Additional State Boating Regulations

BOAT TITLING

All boats more than 12 feet in length must be titled, no matter how they are powered, before being registered or sold.  This can be accomplished at any Motor Vehicle Agency.

In order to title your boat, you will have to produce proof of ownership and supply the boat's Hull Identification Number (HIN), which is located on  most boats on the outside of the transom (rear) on the starboard (right) side.  Homemade boats or boats manufactured prior to 1972 that do not have a HIN will be assigned an identification number by the Motor Vehicle Agency at the time you apply for a title.

A title may be obtained by submitting the following documentation to a Motor Vehicle Agency:

• A new boat purchased in New Jersey or another state requires a Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin.
• For a used boat purchased from a new Jersey owner you must present the former title with the assignment section on the back of the title document completed and signed by the previous owner.
• For a used boat purchased or last registered in another state that requires a title, that state's title with proper ownership assignment is required.  For a used boat purchased or last registered in a state that does not issue titles, the requirement is the registration issued to you or the last registration properly assigned to you and a signed statement attesting to the accuracy of the Hull Identification Number.
• N.J. State sales and use tax applies to both new and used boat purchases.

In addition to the hull number, the Division will also need to know the year, make and type of boat, its length, the type of material used for construction of the hull, the vessel's source of power, and the proposed use - pleasure or commercial.  Your New Jersey driver license number or if company owned, corpcode, is necessary, since all Division records are filed under that number.  You will also have to supply your Social Security number.

Boats that do not have to be titled are:  lifeboats, canoes or kayaks, inflatables, surfboards, rowing sculls or racing shells, non-powered tenders/dinghies used only for direct transportation between a vessel and shore and for no other purpose.

BOAT REGISTRATION:

All titled boats must also be registered.  In addition, any boat mechanically propelled, regardless of length, must be registered.

If the boat is not titled, you will have to show proof of ownership.  Any of the documents accepted for titling are also acceptable for registration.  You will also have to give your New Jersey driver license number and Social Security number.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:

Every vessel which is upon the waters of the State of New Jersey, shall be registered and numbered, except:

• Vessels operated under a federally approved numbering system of another state, operated on a transient basis;
• Documented vessels from other states operated in this state in a transient status only;
• Vessels from foreign countries here temporarily;
• Public vessels of the United States, a state or subdivision or agency thereof;
• A ship's lifeboat;
• Vessels used exclusively for racing while competing in an authorized race (only on race day or under permit issued from the New Jersey State Police Troop "F" Marine Law Enforcement);
• A sailboat or vessel, except for power vessels, used exclusively on small lakes and ponds wholly within private lands;
• A non-motorized inflatable, surfboard, racing shell, or tender for direct transportation between a vessel and the shore and for no other purpose;
• Vessels 12 feet or less in length;
• A kayak or canoe, non-powered.

DOCUMENTED VESSELS:

1. All documented vessels for which the owner maintains, owns, rents, leases, or otherwise occupies space within this state, other than on a transient basis, MUST be registered with the state according to the established fee schedule, but are not required to display number.  Validation decals will be issued and must be displayed on these vessels.
2. The registration certificate for all vessels that are required to be registered must be carried on board the vessel at all times while the vessel is in operation.
3. Do not leave the certificate on board when you leave the vessel.
4. Those vessels documented under Part 67 of Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations and required to register with this State pursuant to NJSA 12:7-43.44a shall display a validation sticker on each side of the vessel in an area adjacent to the main steering station affixed to the vertical surface plainly visible at all times form both the port and starboard sides.

NUMBERING SYSTEM AND DISPLAY

1. Boats will be numbered as follows:

• The identification numbers awarded shall consist of three (3) parts.
  The first part known as the prefix, shall consist of the letter NJ, to
  indicate the state.  The second part, known as the body, shall consist
  of not more than four (4) Arabic numerals.  The third part, known as the
  suffix, shall consist of not more than two (2) letters.
• The parts shall be separated by a hyphen or an equivalent space equal
  to a number or letter.
                      examples:      NJ-1234-A
                                          NJ 1234 AA
• The identification numbers awarded to any vessel under the New Jersey numbering system
  shall be:
  a.  Painted on or permanently attached to each side of the bow, (i.e. the forward half) of the vessel, read left to right; and in such position as to provide maximum visibility.
  b.  In block characters not less than (3) inches in height.
  c.  Of a color which will contrast with the color of the background (i.e. dark numbers on a
  light background, or light numbers on a dark background) and so maintained as to be clearly
  visible and legible.
• No other numbers shall be carried on the bow of the vessel.

VALIDATION DECAL:

1. The validation decal shall be placed on each side of the vessel, three (3) inches behind the registration number.
2. When the vessel is sold or the decal expires, it is the responsibility of the seller to remove or destroy the decals.
3. Each registered vessel must display valid decals.
4. Expired registration decals must be removed.

OBTAINING APPLICATIONS:

Applications for motorboat registration may be obtained from marinas, boat dealers, Division of Motor Vehicle field offices, or by writing to:

Division of Motor Vehicles
PO Box 017
225 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08666-0017

Applications accompanied by correct fees, check or money order (NO CASH) may be mailed to above address.  For the convenience of the boating public, applications and fees may be submitted at any Division of Motor Vehicles field office.

REQUESTS FOR DUPLICATE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE:

Duplicates are available at Division of Motor Vehicle Field Offices or through the Trenton Office.