Requirements

• Motorboats to be used in Virginia waters must be titled and registered.^[1]
• Sailboats over 18 feet long must also be titled.^[2]
• Boats must be registered within 20 days of purchase.^[3]

Registration Process

A boat can be registered and titled at the same time by doing the following^[4]:

1. Gather the below forms.
   • Certificate of Title – Assigned to the buyer by the seller.
   • Application to Register and Title a Boat – Not required if the registration is started online.^[5]
   • Bill of Sale (if applicable) – Required if previously registered but not titled.
2. Register the boat online and pay the applicable titling and registration fees.
3. Submit the forms in person to a DMV office or the DWR Headquarters or by mail to:

Department of Wildlife Resources – Client Services
PO Box 9930
Henrico, VA 23228-9930