Vessel Title Information

Vehicle and Vessel Registration

All Florida vessels with motors, including personal watercraft, must be titled, registered, and issued a decal, which must be affixed to the PORT side of the vessel. You can apply for a vessel title at any of the Tax Collector's offices throughout Pinellas County except the main office.

Exemptions from Titling in Florida

  • Vessels owned by the United States Government
  • Non motor-powered vessels less than 16 feet in length
  • Federally documented vessels
  • Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
  • Vessels already covered by a number(pursuant to the federally approved numbering system) of another state, provided that such vessel shall not be located in the State for a period of 90 consecutive days
  • Amphibious vessels for which title is issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
  • Vessels used solely for demonstration, testing or sales by a registered dealer or manufacturer
  • Vessels owned and operated by the state or a governmental subdivision.

Exemptions from Registering in Florida

  • Non-motor-powered vessels
  • Vessels used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
  • Vessels owned by the United States Government

Vessels used exclusively as a ship's lifeboatVessels covered by numbers in full force and effect which have been awarded pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system(provided that such vessels are not operated in state waters in excess of 90 consecutive days.)

Procedure for obtaining Florida Vessel Title

The owner of a new vessel must have the manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO) completed by the seller (dealer/store). The MCO is the "birth certificate" for the vessel. For a used vessel, the owner must present us with the title. If the vessel was previously registered in a state that did not issue a title, the registration and a notarized bill of sale signed by the owner must be provided. New owners have 30 days to transfer the title or they will be subject to a $10.00 delinquent fee. Note: on Florida vessel titles, notarization is NO longer required for the seller and buyer's signatures. All new owners must be present to sign the title or the title application form and must present legal ID. You may also apply for a regular vessel fast title for an additional fee of $5.00.

Applying for a Duplicate Vessel Title

You can apply for a duplicate vessel title at any Tax Collector Office. The cost is $6.50 and the vessel title will be mailed to you from Tallahassee. If you would like to receive a fast duplicate title from the tag office the same day the additional cost is $5.00- for a total of $11.50.

Sales and Discretionary Taxes

Florida State Sales Tax is 6% of the purchase price. An additional County Surtax is imposed on your vehicles or vessels if you reside in a County that requires one. For more information on Florida sales tax contact the Florida Department of Revenue at 1-800-352-3671 or on their website:http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/dor

When you purchase the vessel, motor and trailer together from an individual, you will not have to pay sales tax on the outboard motor if you can provide an itemized and notarized bill of sale signed by the seller. You will pay sales tax on the vessel and trailer. (This exemption does not apply to inboard motors or if you have purchased the motor from a dealer of store.)

Vessel Registration

Registration fees for commercial vessels and pleasure vessels are based on length. Vessel registrations expire at midnight of the registered owner's birthday, except for company owned vessels which expire June 30th.

Vessel Registration Fees Effective September 1, 2008

Class A-1

Less than 12 feet in length, and all canoes to which propulsion motors have been attached, regardless of length: $15.50

Class A-2

 12 feet or more and less than 16 feet: $31.63

Class 1

 16 feet or more and less than 26 feet:  $50.38
Class 2 26 feet or more and less than 40 feet: $124.63
Class 3 40 feet or more and less than 65 feet: $198.88
Class 4 65 feet or more and less than 110 feet: $236.38
Class 5 110 feet or more in length: $291.88
DEALER $43.50

Replacement Vessel Decal 

If the decal is current, the vessel owner may apply for a duplicate decal at any county Tax Collector's Office. The owner must submit their old registration and complete form HSMV 87015 certifying that the old registration has been lost or destroyed. Proper I.D. is required. A $6.25 fee will be charged.

Documented Vessel Registration

All vessels five (5) net tons or more meeting the criteria of a commercial vessel as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard must be federally documented. Pleasure yachts five(5) net tons or more may be federally documented or titled at the owner's option.

You must contact the U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center and they will instruct you as to what is necessary to make application. The phone number is 1-800-799-8362.

A registration stamped "TEMPORARY' will be issued by the Tax Collector's Office. The vessel owner(s) must come to the Tax Collector's Office with the following paperwork: 

  •  A letter from the US Coast Guard showing application for documentation has been filed and is pending.
  • HSMV 87244 will be completed and must be signed by ALL OWNERS
  •  Payment of all applicable sales taxes and registration fees, which is determined by the length of the vessel, and a $50.00 non-resident commercial vessel fee, if applicable,will be collected
  •  Once you receive your documentation papers, bring them to the Tax Collector's Office with your temporary registration and $2.75. This will enable us to issue a documented registration.For futher information click on the USCG link at:http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/nvdc.htm

Hull Identification Number Verification

Hull identification number verification is not required each time a vessel is brought into Florida as long as the vessel has a title. If the vessel is brought in from out of state or a foreign country that does not issue a title or if the vessel was built after 1972 and has only a partial hull number (less than 12 properly formatted characters) on the out of state or foreign country title/registration, a pencil tracing should be submitted for verification of the hull identification number. A Fish and Game officer must conduct the hull number verification. You can contact their department at 1-800-342-5367.

Additional information as well as the latest updates and answers to frequently asked questions are available:http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/dmv/vslfacts.html