Additional State Boating Regulations

REGISTRATION AND TITLING:

Boats which must be registered and titled:  All watercraft operated on the waters within the jurisdiction of this state shall be registered and titled.

Boats exempted from registration and titling:  Watercraft shall not be required to registered and titled under this Act if it is:

  1. A watercraft which has a valid marine document issued by the United States Coast Guard, EXCEPT THAT any such documented vessel used upon the waters of this State for more than 60 days in any calendar year shall be registered in compliance with this act.
  2. Already covered by a number in full force and effect from another state, if such a boat will not be within this State for a period in excess of 60 consecutive days.
  3. A sailboard.
  4. A watercraft from a country other than the United States temporarily using the waters of this State.
  5. A watercraft owned by the United States, a state or subdivision thereof, used solely for official purposes, and clearly identifiable.
  6. A vessel used exclusively as a ship's lifeboat.
  7. Watercraft while competing in any race approved by the Department, or if the watercraft is designed and intended solely for racing while engaged in navigation that is incidental to preparation of the watercraft for the race.  Preparation of the watercraft for the race may be accomplished only after obtaining the written authorization of the department.
  8. Non-powered watercraft owned and operated on water completely impounded on land belonging to the owner of the watercraft.  This does not apply to waters controlled by a club or association.
  9. A canoe or kayak which is owned by an organization which is organized and conducted on a not-for-profit basis with no personal profit inuring to anyone as a result of the operation.

Registration-Title Application:  The owner of each watercraft requiring registration and titling by this State shall file a watercraft application with the Department.  The application shall be signed by the owner of the boat and shall be accompanied by the required documents (New boats:  you must surrender the original properly endorsed Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin; Boats previously registered or titled in another state:  you must surrender the owner's registration certificate and/or title; Illinois titled boats:  you must surrender the Illinois title) and appropriate fee.

Warning:  Boats purchased new or used form out of state dealers, manufacturers or lending institutions are subject to tax.  You must contact the Illinois Department of Revenue at 1-800-732-8866 for instructions before submitting an application.

Registration Number Display:  The owner shall paint on or attach to both sides of the bow (front) of the boat the registration number, which shall be of block characters at least 3 inches in height.  The figures shall read from left to right, be of contrasting color to their background and be maintained in a legible condition.  No other numbers shall be displayed on the bow.  A space shall be provided between the IL and number and another space between the number and the letters which follow.  A vessel that is covered by a valid marine document must display current expiration decals, but is exempt from the requirement to display an Illinois registration number.  Non-powered canoes and kayaks are not required to display registration numbers.  Display decals only.

Note:  For Federally documented vessels, the Illinois registration decals are to be displayed on either side of the Federally documented name of the vessel.

Hull Identification Number (HIN):  Boats manufactured after 1972 will have a hull identification number consisting of 12 characters in one of the following three formats:

  1. ABC456781273
  2. ABC45678M73E
  3. ABC45678A485

No person may posses a watercraft that has the HIN removed, defaced or obliterated.