California DMV Boat Registration Information

In California, most boats, or vessels that use any of California’s waterways need to be registered through the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Without this registration, rangers or police patrolling the waters may pull you over and cite you as they would with a car that is not registered. Therefore, before heading to the river or lakes anywhere in California with your new boat, make sure you have a current California boat registration.

According to the California DMV, boats longer than eight feet require registration. Also, boats with a motor, even if they are shorter than eight feet in length required registration.

Any boat less than eight feet and that does not have a motor does not require registration in California. This includes kayaks, canoes, and small fishing boats and rafts where only oars are used. Houseboats that do not move and are hooked up to utility services are also exempt.

The form for getting a new boat registered is available online at the California DMV’s website. Once filled out, you can mail it directly to the main DMV office in Sacramento or take it to your nearest DMV office.

Once registered, the California DMV will issue you a boat registration number, or CF number. California specifies that this boat registration number be prominently and permanently displayed on the boat. The number must be located on each side of the forward half of the boat, at least three inches tall, and easy to read. You are also required to have spaces or hyphens between groups of letters and numbers.