As an agent for the Division of Motorist Services, the Tax Collector is responsible for providing the necessary service and record keeping procedures used in processing vessel (boat) titles and registrations. All motorized vessels, commercial and private, must be registered, titled and issued a decal before they can be used in Florida waters. The decal must be affixed to the port side of the boat.
Vessel registrations expire at midnight of the owner’s birthday. Registration for vessels titled in a business name expire June 30th.
Vessel registration fees are based on the length of the boat.
Renewal of vessel registrations can be accomplished in person at any Tax Collector’s office or online.
Vessel Registration Fees
Recreational & Commercial
| Vessels less than 12’ and motorized canoes | $10.75 |
| 12’ or more and less than 16’ | $21.50 |
| 16’ or more and less than 26’ | $34.00 |
| 26’ or more and less than 40’ | $83.50 |
| 40′ or more and less than 65’ | $133.00 |
| 65’ or more and less than 110’ | $158.00 |
| 110’ or more in length | $195.00 |
Vessel Registration
All motorized vessels, commercial and private must be titled and registered before they can be used in Florida waters. The following 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 the vessel when in operation. The purchaser of a new or used vessel has 30 days 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 of purchase. A properly executed Bill of Sale is acceptable, as well as the vessel having a current vessel decal.
Duplicate Vessel Title
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 and is a paper title, a lien satisfaction form must be submitted with the duplicate 82101).
When the title is electronic with a lien and the lienholder is a business, the lien will has to be satisfied through the lienholder’s vendor.
Individual lienholders may request the title be printed, then the lien will be satisfied on the front of the title.
To apply for a duplicate, you must present photo identification in the form of a valid driver’s license, identification card, or passport.
A duplicate paper vessel title will be mailed for $9.00. You can also keep your title electronic, not printed until you need it. If you would like your title immediately, we offer a fast title service for an additional fee of $5.00.
If your vessel is titled in another state, you must apply for the duplicate title through that state.
Florida Vessel Title Transfer
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 buyer and 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 lien are also needed. If the lien holder is an individual, their driver’s license number and date of birth will be needed.
- The purchaser(s) or their power of attorney(s) must be present to sign a new application for title. We will need an original or certified Power of Attorney form (82053). The purchaser(s) and/or their power of attorney will need to produce photo identification such as a valid driver license, identification card, or passport.
- Sales tax will be collected on the purchase price of the vessel as stated on the title.
There are three options available for requesting your title.
- Title mailed to you in 7-10 business days for $9.25.
- Keep the title held electronic, not printed until you need it.
- Print the title in office for an additional $5.00, if title is needed immediately.
If a lien is recorded add an additional fee of $1.00.
All title transfers may be processed by mail as well. Please contact our office (352) 341-6500 for more information.
Out-of-State Vessel Title Transfer
To title and register a vessel in Florida that is currently titled in another state in your name, you will need to bring the following to the Tax Collector’s Office:
- The out-of-state title certificate.
OR
If the vessel is titled in your name, but it is financed and the title is being held by the lien holder, we will need to write your lien holder and request the title to be sent to our office. In order to complete the process, we will need the lien holder information including account number, lien holder name and mailing address. - The owner(s) or their power of attorney(s) must be present to sign a new application for title. We will need an original or certified Power of Attorney form (82053). The owner(s) and/or their power of attorney will need to produce photo identification such as a valid driver license, identification card, or passport.
- Proof of sales tax being paid if the vehicle has been owned by you for less than 6 months. Additional taxes equivalent to Florida’s sales tax and local sales tax may be due.
There are three options available for requesting your title.
- Title mailed to you in 7-10 business days for $12.25.
- Keep the title held electronic, not printed until you need it.
- Print the title in office for an additional $5.00, if title is needed immediately.
If a lien is recorded add an additional fee of $1.00.
To title and register a vessel in Florida that is currently titled in another state not in your name, you will need to bring the following to the Tax Collector’s Office:
- The out of state title certificate with the transfer section completed.
- The purchaser(s) or their power of attorney(s) must be present to sign a new application for title. We will need an original or certified Power of Attorney form. The purchaser(s) and/or their power of attorney will need to produce photo identification such as a valid driver license, identification card, or passport.
- Sales tax will be collected on the purchase price of the vehicle as stated on the title.
There are three options available for requesting your title.
- Title mailed to you in 7-10 business days for $12.25.
- Keep the title held electronic, not printed until you need it.
- Print the title in office for an additional $5.00, if title is needed immediately.
If a lien is recorded add an additional fee of $1.00.
All title transfers may be processed by mail as well. Please contact our office (352) 341-6500 for more information.
Note: Many states do not require boats to be titled. Proof of ownership on a used boat from a non-title state is the vessel registration signed over to you. A bill of sale is required with the registration to transfer ownership.
HIN verification is not required each time a vessel is brought into Florida. However, if the vessel was built after 1972 and has only a partial HIN (less than 12 properly formatted characters) on the out of state title/registration, a pencil tracing should be submitted for verification of the HIN.
Sales tax will be collected, if applicable.
Sojourners
A non-resident boater with a valid out-of-state registration certificate may use his/her vessel in Florida waters for 90 days without applying for a Florida registration. This applies to pleasure boats only. If the non-resident intends to use the craft in Florida longer than 90 days, the boat must be registered with the Division of Motorist Services, which is processed at the Tax Collector’s office.