The Texas PWD 504 form is a one-page Verification of Vessel or Outboard Motor Serial Number affidavit used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to confirm the hull identification number (HIN) or motor serial number on a boat being titled or registered in Texas. You complete it by attaching a pencil tracing or a legible photograph of the number stamped on the hull or motor, signing the certification, and filing it as a supporting document with your main application. It is not a standalone filing, and it is only required in specific situations.
When You Need to File PWD 504
TPWD requires the form in four situations where the serial number cannot be taken at face value from existing paperwork:
- The boat or motor was previously titled or registered in another state or country and is being brought into Texas.
- The serial number on an existing title or registration card does not match what is stamped on the hull or motor. Characters like 2 and Z, 5 and S, or O, G, and Q get swapped often.
- The used vessel or motor has no title or registration history anywhere.
- The serial number does not follow U.S. Coast Guard formatting standards.
The out-of-state transfer is the most common trigger. If you bought a boat already titled in Texas and the serial number on the title matches the hull, you do not need PWD 504.1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PWD 504 – Verification of Vessel or Outboard Motor Serial Number
How to Complete the Form
Capturing the Serial Number
You have two options. The first is a pencil tracing: lay the form directly on the serial number plate and rub a pencil across the paper until the characters show through. On most boats the HIN sits on the transom, the flat back panel. If the tracing is hard to read, do it anyway and write the number legibly next to the rubbing. A partial tracing with the number handwritten beside it is better than no tracing at all.2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. References, Tools and Forms for Boat Titling/Registration
The second option is a legible photograph. Take a close-up showing every character, print it, and attach it to the form. Photos are often easier than tracings, especially on motors where the plate sits in an awkward spot. Either method is accepted as long as the image is readable.
Signing and Certifying
Below the tracing area, check the box that matches what you are submitting: pencil tracing below (or attached), or the attached photo. Fill in your name, signature, mailing address, phone number, and the date. If you are filing on behalf of a business such as a dealer or marina, add the company name in the designated field. The form does not ask for a Social Security number or driver’s license number.1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PWD 504 – Verification of Vessel or Outboard Motor Serial Number
By signing, you also agree to make the vessel or motor available for a game warden inspection if TPWD has questions during processing. That inspection does not happen in every case, but the department reserves the right to request one.
Which Application to File It With
PWD 504 is always a supporting document. The primary form you pair it with depends on what you are doing:
- PWD 143, Vessel/Boat Application, for new registrations, title transfers, and out-of-state transfers of a boat hull.
- PWD 143M, Vessel/Boat Records Maintenance, to correct or update information on an existing vessel record.
- PWD 144, Outboard Motor Application, the motor equivalent of PWD 143.
- PWD 144M, Outboard Motor Records Maintenance, for motor corrections and updates.
PWD 504 is also required alongside the lien foreclosure affidavits (PWD 309A, 309B, 309C) and the abandoned boat bonded-title request (PWD 1344). All forms are on the TPWD boating forms page.2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. References, Tools and Forms for Boat Titling/Registration
On PWD 143, Question 1 asks whether the vessel came from another state or country. If you check yes, the form’s instructions tell you to attach a completed PWD 504 and enter the originating state or country along with the prior title or registration number.3Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Vessel/Boat Application – PWD 143
Where to Submit
Submit PWD 504 together with the primary application, supporting documents (out-of-state title or registration, bill of sale), and any fees and taxes. TPWD accepts filings at three types of locations:
- TPWD headquarters at 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744. Phone (512) 389-4828 or toll-free (800) 262-8755.
- TPWD Law Enforcement field offices, more than 30 statewide. Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Participating county tax assessor-collector offices. Not all counties participate and accepted payment methods vary, so call ahead.
Some transactions can also be handled through the TPWD online boat registration portal. For mailed applications, TPWD treats the filing date as the postmark date.4Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Boat Registration and Titles – FAQ A full list of office addresses is on the TPWD boat registration office locations page.5Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Office Locations for Boat and Outboard Motor Registration/Titles
Deadlines That Affect Your Filing
Title transfer applications filed more than 45 working days after the purchase date are subject to tax penalties and interest. For boats brought in from another state, you have 90 days to transfer registration and title to Texas, but the tax payment itself is due within 45 working days.6Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Fee Chart for Boats and Outboard Motors
Fees Attached to the Transaction
PWD 504 itself has no filing fee, but the underlying title and registration carry several costs:
- Certificate of title: $27 per vessel or outboard motor.
- Registration on a two-year cycle: $32 for boats under 16 feet (Class A), $53 for 16 to under 26 feet (Class 1), $110 for 26 to under 40 feet (Class 2), and $150 for boats 40 feet or longer (Class 3).
- Sales or use tax of 6.25% of the purchase price for vessels 115 feet or shorter, capped at $18,750 on boats purchased in Texas on or after September 1, 2019.
- Game warden inspection, when required: $25.
New Texas residents bringing a boat from another state pay a new resident tax rather than use tax. If you already paid sales tax in another state, you can claim a credit with proof of payment.4Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Boat Registration and Titles – FAQ
When a Game Warden Inspection Gets Added
An inspection is not automatic for every PWD 504 submission, but the form states your vessel or motor may be inspected during processing. Two situations always trigger one: homemade boats that need a HIN assigned, and vessels or motors where the serial number has been altered, defaced, or removed. In the second case, you must file a sworn statement describing the watercraft and explaining why the number is damaged, pay the $25 inspection fee, and get an inspection certificate from the warden before TPWD will process the title.7Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Placement of TX Number and Decal on Vessels
To arrange one, contact the nearest TPWD Law Enforcement office and have your ownership documents and completed applications ready. The warden needs to review the paperwork before scheduling a visit to the boat.
Penalty for Falsifying the Form
The warning printed on PWD 504 is direct: falsifying information on a government document is a third-degree felony under Texas Penal Code Section 37.10, punishable by two to ten years of confinement and a fine of up to $10,000. It applies to anyone who knowingly enters false information or alters a government record, including misrepresenting a serial number to obtain a Texas title for a stolen vessel.1Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. PWD 504 – Verification of Vessel or Outboard Motor Serial Number TPWD notes that one purpose of serial number verification is to identify stolen boats brought in from other states to obtain a clean title. If a serial number matches a stolen-vessel report, the matter is referred to law enforcement.
Mistakes That Delay Processing
Most PWD 504 rejections come from a short list of avoidable errors. Submitting the form without a tracing or photograph defeats the whole purpose. Skipping the signature or leaving the certification box unchecked will bounce it back. Filing PWD 504 by itself, without the corresponding PWD 143 or PWD 144, will not be processed because TPWD treats it as a support document only.2Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. References, Tools and Forms for Boat Titling/Registration
Another frequent problem is a serial number on the form that does not match the number entered on the main application. Check that the HIN or motor serial on PWD 143 or PWD 144 matches the tracing or photo on PWD 504 character for character. The reason this form exists is that 2 and Z, or 5 and S, get swapped constantly, so read the physical plate rather than copying from old paperwork that may already contain the error.