Arkansas requires a title for a boat only if it is a motorboat manufactured on or after January 1, 2020. Boats built before that date do not get titled in Arkansas, though they still need to be registered if they have a motor or sail. The rule comes from Act 733 of 2019, which created the Arkansas Motorboat Registration and Titling Act and directed the Department of Finance and Administration to begin issuing boat titles for the first time.1Arkansas State Legislature. Act 733 of the Regular Session
Titled Boats vs. Untitled Boats
Before 2020, Arkansas issued no boat titles at all. That changed with Act 733. Now the manufacture date of the boat, not the purchase date, decides whether a title is required.
If you buy a brand-new boat today, it needs both a title and a registration. If you buy a used boat built before 2020, it needs registration only. The distinction matters most at the moment of sale, because the paperwork that proves you own the boat is different in each case.
For a titled boat, the seller endorses and assigns the certificate of title to the buyer, the same way a car title changes hands. For a pre-2020 boat, there is no title to sign over; the current registration and a bill of sale carry the ownership history instead.
Proof of Ownership You’ll Need
What you submit depends on which category the boat falls into.2Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motor Boat Registration
- New boat: the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.
- Used boat with an existing Arkansas title: the previous title, endorsed and assigned by the seller.
- Pre-2020 boat, or a boat from a state that doesn’t issue titles: a current registration or bill of sale.
A bill of sale must describe the boat with its Hull Identification Number, year, make, and horsepower, and must include the sale amount, the date, and both signatures. If a trailer is part of the deal, itemize it separately or write a second bill of sale for it, so sales tax can be figured correctly. Arkansas does not require the bill of sale to be notarized.
Title Fee and Where to Apply
The certificate of title costs $10.3Justia. Arkansas Code 27-101-1029 – Fees Registration fees are charged separately and depend on the boat’s length.
You can apply at any Arkansas state revenue office, in person or by mail.2Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motor Boat Registration The Certificate of Registration and validation decals come back by mail after processing. Allow at least three weeks for the title certificate itself to arrive.
Buying a Titled Boat: The 30-Day Rule
When you buy a titled motorboat, you have 30 days from the date of transfer to apply for a new title and registration in your name. If there’s a lien on the boat, that 30-day clock doesn’t start until the lienholder releases it. Operating the boat past the 30-day window without a valid registration and title is illegal.4Justia. Arkansas Code 27-101-1021 – Obligations of Transferee
The seller has to endorse and assign the title to you properly. Failing to do so is a Class C misdemeanor.5Justia. Arkansas Code 27-101-1020 – Misdemeanor and Penalty If you receive a title that wasn’t properly assigned to you, you’ll need to establish ownership right away, register the boat, and pay all required fees and penalties. Sellers, including dealers, can’t use title retention notes that hold the certificate back until the buyer pays in full; that arrangement blocks the buyer from completing the transfer and is not allowed.
Replacing a Lost or Damaged Title
A replacement title costs $10 and can be requested at any state revenue office. The last titled owner of record signs the duplicate title application. When ownership is joint with “and” between the names, both owners must sign; when the names are joined by “or,” either owner can sign. Plan on at least three weeks for processing.6Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Replacement Titles
If a lien is still active, the lienholder signs a Permission to Issue a Replacement Title form, and the DFA mails the new title to the lienholder rather than the owner. Out-of-state owners can apply by mail to: Department of Finance and Administration, Special License Unit, P.O. Box 1272, Little Rock, AR 72203. Send the signed application, a $10 check payable to the Department of Finance and Administration, a copy of the registration, and any lien releases that apply.
Registration Is Still Required
Even if your boat is too old to need a title, it almost certainly needs to be registered. Every boat propelled by a motor or sail must have a certificate of number before operating on Arkansas waters, and that includes boats with only a trolling motor.2Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Motor Boat Registration
A few categories are exempt from registration:
- Human-powered boats such as canoes, kayaks, and rowboats with no motor or sail.
- Boats properly registered in another state or country, for up to 90 days on Arkansas waters.
- Vessels carrying valid U.S. Coast Guard documentation, though other state requirements may still apply.
Penalty for Skipping the Title
Operating a motorboat that should be titled but has neither a registration nor a title is a Class A misdemeanor.7FindLaw. Arkansas Code 27-101-1003 – Registration and Titling Required In Arkansas, a Class A misdemeanor can carry up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. Enforcement officers on the water regularly check for current registration decals, and a missing or expired decal is one of the most common reasons boaters get stopped.