Titles and Registration

Texas Titling Requirements

Sec. 31.045. OWNERSHIP OF VESSELS AND OUTBOARD MOTORS; CERTIFICATES OF TITLE.

a. The ownership of a vessel or of an outboard motor is evidenced by a certificate of title issued by the department, unless the vessel or the outboard motor is new.
b. The ownership of a new vessel or a new outboard motor is evidenced by a manufacturer's or an importer's certificate executed on a form prescribed by the department.
c. Separate certificates of title are required for vessels and for outboard motors.”

Effective January 1, 1994, all motorboats and all outboard motors must be titled. Also sailboats 14 feet and over in length must be titled.

• All motorized boats, regardless of length;
• All sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or any sailboat with an auxiliary engine(s); and
• All internal combustion (gasoline/diesel powered) outboard motors must be titled.

Purchasing Used Vessels – DO NOT purchase a used boat or outboard motor without receiving a title signed on the front and back along with a bill of sale from the person(s) listed on the title or from their legally documented representative. If a legal representative signs the title for the recorded owner(s), you must obtain a copy of the documentation authorizing them to act on behalf of the owner(s).

Texas Registration Requirements

The following vessels when on Texas public water are required to have current registration, including when docked, moored, or stored.

• All motorized boats, regardless of length;
• All sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or any sailboat with an auxiliary engine(s); and
• USCG Documented vessels (New — see section below).
• Exempted vessels — Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts (regardless of length) when paddled, poled, or oared and sailboats under 14 feet in length when windblown. Adding an outboard or trolling motor to one of these types requires titling and registration.
• An exempt boat may have previously been titled as a motorboat. You can check whether a title has been issued for free – Query Ownership

Registration of USCG Documented Vessels

Effective January 1, 2004, vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard are no longer exempt from state registration requirements.

Requirements for registering a documented vessel:

• Vessel/Boat Application form PWD 143 (PDF 434.8 KB);
• Current USCG Documentation Certificate (or copy);
• Verification of sales tax payment * or proof that vessel purchase date occurred more than four years prior to the date of application; and
• Payment of registration fee. (Note: Do not submit title fee. A Texas title cannot be issued for a USCG documented vessel.)

* If sales tax has not been paid, a Bill of Sale or Invoice is required and sales tax fee will be assessed at the time of registration. Tax will not be collected for vessels purchased more than four years prior to the date of application for registration. A Bill of Sale or Invoice must contain:

• The date of sale;
• Sales price;
• Description of the vessel and/or outboard motor (make, TX or serial number and year built);
• Purchaser(s) name; and
• Seller(s) signature.

USCG Documented Exempted Vessels:

• Commercial tugboats;
• Vessels exceeding 115 feet in length; and
• Pilot or crew boats transporting freight, supplies, or personnel to or from cargo ships, freighters, or offshore oil infrastructure.

Placement of Decal on Documented Vessels:

• Validation Decal to be placed on both sides of the bow.
• Display of Registration (TX) Number not required if current USCG Documentation remains in effect.
• Certificate of Number ID Card must be carried on board the vessel while in use.

Registration Fees:

• Less than 16 feet in length — $32.00
• 16 feet but less than 26 feet in length — $53.00
• 26 feet but less than 40 feet in length — $110.00
• 40 feet or more in length — $150.00
• Livery Boat less than 16 feet in length — $32.00

For more specific information and requirements for boating in Texas, please refer to the navigation links in the left column of this page.

Requirements for Specific Transactions

Vessels and Outboard Motors

These documents are in the Adobe® Acrobat® (PDF) format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the files and is available as a free download.

• New From Dealer/Manufacturer or New Homemade - This matrix provides the requirements for titling/registration of a brand new boat/outboard motor or a newly built homemade boat.
• Not Currently Titled and/or Registered Through TPWD -This matrix provides the requirements for titling/registration of a boat/outboard motor which is currently not titled/registered through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
• Transfer of Boat/Outboard Motor With Existing Title and/or Registration Through TPWD - This matrix provides the requirements for transferring ownership of a boat/outboard motor which is titled/registered through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
• Maintenance of Boat/Outboard Motor With Existing Title and/or Registration Through TPWD - This matrix provides the requirements for maintenance events by the existing owner to a boat/outboard motor which is titled/registered through TPWD. Maintenance events include: renewal of registration; replacement of title(s), registration decals or Certificate of Number ID Card; additional ID card(s); and change or correction to name, address or vessel/outboard motor description.
• Registration of USCG Documented Vessels - This matrix provides the requirements for registering or transferring registration of a boat/vessel which has been documented through the United States Coast Guard (USCG).
• Sold Under Statutory Lien Foreclosure - This matrix provides the requirements for titling/registration of a boat/outboard motor which is being sold for non-payment of storage/mechanic fees.
• Sales Tax Only - This matrix provides the requirements for paying Sales Tax Only. This applies when the boat/outboard motor is exempt from title and/or registration through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The same information in the HTML format will be posted here soon.