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Which state agency handles boat registration?
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In order to legally navigate them on public waters, all states and the District of Columbia require vessel registration for most boats and personal watercraft (such as jet skis).
However, unlike vehicle registration, not all state DMV offices handle boat registration (see accompanying grid). As is, this procedural task is handled in the majority of states’ by respective wildlife and/or recreational divisions under a variety of different names: Game and Fish Department in Wyoming; Wildlife Resources Agency in Tennessee; State Marine Board in Oregon; etc. and so forth.
However, unlike vehicle registration, not all state DMV offices handle boat registration (see accompanying grid). As is, this procedural task is handled in the majority of states’ by respective wildlife and/or recreational divisions under a variety of different names: Game and Fish Department in Wyoming; Wildlife Resources Agency in Tennessee; State Marine Board in Oregon; etc. and so forth.
Register Your Boat
Be sure to educate yourself on the boat registration laws for your state or the state your visiting. Otherwise, if stopped, you will likely be slapped with a significant fine.| Alabama | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Alaska | U.S. Coast Guard |
| Arizona | Department of Fish and Wildlife |
| Arkansas | Fish and Game Commission |
| California | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Colorado | Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Connecticut | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Delaware | Department of Natural Resources |
| Florida | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Georgia | Department of Natural Resources |
| Hawaii | Department of Land & Natural Resources |
| Idaho | Department of Parks & Recreation |
| Illinois | Department of Natural Resources |
| Indiana | Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) |
| Iowa | Department of Natural Resources |
| Kansas | Department of Wildlife and Parks |
| Kentucky | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Louisiana | Department of Wildlife & Fisheries |
| Maine | Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Maryland | Department of Natural Resources |
| Massachusetts | Department of Fisheries & Wildlife |
| Michigan | Secretary of State (SOS) |
| Minnesota | Department of Natural Resources |
| Mississippi | Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks |
| Missouri | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Montana | Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks |
| Nebraska | Game and Parks Commission |
| Nevada | Division of Wildlife |
| New Hampshire | Division of Safety Services |
| New Jersey | Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) |
| New Mexico | State Parks Division |
| New York | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| North Carolina | Wildlife Resources Commission |
| North Dakota | Game and Fish Department |
| Ohio | Department of Natural Resources |
| Oklahoma | Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) |
| Oregon | State Marine Board |
| Pennsylvania | Fish & Boat Commission |
| Rhode Island | Department of Environmental Management |
| South Carolina | Department of Natural Resources |
| South Dakota | Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Tennessee | Wildlife Resources Agency |
| Texas | Parks & Wildlife Department |
| Utah | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Vermont | Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) |
| Virginia | Department of Game & Inland Fisheries |
| Washington | Department of Licensing (DOL) |
| West Virginia | Department of Natural Resources |
| Wisconsin | Department of Natural Resources |
| Wyoming | Game and Fish Department |
| Washington DC | Metropolitan Police Department's Harbor Master |
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