Take an Official State-Approved Boater Safety Course
Quick Answer
All motorized vessels in Oregon must be registered with the Oregon State Marine Board. The registration cost is $5.95 per foot of boat length plus an $8 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) surcharge. A title application costs $25, registration is valid for two years, late penalties are $25 if you miss the 30-day deadline, and boat transfers cost $75. You can register your boat online, by mail, or in person.
For more information about Oregon boating requirements, visit our Oregon boating guide.
The Oregon State Marine Board requires registration for all motorized vessels operated in Oregon waters. This includes boats with outboard motors, inboard motors, jet drives, and any other motorized propulsion system. Non-motorized vessels such as canoes, kayaks, sailboats without motors, paddleboards, and rowboats are exempt from registration requirements.
However, even though kayaks and non-motorized vessels don’t need registration, their operators must still carry a boating safety education card if they operate on certain waters or meet other regulatory criteria. Motorized vessels include recreational boats, fishing boats, commercial vessels, houseboats with motors, and personal watercraft such as jet skis.
Even if your motorized vessel is very small, such as a kayak with a small electric motor or a dinghy with an outboard engine, it must be registered. The OSMB uses vessel registration as a critical tracking mechanism for boating safety, environmental protection, and enforcement of boating regulations.
Without proper registration, you’re subject to citations and penalties, including fines and potential boat confiscation.
Oregon’s boat registration fee structure is based on the vessel’s length measured in feet. The base registration fee is $5.95 per foot of boat length.
For example, a 20-foot boat would cost $119 ($5.95 x 20), while a 30-foot boat would cost $178.50 ($5.95 x 30). In addition to the base fee, all motorized vessels must pay an $8 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) surcharge. This surcharge funds Oregon’s efforts to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species that threaten native ecosystems. Therefore, a 20-foot boat’s total registration cost would be $127 ($119 + $8).
The OSMB has recently considered adjusting these fees to account for inflation, so it’s helpful to check their website for the most current fee structure before registering. These fees are significantly less expensive than registration fees in many neighboring states and represent a reasonable investment in maintaining your boating privileges in Oregon.
Annual registration renewal costs the same as the initial registration fee, allowing you to budget consistently for your boating hobby.
Once you register your boat, your registration certificate remains valid for two years from the date of issue. This two-year validity period means you’ll need to renew your boat registration every two years.
Many boat owners find this renewal frequency convenient because it aligns with other biennial boat maintenance schedules and insurance policies. You’ll receive a renewal notice from the OSMB approximately 30-60 days before your registration expires, reminding you to renew. The OSMB makes it easy to renew your registration by providing online renewal options, reducing the need to visit an office in person.
Your boat registration number, often called the hull number or registration number, must be displayed on your vessel for easy identification by law enforcement and OSMB inspectors. You’ll receive a registration certificate when you first register and with each renewal, which should be kept aboard your vessel or in a safe location for quick reference.
If you lose your registration certificate, you can request a replacement through the OSMB.
Oregon law provides a 30-day grace period for boat registration after the expiration date. If you fail to renew your registration within this 30-day window, you’ll incur a $25 late penalty in addition to the regular registration renewal fee.
For example, if your registration expires on June 30 and you renew on July 31, you’ll pay the standard registration fee plus an additional $25 penalty. If you renew after August 30, you’ll still owe the standard renewal fee plus the $25 penalty. This late penalty structure incentivizes boat owners to renew their registrations promptly.
Beyond the 30-day grace period, operating an unregistered motorized vessel is illegal and can result in citations, fines, and other legal consequences. The OSMB sends renewal notices well in advance to help prevent late registrations.
If you receive a renewal notice and anticipate being unable to renew during the grace period, contact the OSMB immediately to discuss your options. Some boat owners set calendar reminders or automatic payment arrangements to ensure they renew before the grace period expires.
When you register a motorized vessel in Oregon, you may also need to apply for a title, which is separate from registration. The title application process costs $25 and establishes official ownership records for your boat. A title is especially important if you eventually plan to sell your boat or if you have a motor with a significant value.
The title process protects your ownership rights and provides legal documentation of who owns the vessel. When applying for a title, you’ll need to provide information about the vessel, including the hull number, manufacturer, model year, and length.
You’ll also need to provide your personal identification information, proof of ownership (such as a bill of sale from the previous owner), and proof of payment of sales tax if applicable. The OSMB processes title applications and maintains these records to prevent boat theft and unauthorized vessel transfers.
If you purchase a used boat, the previous owner’s title must be transferred to your name, which involves submitting the signed title document and paying a transfer fee.
When you sell your boat or transfer ownership to someone else, both the buyer and seller must complete a boat transfer process. The seller must sign off on the title, indicating they no longer own the vessel. The buyer then submits the signed title to the OSMB along with a bill of sale and payment of the $75 transfer fee.
This transfer fee is additional to any registration or title fees that the new owner will pay. The transfer process ensures that the new owner is properly registered in the OSMB system and that the previous owner is no longer listed as the vessel owner.
If a boat owner passes away, their heirs or estate representatives must follow the transfer process to update ownership records. The 30-day registration grace period applies to transfers as well, meaning new owners have 30 days to complete the transfer and registration process before incurring late penalties.
For more information about Oregon boating regulations and requirements, visit our Oregon boating license page.
The Oregon State Marine Board provides multiple convenient methods to register your motorized vessel.
The easiest option for most boat owners is online registration through the OSMB website. Navigate to the online registration portal, select whether you’re registering a new boat or renewing an existing registration, and provide the required information including vessel details, owner information, and payment method. Online registration typically takes just a few minutes and allows you to pay by credit card or debit card. The OSMB will email you a confirmation and mail your registration certificate to the address you provide.
Mail-in registration is also available for those who prefer not to register online. Simply download the registration form from the OSMB website, fill it out completely with your vessel information and owner details, include payment (check or money order), and mail it to the address shown on the form. Registration processing typically takes 1-2 weeks for mail-in applications.
For those who prefer in-person service, you can visit an OSMB office location directly and register your boat with assistance from a staff member. Before registering, gather your vessel documentation, including the hull number, manufacturer name, year of manufacture, and vessel length in feet. Having this information readily available speeds up the registration process regardless of which registration method you choose.
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