What It Costs to Register a Boat

The fees you pay to register your boat are deposited in the Waterways Safety Fund, which is used to operate Ohio's boating program. Ohio's boat registrations are renewed triennially, which means decals are valid for three years.

All registration fees include a $3 writing fee which goes to the agent where you buy your registration.

Fees do NOT include the 3-inch block letters that are displayed on a traditional registration. It is the boat owner's responsibility to display the boat's "OH" numbers in accordance with federal law. The Alternative Registration for hand-powered vessels does not require the display of "OH" numbers.

Beginning with registrations issued for 2010, non-motorized boats are assessed a $5 Waterway Conservation Fee.

NOTE: If you attach a motor (permanently or not) to a vessel registered as "hand-powered," you must change the Type of Propulsion on your registration. See Add-a-Motor Proration Fees below. The proration is only valid for traditional registrations that are adding a motor, and the change must be made at a watercraft registration agent's office.

Powered By Motor

Fee
Boats less than 16' long $33.00
Boats 16' long but less than 26' long $48.00
Boats 26' long but less than 40' long $63.00
Boats 40' long but less than 65' long $78.00
Boats 65' long and longer $93.00

Powered By Sail Only (no motor)

Fee
Boats less than 16' long $38.00
Boats 16' long but less than 26' long $53.00
Boats 26' long but less than 40' long $68.00
Boats 40' long but less than 65' long $83.00
Boats 65' long and longer $98.00

Hand Powered
(canoes, kayaks, rowboats, inflatables,
racing shells, rowing sculls, pedal boats)

Fee
Traditional Registration
(two decals provided; you supply OH numbers)		 $20.00
Alternative Registration
(one decal provided; no OH numbers required; see details about where you can obtain one)		 $25.00

Add-A-Motor Proration Fees

Fee is prorated based on time remaining on current registration

Boat Length

Years Remaining on Current Registration

3 Years

2 Years

1 Year
Under 16' and all canoes $21.00 $15.00 $9.00
16' less than 26' $36.00 $25.00 $14.00
26' less than 40' $51.00 $35.00 $19.00
40' less than 65' $66.00 $45.00 $24.00
Over 65' $81.00 $55.00 $29.00

Cost to Transfer Title to a New Owner: $5

A title is required for all powered boats 14' and greater in length, outboard motors of 10 or more horsepower, and Personal Watercraft (PWC). Titles are handled by county Clerks of Court. Contact the Clerk of Court in your area for more information on obtaining title information. The title must reflect the current/new owner of a boat before a registration can be written to that person.

Cost to Transfer Registration to Another Owner: $5

For unexpired registrations only.