Registra tu Bote en Pennsylvania

How to Register a Boat in Pennsylvania

Before you can take your boat on Pennsylvania state waters, you’ll need to make sure you follow the vessel registration rules. In Pennsylvania, the following types of boats must be registered:

• Boats powered by a gas, diesel or electric motor
• Vessels documented by the US Coast Guard for recreational purposes such as yachts
• Boats that use gas, diesel or electric motors for auxiliary power like a sailboat

In addition, while unpowered boats like kayaks, canoes, rowboats and sailboats don’t generally need to be registered, you do have to register them if you plan to use them at a Fish & Boat Commission access area or lake or Pennsylvania state park or forest. Instead of a Pennsylvania boat registration for these unpowered boats, another option is to get a Use (Boat Launch) Permit or a Launch or Mooring Permit.

You also don't need to register your boat if you plan to use it in the state for up to 60 days and you reside outside of Pennsylvania, and your boat is registered in your home state.

If you determine that your vessel needs to be registered, you’ll apply for your Pennsylvania boat registration with the Fish and Boat Commission. To do this, you’ll have to complete an Application for Boat Registration/Title. You can get this form online or at a regional Commission office, county treasurer office or marine dealer.

In addition to the application, you’ll also need to provide proof of ownership in the form of a title from Pennsylvania or another state if you’re registering an out-of-state boat in Pennsylvania. If you’re registering a boat in Pennsylvania with no title, you can demonstrate proof of ownership with the manufacturer’s certificate of origin and a copy of the bill of sale. All of these materials must be submitted by mail.

After your registration is approved, you'll receive a registration certificate and validation decals. Your registration numbers and letters must be painted or permanently attached to each side of the boat's forward half, and the validation decal must be displayed within 6 inches of the number on the same level.

Do I Need to Register a Boat Trailer in Pennsylvania?

If you plan to use a boat trailer to transport your vessel in Pennsylvania, you’ll need to register your boat trailer with the PennDOT just like you would a car. To get a Pennsylvania boat trailer registration, you can complete the process online, at any of PennDOT’s online messenger services or through the mail.

Pennsylvania Boat Registration Costs

The cost to register a boat in Pennsylvania varies depending on the size of your boat as well as the type of power it uses. The fees for recreational boaters are as follows:

• Unpowered boats: $22
• Motorboats under 16 feet: $26
• Motorboats 16 feet to less than 20 feet: $39
• Motorboats 20 feet and over: $52

When registering a boat in Pennsylvania, some vessels are exempt from these fees, including:

• Motorboats owned or operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Motorboats owned by public service organizations and used exclusively for training, education, and other public service functions
• Motorboats owned by political subdivisions and quasi-public organizations