Titles, Registration and Tax

Titling Requirements

Parks and Wildlife Code states:

"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.

• All motorized vessels, regardless of length (including any sailboat with an auxiliary engine);
• All non-motorized vessels (including sailboats) 14 feet in length or longer; and
• All internal combustion (gasoline/diesel/propane powered) outboard motors must be titled.
• Applications for title must be submitted not later than 45 days from the date of purchase.
• Boat trailers are handled through your local County Tax office.

Purchasing Used Vessels/Outboard Motors: DO NOT purchase a used vessel/boat or outboard motor without receiving an original title (signed on the front and back) along with a signed bill of sale from the person(s) listed on the title or from their legally documented representative. If a legal representative signs the title or bill of sale for the recorded owner(s), you must obtain a copy of the documentation authorizing the legal representative to act on behalf of the owner(s). Texas Parks and Wildlife is not authorized to register/title boat trailers, those are handled by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles through your local County Tax offices.

Vessels Exempted from Titling:

• All U.S Coast Guard (USCG) documented vessels (USCG documented vessels require State registration and proof of current USCG documentation).
• All non-motorized canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts (regardless of length) or other vessels under 14 feet in length when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown. Adding an outboard or trolling motor to one of these types requires titling and registration.
• A non-motorized vessel may have previously been titled as a motorboat. You can check whether a title has been issued for free - Query Ownership

Registration Requirements

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

• All motorized vessels, regardless of length (including any sailboat with an auxiliary engine);
• All non-motorized vessels (including sailboats) 14 feet in length or longer; and
• USCG documented vessels.

A Texas boat registration is valid for two years.

Vessels Exempted from Registration:

• Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, or rubber rafts (regardless of length), or other vessels under 14 feet in length when paddled, poled, oared, or windblown. Adding an outboard or trolling motor to one of these types requires titling and registration.
• A non-motorized vessel 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 required to have state registration.

Exempted USCG Documented 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 TX Number and Decal on Vessels:

• The TX number must be painted on, or otherwise attached to, each side of the forward half of the vessel, in such position as to provide easy identification.
• The TX number must read from left to right, be in BLOCK characters of good proportion not less than three inches in height and be of a color that contrasts with the background.
• The numerals must be separated from the prefix and suffix by hyphens or equivalent spaces such as the following examples: TX 0001 GG or TX-0001-GG.
• The validation decal must be affixed in line with and three (3) inches towards the rear of the boat from the TX number (an example is shown on the decal document).
• The number printed on the decal must match the number listed on the certificate of number card issued for the vessel described on the card.
• Vessels registered as antique boats are permitted to display the registration decal on the left portion of the windshield. In the absence of a windshield, the registration decal must be attached to the certificate of number and made available for inspection when the boat is operated on public water.

USCG Documented Vessels:

• May display ONLY the validation decal (not the Registration (TX) Number) on both sides of the bow of the vessel; and
• Must maintain current USCG documentation.

Certificate of Number (registration) ID Card

A Certificate of Number ID Card is issued at the time of registration (with decals). The certificate of number (registration), if required:

• Must always be aboard and available for inspection by an enforcement officer;
• Is valid through the expiration date shown on the certificate; and
• Must also be aboard USCG documented vessels that require Texas registration.

Tax and Bill of Sale Requirements

Boat and Motor Tax:

TPWD is required by law to collect tax for vessels/boats (115 feet or less in length) and outboard motors purchased in Texas or brought into Texas on or after January 1, 2000. The tax rate is 6.25% of the sales price. Tax is assessed at the time of registration/title transfer and is due within 45 working days from the date of sale or date brought to Texas. Applications filed later than 45 working days are subject to tax penalties and interest. A signed bill of sale or invoice is required for every transfer of ownership. Trailers are handled through your local County Tax office and the price of the trailer must be separated from the price of the vessel/boat and motor. One of the following is acceptable to meet the bill of sale or invoice requirement:

• Form PWD 143/144 application - sales price (not including trailer), date of sale, and trade-in information must be completed and signed by the seller.
• Handwritten Receipt or Sales Invoice - must contain date of sale, sales price (not including trailer), description of vessel/boat and/or outboard motor (make, serial number, and model year), purchaser’s name(s), and seller's signature(s).
• Back of TPWD (brown) title completed with sales price, the name of the purchaser(s) and signature of the owner(s) listed on the front of the title or from their legally documented representative. (Older blue and green title formats do not have spaces for the bill of sale on the back).

New Resident Tax - $15.00. New Resident tax is assessed (not sales or use tax) for owners who previously resided in another state who are bringing their previously titled or registered boat and/or outboard motor from that other state into Texas.

Fees, Tax Calculator and Forms:

A fee chart (form PWD 1253), tax calculator (form PWD 930), and all titling and registration forms are available online.

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

Forms and Supporting Document 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.