercise I display the registration number?

The numbers and letters must:

Be painted or permanently attached to each side of the boat'southward forwards one-half.
Read from left to right.
Be assuming, block letters and numbers, at least 3 inches loftier, and exist a contrasting color to the background.
Be separated by a nuance or space equal to the width of any letter or number except "I" or "one."

Example of how to display boat registration numbers

The validation decal must be displayed within 6 inches of the number (before or following) on the aforementioned level. Follow these guidelines to remove the decals from the bankroll cloth:

Curve the iii"x iii" decals along the centre score
Peel the decal away from the backing textile starting from the heart and working toward the outside edges.
Curve (do not fold) the 1"ten 1" decal in the middle. Peel off the decal starting from the inside edge working toward the outside edge.

Annotation: The Committee does non supply the bodily messages and numbers. The owner is responsible for purchasing and displaying the registration number. Hardware stores and boat dealers, for example, sell these kinds of messages and numbers.

13. Is my out-of-state registration valid in Pennsylvania?

In virtually cases, aye.

It is legal to operate a boat registered in another land on Pennsylvania waters. Boats must be registered in the state of principal utilize. The state of primary employ is the country where a boat is on the h2o more than it is on the water of whatever other state. It does not thing where you lot live. If you use your gunkhole more often in Pennsylvania than your home state, PA is your primary state of employ. The law allows for the occasional use of a boat in states other than those where the boat is registered.

Out-of-country boaters with a gunkhole validly registered in their home country are granted reciprocal privileges to boat in Pennsylvania for upwardly to 60 days. Persons who may use their boats in this state for greater than 60 days are required to register their boats in Pennsylvania.

Note that dissimilar states may have different requirements. For instance some states may allow unpowered boats on country parks and other state-owned facilities to boat without a registration. In Pennsylvania, unpowered boats using state parks and Commission accesses are required to be registered or to have a utilise (launch) permit.

xiv. Are there any other requirements or laws I should know about?

Yes. An overview of Pennsylvania canoeing can be institute in the PA Boating Handbook. It provides detailed explanations of boating regulations, safety data and much more.

Print (paper) copies are besides bachelor, complimentary of charge, at Commission offices, county treasurers and approved boat registration issuing agents. Call 888-723-4741 to go any of these publications.

While non a regulation or law guide, our Canoeing FAQ may besides be useful. It provides information about boating in general, boating regulations and boating safety instruction.

xv. Why practise I accept to report how much fuel I used?

Fuel usage reports from registered boat owners allow the Commission to recover a portion of the taxes paid when the fuel was purchased. The Commission uses this money to support its canoeing programs. Nether-reporting, or not reporting any fuel, decreases the corporeality of money bachelor to back up boating facilities and boating programs in Pennsylvania. Registered boat owners should try to be as accurate equally possible when providing this information.

sixteen. How practise I sell my boat?

The about of import part of the sale is to document the transaction accurately by including dates, costs, descriptions, signatures, etc. You need to sign the proper registration and title forms every bit the seller, and the purchaser needs to do the same. For whatsoever registration and/or title awarding, all parties must complete and sign course REV-336.

17. Tin can I register my homemade gunkhole?

HOMEMADE BOATS MAY Non BE SOLD OR OFFERED FOR Sale IN THIS Commonwealth

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will only accept applications from the original architect for their personal utilise for bootleg boats that take been synthetic from blue prints, kits or parts of various boats by a generally recognized manufacturer. Building a boat from blue prints may require a marine survey and stability test by a certified marine surveyor. Customers may contact PFBC prior to structure for additional details.

The regulations are specifically outlined regarding the definition of a particularly synthetic boat which is one of the following:

(i) A gunkhole not originally constructed by a generally recognized manufacturer of boats under a distinctive name and not materially altered from its original construction, but assembled from parts of various boats or kits or both, and that would be commonly known equally a "homemade" gunkhole.

(ii) A boat that has been materially altered past the removal, addition or commutation of essential parts derived from diverse other makes and models and that the Commission determines cannot be readily identified as a boat of a mostly recognized make or model.

18. How many boats does the committee register?

The Commission provides a report that shows the number of boat registrations sold.