How To Register A New Boat In Texas Bought In Arkansas

Getting a new or new-to-you lot boat can be heady, only before your boat even hits the water, y'all'll demand to get it registered. Aside from a few exceptions, almost all boats in Texas must be registered with the Texas Parks and Wild animals Department (TPWD). Read on to find out exactly how to register a boat in Texas, including the costs involved.

Texas Gunkhole Registration Requirements

Wondering whether your gunkhole needs to be registered? Chances are, it does. If your boat or vessel is motorized, itmust exist registered, regardless of its length. By the way, a sailboat with an auxiliary engine counts as a motorized vessel also. If a boat isnot motorized only is more than than fourteen anxiety long, it nevertheless has to exist registered. Finally, vessels documented by the U.S. Declension Guard (USCG) need to be registered in Texas equally well.

Guide to Texas Boat Registration in Austin Texas

Printing and Submitting Your Application

Unless you bought a used boat that was registered by its previous owner (we'll get to that later), the outset thing you'll demand to practice is to print and consummate this TPWD application. The form asks a lot of questions, but it's pretty self-explanatory and comes with two total pages of instructions.

In one case yous've filled that out, you can submit everything to the TPWD by mail. If your registration is a renewal, you can also submit it online. In fact, these remote options are being encouraged right at present due to COVID-xix. Alternatively, you can head to your local Tax Assessor-Collector office or whatsoever TPWD Police force Enforcement function to submit your completed course. If you live near Austin, yous could besides visit the TPWD Headquarters office, which is located there. If you live near Austin, you could also visit the TPWD Headquarters office, which is located at that place. Alternatively, you tin can submit everything to the TPWD by mail. If your registration is a renewal, yous can too submit information technology online. In fact, these remote options are being encouraged right now due to COVID-nineteen.

What To Bring With Yous

If you show up in person to register a gunkhole, at the very to the lowest degree, you'll need to bring your completed application, a current picture ID and, of course, some course of payment. Well-nigh TPWD offices will accept cash, a cheque or a money lodge. Unfortunately, they no longer accept credit cards. It's probable you will besides need some supporting documents for your boat'southward title, which we will discuss when nosotros get to the section on transferring registration.

How Much Information technology Costs

The registration fee for your gunkhole volition range from $32 to $150. The corporeality of the fee depends on the length of your boat or vessel.

Here Are the Specific Costs for Registration Fees:

Vessels less than 16 feet: $32
Vessels from 16 feet to less than 26 feet in length: $53
Vessels from 26 feet to less than 40 anxiety in length: $110
Vessels 40 or more feet in length: $150
Livery boats less than 16 feet in length: $32

Additional Fees

In addition to the boat registration fee, you'll be charged for a registration ID bill of fare (chosen the Certificate of Number), a registration decal, a certificate of title and, of course, tax. If you are an owner who is relocating to Texas from another state, you will also be charged a $15 relocation fee. The cost for these fees is listed below:

Certificate of Number: $xi
Registration decals: $22
Certificate of championship: $27
Taxation: 6.25% of the sale price

Depending on your state of affairs, there a few other fees that might be assessed when yous're registering your boat. They include the following:

New resident tax: fifteen%

Standard replacement for lost/destroyed title: $27
Expedited replacement for lost/destroyed title: $64
Title correction: $27
Bonded title: $37

Requirements for Transferring Title and Registration

If you bought a boat that was registered previously—whether in the state of Texas or elsewhere—you lot'll exist required to transfer the boat/vessel title, the boat registration and the outboard motor championship into your proper noun. You will be responsible for providing all the necessary paperwork in addition to the completed application form, which tin can make the transfer seem like kind of a hassle. That'southward why the TPWD recommends having the seller accompany yous to the TPWD office to ensure that everything goes smoothly. That fashion, if there are whatever surprises and you lot find out that yous need something else from the seller, he or she is correct there with you.

When You Must Complete the Transfer

Fourth dimension is of the essence. Applications for transfer of title and ownership must be filed no subsequently than 45 business organization days from the purchase appointment; otherwise, tax penalties and involvement will showtime to accrue.

For the Buyer: What You'll Need for the Transfer

If the seller isn't going with y'all to the TPWD office, make sure he or she provides you with all the necessary paperwork. If the boat is brand new, the seller needs to requite you the manufacturer's argument of origin (MSO) forth with the beak of sale. Buying a used boat is a lot like buying a used car. In this example, they'll exist giving you lot the original title (signed front and dorsum), the previous out-of-land registration (if applicable), and a signed bill of sale. The bill of sale may be handwritten simply must be signed by the person listed on the title or their legal representative. If a legal representative signs, you must also have a copy of the document authorizing that representative to act on the owner's behalf. If the gunkhole was previously registered in another state, they will also demand to provide a pencil sketch or photo of the gunkhole's hull, containing some necessary data.

For the Seller: What To ExerciseLater on You Sell

After selling your boat, you lot are required to notify the TPWD within 20 days of the date of sale. This is in addition to providing the same paperwork to the buyer. Notifying the TPWD is not only required by police—this important step also protects you from any future liability. Notifying the TPWD of a auction is free and can exist done online. If yous accompany the buyer to the TPWD office, you'll be able to complete this footstep in person.

Boats That Are Exempt From Titling Requirements

Boats that are exempt from titling requirements include some vessels documented by the USCG; all not-motorized kayaks, canoes, punts, rowboats, or rafts (regardless of length); and other vessels under fourteen anxiety in length when they are paddled, poled, oared, or sailed.

More than Details To Know About Boat Registration in Texas

Your Texas boat registration volition be valid for two years.
You tin can brand your renewal payment up to ninety days in advance of expiration. If you lot prefer, y'all can renew your registration online.
If a vessel is registered or titled in your proper noun in another country, you lot may operate it for up to xc days in Texas with your out-of-land registration as long as it is current.
Boat trailer registration is not handled by TPWD. For that, you lot will go through your local Tax Assessor-Collector office.

Now that you're well versed in Texas boat registration, in that location's one more thing you lot demand to know. If y'all were born on or later September 1, 1993, you'll need a license to operate your boat. Yep, yous read that correct. Your parents don't need a canoeing license, but you do. Don't worry, though—getting your canoeing license is easy. All you accept to exercise is have an online Texas boater safety course. The certificate yous receive at the end of the grade will be your license.

Different other online boater safety courses,ilearntoboat has no timers and is gamified with animations and interactive elements, and so it'due south easy and fun. One time you laissez passer the course, simply print your document, and you'll be ready to go boating!