How to Register a Boat in California (DMV Guide)

**In California, you must register any boat with a motor (any size) and any sailboat over 8 feet with the DMV, unless it is documented with the U.S. Coast Guard.** Registration is biennial, expiring December 31 of every odd-numbered year, and you get a CF number and registration sticker to display on the boat. Fees below are stated as of October 2026, per DMV; confirm current amounts with DMV before you pay.

What needs to be registered

Per the DMV vessel registration page, you must register:

• Any vessel with a motor, no matter how big
• Sailboats over 8 feet
• Dinghies and motor-equipped houseboats

An undocumented vessel must be registered and the fees paid before it is placed in California waters.

What is exempt

DMV lists these as exempt from registration:

• Canoes, rowboats and other paddle or oar-powered craft
• Sailboats under 8 feet
• Sailboards
• Parasails
• Lifeboats
• Seaplanes on the water
• Track-based amusement boats
• Floating structures permanently moored to land

If your boat does not fit neatly in either list, ask DMV rather than guessing.

Documented vessels

Commercial vessels over 30 feet and 5 or more net tons need U.S. Coast Guard documentation instead. A vessel with a USCG marine certificate (a documented vessel) does not register with DMV. Undocumented vessels register with DMV and receive a "CF" number.

Registering a boat for the first time

You will need:

• **Application for Vessel Certificate of Number (form BOAT 101).**
• **Proof of ownership**, such as a California or out-of-state title.
• **Fees.** DMV sets the amounts; this guide does not list registration fees, so check DMV for the current total.
• **A bill of sale** for private purchases. If there is no bill of sale, use **form REG 256** (Statement of Facts).

Trailers are registered separately from the boat. Also, the California Boater Card or course completion may be required for motorized vessels; see our guide to the California Boater Card.

Buying a used boat

• The seller endorses the Certificate of Ownership.
• The buyer submits it to DMV with the transfer fees, plus renewal fees if they are due.
• The seller must notify DMV within **5 days** of the sale using **REG 138** (Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability).

Bringing a boat in from another state

An out-of-state vessel brought into California must be registered within **120 days**. Boaters launching in popular spots such as Lake Tahoe or the Sacramento Delta should check their registration status before they arrive.

Renewal

Registration expires on **December 31 of every odd-numbered year**, regardless of how much the boat is used. DMV mails renewal notices about 60 days beforehand. A **50 percent penalty** applies if you do not renew by midnight on the expiration date. The vessel must be located in California to be renewed.

Your CF number and stickers

Your CF number is "CF", four numbers and a two-letter suffix, for example CF 1234 AB. The letters I, O and Q are not issued as suffixes.

• **Where:** painted on or permanently attached to each side of the bow.
• **How:** plain vertical block characters more than 3 inches high, in a color that contrasts with the background.
• **Format:** "CF 1234 AB" or "CF-1234-AB".
• **Registration sticker:** on both sides of the boat, 3 inches from the registration number, clearly visible.

The Mussel Fee sticker for freshwater boating

Owners of motorized recreational vessels used in freshwater must display a current Mussel Fee sticker, unless the vessel is used exclusively in marine waters or is exempt by law.

• **Fee:** $16, as of October 2026, per DMV. It expires at the same time as your vessel registration renewal sticker.
• **How to buy:** request it online through DMV, with your CF number ready. Card payments add a 1.95% processing fee; direct bank payments have no fee.
• **Separate purchase:** since 2021 it is a separate transaction from registration, and the sticker is mailed separately.
• **Placement:** on either side of the registration sticker, on both the starboard and port sides, affixed to the hull.
• **Penalty:** failure to display it may result in a citation.

Marine-only boats are exempt, so a boat kept and used only in saltwater, such as at the Ventura Harbor launch ramp, does not need one. If you trailer to reservoirs such as Lake Oroville, plan on having the sticker on the hull. See the inland lakes and reservoirs hub for places where it matters.

Quick checklist

• Confirm whether your boat is exempt, documented, or needs DMV registration.
• File BOAT 101 with proof of ownership and fees.
• Get your CF number and sticker on both sides of the bow.
• Buy the Mussel Fee sticker separately if you boat in freshwater.
• Mark December 31 of the next odd-numbered year on your calendar.

This guide is general information, not legal advice; check the linked official pages for current rules and fees.