State of Alaska

Department of Administration

Division Of Motor Vehicles

Alaska Department of Administration, Divison of Motor Vehicles
Administration >  Motor Vehicles >  Boat Registration Page                                             
 

     

Boat Registration

Link to Division of Parks - Boating Safety

Address Change | Required to be registered | Definition | Documented Boats
Duplicate | Exempt | Fees |New Registration | Renewal

General Information:

On January 1st, 2001, the Division of Motor Vehicles assumed the boat registration program from the U.S. Coast Guard.  House Bill 108, passed in the 2000 legislative session, authorized this registration program and a comprehensive boating safety program.  Prior to January 1st, 2001, the Coast Guard has registered powered boats that are used on navigable waterways of the state.  These registrations are valid for three years and a Certificate of Number issued by the USCG will still be valid until the expiration date, unless the boat changes ownership.   When the USCG issued registration expires, boat owners must renew the registration with DMV.

Prior to June 4th, 2004, non-powered boats 10 feet or greater in length used on any water of the state were required to be registered.  These boats are no longer required to be registered; however, you may register a non-powered boat if you wish to.

The State of Alaska does not title boats.

What Must Be Registered:

  • All powered boats (including non-powered boats with auxiliary power units) used on any water of the state.  (This includes all rivers, streams, and lakes, regardless of size, and all salt water within 3 miles of land.)
  • All sport fishing guides are required to register both powered and non-powered boats. (AS 16.05.395) 
    (Effective February 10th, 2005)

NOTE:   "Boat" means a watercraft used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water, except for:

  • A ship's lifeboat
  • A seaplane
  • An inspected passenger vessel
  • A single air mattress, single inner tube or other water toy

NOTE:   Tenders are boats that are used exclusively for transportation from a boat to shore.  Under the previous USCG registration program, tenders did not have to be registered.  This changes under the state program.  Tenders must be registered unless they are non-powered.

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What Cannot Be Registered in Alaska:

Boats that are not principally used in Alaska.  (Alaska residents such as military members or college student that live outside of the state cannot register their boats in Alaska.  They must register them in the state where they are currently living or using the boat.  This is required by federal law and there is no exemption for any group.)

Exempt under State Law from Registration in Alaska:

  • A boat with a valid registration from another state or country that is not operated more than 90 consecutive days in Alaska.

  • A boat owned by the United States or an entity or political subdivision of the United States, or a boat owned by a state or an entity or political subdivision of a state. 
    NOTE    :  Under FEDERAL law, recreational - type public vessels of the United States must be state registered. [3 3 CFR Subpart B Sec. 172.11(b)]
  • Non-powered boats.   (Effective 2/10/05: Sport Fishing Guides are required to register their non-powered boats.)
  • A documented boat.  The documentation may be either from the U.S. or a foreign country.

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Fees:

  • $24.00 for powered boats
  • $10.00 for non-powered boats   (Registration is no longer required on non-powered boats as of June 4th, 2004.   You may register a non-powered boat if you wish to.)

A registration is valid for three years and will expire at the end of the month in which the boat is first registered.   The Certificate of Number must be carried aboard the boat whenever it is in operation.

NOTE:  If you register your boat as a powered boat and remove the source of power at a later time, you may wait until renewal to change to a non-powered boat class, or you may disregard the renewal notice, as non-powered boats are no longer required to be registered in Alaska.  If you register as a non-powered boat and then obtain auxiliary power, you must submit a change with DMV and pay the $24.00 fee for a powered boat.  The registration period will start over and there will not be any refund given for any unused portion of the registration.

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Items Required to Register a Boat:

  • Application
  • Fees
  • Ownership document.  Must be one of the following:
    • Manufacture Statement of Origin (MSO)
    • Carpenter's Certificate
    • Bill of sale from previous owner or dealer
    • Title or registration from a previous state
    • Affidavit of Ownership (Form 848)

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Duplicate Registration and/or Boat Tabs

To obtain a duplicate registration or boat tab, please send $5.00 and the items shown below to the Main Office, ATTN:  Correspondence, depending on whether or not the infomation printed on the last registration you received is correct.

Changes since the last boat registration:

No Changes since the last registration:

Rev. 05/01/2012