Fellow sailors, I live in Massachusetts and I bought a Coast Guard registered boat. I need to transfer the registration. Question: Does anyone know if the State of Mass. also requires registration of a vessel if it is CG registered?
USCG Registry versus State
- Thread starter Plymouth Sailor
- Start date
Congratulations on your new boat!!
Federal law under 46 U.S.C. § 12106 actually prohibits a USCG Documented vessel from being state titled, and a state cannot require a USCG Documented vessel to display numbers. In Massachusetts, boats exempt from registration requirements include documented vessels (large boats that are issued a marine document and registration through the U.S. Coast Guard) Boat Registration FAQs | Mass.gov.
Federal law under 46 U.S.C. § 12106 actually prohibits a USCG Documented vessel from being state titled, and a state cannot require a USCG Documented vessel to display numbers. In Massachusetts, boats exempt from registration requirements include documented vessels (large boats that are issued a marine document and registration through the U.S. Coast Guard) Boat Registration FAQs | Mass.gov.
Titling of a boat and Registration are two different things. Boats can be titled by the USCG (Federal) or by a State's DMV. The boat needs to be registered in the State where it is maintained the majority of the year. The Federal Government can collect Duty if it applies on the purchase of a boat, but Sales Tax and Use Tax are collected by the State where the boat is purchased and registered. In practice a State registered boat will be required to display registration numbers on it's bow together with a Decal Tag. A USCG Documented boat does not display any numbers but will be required to display the Decal Tag. Most States require that if a boat is kept in their waters for 90 days or more they must be Registered, pay the use fee and display their tag. Marine Officials will patrol Marinas like parking meter maids looking for boats that have exceeded their time limits and lack the proof they have paid user fees. If you need to transfer title in a Documented boat get the Forms and information from the USCG web site. Now by law you will owe Sales Tax on the purchase and that will be payable to the State where the Boat is registered. It is very probable that any State will verify or require the payment of Sales Tax at the time of Registration. Do not confuse the transfer of Title with the USCG on a Documented Vessel with the Registration of a Boat with the State where it is maintained. If you purchase a Documented boat and take it and keep it in another Country you can transfer the Title but will have no need to register it and it will likely be exempt from Sales Tax.
Well said Benny, you covered all the bases!
That’s how it works , here in LA. One exception here is that if a seller and buyer conduct a private sale with no dealer or broker involved, it is considered a casual sale and no sales taxes are due. The boat must be registered and display the state decal. There is no use fee if the boat has been registered and the appropriate taxes (if any) are paid.
That’s how it works , here in LA. One exception here is that if a seller and buyer conduct a private sale with no dealer or broker involved, it is considered a casual sale and no sales taxes are due. The boat must be registered and display the state decal. There is no use fee if the boat has been registered and the appropriate taxes (if any) are paid.
Thanks everyone, I’m familiar with state registration as the owner of a previous vessel however never USCG documented. I guess based on what you’re all saying I should proceed thusly: 1. transfer my USCG documentation into my name, 2. ensure the documented number is displayed inside the boat, 3. state register the vessel and display only the decal on the outside, correct?
It is not necessary to register a boat in Massachusetts if it is USCG documented.
Are you just stirring the pot?
The taxes you will have to pay are sales tax and an annual excise tax. If you're on a mooring you might have to buy a mooring permit annually, not sure about docks since I don't use 'em.
Unusual that MA would not require registration of boats that are operating in state waters. Not only for sales tax purposes, but for annual/bi-annual registration renewal fees that help to offset water based law enforcement. Also, seems that law enforcement would want a state based registry for emergency , regulatory, & compliance purposes.
When I went thru the entire process, I found that I could not title my boat in LA, because it was USCG documented; however, it had to be registered in LA. Registration is bi annual, with a new decal issued that must be affixed to Hull.
It's not unusual, in fact there are 19 states that don't require registration of USCG documented vessels.
The states that allow you to document your boat and NOT register your boat are AK, AZ, CA, CO, DE, HI, ID, KY, MA, ME, MN, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, SC, VA, VT.
Why would you need registration to enforce sales tax?
And how would that work? Note that the USCG disallows registration numbers on documented vessels.
Why would registration help or enable any of those things?
My view is that most registration requirements are just tax schemes, especially ones that expire and there's a fee to renew.
Just to add another wrinkle that does not apply here a few states Texas and I forget the others require outboard motors to be registered (taxed). To go further down that rabbit hole in Hawaii you must even register (taxed) you bicycle as well.
That's essentially the same as Massachusetts where motor boats must be registered.
There was a time when a tender with 2HP or less needn't be registered, but no more.
Annoyingly, you will see large yachts in MA waters in the summer that are registered to some Caribbean country with tenders of 35' or more that are not registered anywhere, and they are apparently either ignored or granted some kind of courtesy. Many are owned by members of MA yacht clubs!
Asking strangers on the internet vs asking the appropriate state agency....um, yeah, tough choice! 
Good Grief, Skiper -- go to the Source (but do take good notes.)
If you ignore your state's laws/admin rules, the boaters on this site , no matter how well intentioned, are journeying to your house to pay your legal bills, NOT!
Good Grief, Skiper -- go to the Source (but do take good notes.)
If you ignore your state's laws/admin rules, the boaters on this site , no matter how well intentioned, are journeying to your house to pay your legal bills, NOT!
You are entitled to an opinion, and you did qualify it and say 'most' and not all.
In our state the whole titling and registration process for boats is handled by an independent state agency, not funded out of general funding. They help build docks and ramps all over the state with our registration money, combined with other boating funding sources, for our benefit. We really appreciate their work. Probably done differently with other states.
From: www.mass.gov boat registration FAQ
Q: Am I required to register my boat?
A: State law requires the registration of any boat that is powered by a motor and operated on public waterways in Massachusetts. Registration is required even if the motor is not the primary means of propulsion for that boat. Some examples of boats that require registration include fishing boats with motors, recreational motorboats, canoes or sailboats that use motors (includes electric motors), and personal watercraft such as Jet Skis or wet bikes. Boats exempt from registration requirements include those that do not use motors, and documented vessels (large boats that are issued a marine document and registration through the U.S. Coast Guard). Vessels used solely by a city, county, state, or federal agency will be issued a certificate of registration and number at no charge
Taxachusetts: Massachusetts has the 21st highest tax burden of all the states, Maine is 4th highest.
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