How to Complete and Submit the Louisiana Boat Registration Form

To register a boat in Louisiana, complete the Boat Registration and Boat/Motor Title Application from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), attach your proof of ownership and a Form R-1331 sales tax certification from the Department of Revenue, and submit the packet with a fee between $36 and $99 (based on length) either in person at LDWF headquarters in Baton Rouge or by mail. The Louisiana boat registration form is a single-page PDF that covers both registration and titling, and it is the same document whether you are registering a new purchase, transferring ownership, or ordering a duplicate.¹

Any motorized boat used on public waterways needs a current LDWF registration, regardless of length. Sailboats 12 feet or longer must be registered even without an engine. Boats used only on a private pond, sailboats under 12 feet without a motor, and non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and pirogues are exempt.²

Gather Your Information First

The application asks for details you will not want to guess at, so pull everything together before you sit down with the form.

For the vessel: the 12-character Hull Identification Number (HIN), usually stamped on a plate on the starboard side of the transom; the manufacturer’s name; year built; model; hull material; vessel type; and exact length in feet and inches.

For the motor: serial number, manufacturer, year, horsepower, fuel type, and engine drive type. If there is more than one outboard, list each serial number.³

For proof of ownership: a notarized bill of sale showing the registration number, HIN, make, model year, and signatures of buyer and seller. LDWF publishes a standard Bill of Sale of Boat/Motor form on its licensing forms page if you need one.⁴ If the boat was previously titled, you have to surrender that title. For a used boat from a private seller, submit the prior owner’s title or the LDWF registration certificate signed over to you.¹

Filling Out the Application

Download the form from the LDWF website or pick one up at headquarters.³ Work through it in order.

Applicant Section

Enter your full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number (or EIN for a business), driver’s license number and state, physical address, and mailing address. If mailing and physical addresses match, check the box that says so. Include a working phone number and email; LDWF uses these to contact you if something is missing.

Vessel and Motor Details

Fill in the HIN, year built, make, model, vessel type (open, cabin, pontoon, personal watercraft, and so on), exact length, hull material, and intended use. Most recreational owners select “Pleasure.” Enter the purchase date and price. If the boat was previously registered, add the prior registration number, prior title number, and issuing state.

In the motor section, enter the serial number, year, make, purchase date, purchase price, and any prior title information. Below that, specify propulsion type, fuel type, engine drive type, and horsepower.³

Lien Information

If you financed the purchase, enter the lienholder’s name, address, phone number, email, and the lien start date. Recording or releasing a lien carries a $10 fee. Leaving this blank when a lien exists will delay the title.¹

Signature

The applicant and any co-applicant both sign and date the form. Before you sign, verify the HIN and motor serial number. Transposed digits are the most common reason applications get held up.

The Sales Tax Certification You Have to File Separately

LDWF will not process your registration until the Louisiana Department of Revenue confirms that all state, municipal, school board, and parish sales taxes on the purchase have been paid. That confirmation happens through Form R-1331, the Boat Registration Tax Payment Certification, and it is due by the 20th of the month following the purchase.⁵

R-1331 asks for a description of the watercraft and buyer-seller information. Attach supporting documents based on how you acquired the boat:⁶

From a dealer: an invoice or bill of sale showing taxes paid, with the boat, motor, and trailer as separate line items.
From a private party: a copy of the bill of sale signed by both parties, plus the prior owner’s title or LDWF registration certificate.
Moving from another state: the title and registration from that state.
From an auction: a bill of sale showing sales and use tax was paid.

Send R-1331 to LDR by email at WatercraftSalesTax@la.gov, by fax to (225) 952-2502, by mail to P.O. Box 3278, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, or electronically through LaTAP. Also submit a completed copy to your local taxing authority, and include another copy in your LDWF registration packet.⁶

Fees

Registration fees are set by vessel class, and each registration lasts three years. Pay by check, cashier’s check, or money order when mailing.¹

Class A (15 feet, 11 inches or less): $36
Class 1 (16 feet to 25 feet, 11 inches): $57
Class 2 (26 feet to 39 feet, 11 inches): $78
Class 3 (40 feet or longer): $99

A new or transfer title is $26. Recording or releasing a lien is $10. If the boat is changing hands, add a $5 transfer fee on top of the registration and title fees.³

Where to Submit

You have two options:

In person: LDWF Headquarters, 2000 Quail Drive, Baton Rouge, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
By mail: LDWF, Attn: Boat Registration/Boat and Motor Title Application, P.O. Box 14796, Baton Rouge, LA 70898.

Include the completed application, your ownership documents, a copy of the completed R-1331, and a check or money order for the combined fees.¹

LDWF’s online portal at boat.wlf.la.gov currently handles renewals and duplicate certificate or decal orders. New-registration and transfer features are listed as coming soon, so a first-time registration still needs to go in by mail or in person.⁷

After You Submit

Processing runs about four to six weeks once LDWF has a complete packet. If nothing has arrived after 45 days, call 225-765-2898.¹ The usual causes of longer delays are a missing bill of sale, unsigned forms, or no tax certification.

You will receive a registration certificate valid for three years, plus two validation decals. Keep the certificate on the boat in a waterproof container that is easy to reach during an inspection.²

Paint or attach the assigned registration number on each side of the forward half of the hull in plain block characters at least three inches tall, in a color that contrasts with the hull. Separate the prefix, numerals, and suffix with a hyphen or a space equal to the width of a letter, for example LA-4002-CS or LA 4002 GS. Attach the decals within six inches of the registration number on each side of the bow.⁸

Homemade Boats or Missing HIN

If the boat has no manufacturer-assigned HIN, LDWF has to inspect it before it can be registered. Submit an Application for a Boat Inspection (on the LDWF licensing forms page) with your registration application and receipts for the building materials showing that sales taxes were paid. LDWF will send a letter with instructions to schedule the appointment. The inspection fee is $25, and LDWF assigns a HIN at the inspection. The boat must also be titled. The same process applies to any vessel with an incorrect or missing HIN, even if it is not homemade.¹

What This Form Does Not Cover

The boat trailer is a separate transaction handled by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, not LDWF. A trailer up to 1,500 pounds costs $25 to register and is valid for four years; heavier trailers fall into different tiers.⁹

Boater education is also separate from the registration application. Anyone born after January 1, 1984, must complete an LDWF-approved boating education course before operating a motorboat over 10 horsepower, unless accompanied on the vessel by someone 18 or older who has completed the course. Personal watercraft operators born after that date must complete the course and must be at least 16. U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains are exempt. Enforcement agents check for the certificate on the water, so having it in hand before your registration arrives means you are legal as soon as you launch.¹⁰

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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Registration and Boat/Motor Title Application
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Registration, License, and Permit Forms
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Louisiana Department of Revenue. Boat Registration Tax Payment Certification
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Louisiana Department of Revenue. Watercraft Sales Tax
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Registration Renewal
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Required Boating Equipment
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Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Registration, Title and Plate Fees
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Mandatory Boater Education