How to Fill Out the New Hampshire Boat Registration Form (RDMV 612)

To register a boat in New Hampshire, you fill out the New Hampshire boat registration form RDMV 612, attach a bill of sale and proof of identity, and submit the packet with payment to an authorized registration agent, the Concord DMV drop box, or by mail. The form is a single page, available as a PDF from the DMV website or at any authorized agent.1NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registration Application (RDMV 612) New Hampshire does not issue boat titles, so the registration itself is your proof of ownership.2NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registrations

What to Gather Before You Start

Missing paperwork is the most common reason a registration gets kicked back. Pull everything together first.

Bill of sale. For a first-time registration, the bill of sale must show the date of sale, a description of the boat, and the signatures and addresses of both buyer and seller. A document signed by only one party will be rejected. A signed dealer invoice usually satisfies this requirement.3NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Drop Box Services

Previous out-of-state registration, if any. If the boat was already registered elsewhere, bring the most recent certificate. Because New Hampshire does not title boats, the bill of sale plus prior registration is what establishes your chain of ownership.2NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registrations

Photo ID. A valid driver’s license or state-issued non-driver ID for each listed owner.

Homemade boat extras. If you built the vessel yourself and it has no manufacturer-assigned Hull Identification Number, you also need a completed Verification of Vessel Identification form (RDMV 690) signed by a New Hampshire law enforcement officer, receipts for the materials you bought, and floor plans or blueprints.2NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registrations

Filling Out the Boat Information Section

The top of the RDMV 612 asks for the vessel’s physical and mechanical details.1NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registration Application (RDMV 612)

  • Hull Identification Number (HIN). The 12-character serial number stamped into the transom by the manufacturer. Check every character; this is the single most important identifier on the form.
  • Make, model year, and style. The manufacturer name and the year the boat was built.
  • Length. Measure in feet and inches from the tip of the bow to the stern, excluding outboard motors and swim platforms. The length you enter here determines your registration fee.
  • Horsepower, fuel, and propulsion. Total engine horsepower; fuel type (gasoline, diesel, or electric); and propulsion method (outboard, inboard, sterndrive, or jet).
  • Hull material and color. Fiberglass, aluminum, wood, inflatable, or other, plus the primary hull color.
  • Sink, shower, toilet. Check any that are installed. The state uses this for waste-discharge tracking.
  • Bow number and previous bow number. Leave the bow number blank for a first-time New Hampshire registration; the DMV assigns one. If you are re-registering a boat that already carried a New Hampshire number, enter it here.

Filling Out the Owner Information Section

The lower half of the form has space for up to three owners. For each one, enter:1NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registration Application (RDMV 612)

  • Full legal name and date of birth.
  • Driver’s license number, state-issued ID number, or a Federal Employer Identification Number if the owner is a business.
  • Both mailing address and permanent legal address, even when they are identical.
  • Signature and date. Every listed owner has to sign.

What It Will Cost

The total has two parts: a state registration fee tied to your boat’s length, and a boat fee decal.

Under RSA 270-E:5, the registration fee runs:4New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 270-E:5 – Registration Fees

  • Up to 16 feet: $24
  • 16.1 to 21 feet: $34
  • 21.1 to 30 feet: $52
  • 30.1 to 45 feet: $72
  • 45.1 feet and over: $92

The boat’s age does not affect the fee; only length does.

On top of that, every owner pays for a boat fee decal under RSA 270-E:5-a. The decal cost bundles several separate charges that fund lake restoration, search and rescue, public boat access, and navigation safety.5New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 270-E:5-a – Boat Fee Decal Required Boats used on tidal or coastal waters pay an extra $2 per decal for harbor dredging and pier maintenance. Registering through a town clerk instead of the Concord DMV adds a $5 local processing fee.

Because the total depends on length, water type, and where you file, the DMV recommends calling Boat Registrations at (603) 227-4030 for an exact quote before you pay.2NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Boat Registrations

Where to Submit the Form

You have three options.6New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. New Boat Registration

In Person

Take the completed form and your documents to the Concord DMV or any authorized agent, which includes town clerks, city clerks, marinas, and state-certified retail boat stores. This is the fastest route; you typically walk out the same day with your registration certificate and decals.

Drop Box at Concord DMV

Put the completed RDMV 612, bill of sale, a photocopy of your driver’s license, and a phone number where you can be reached for credit card payment into an envelope and drop it in the box. Do not include cash or a written credit card number; a clerk will call you for payment when they process the packet. Drop box submissions take 7 to 10 business days, and anything deposited after 4:15 p.m. is treated as received the next business day.3NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Drop Box Services

By Mail

Send the same packet you would bring in person to:6New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. New Boat Registration

NH Dept. of Safety, DMV – Boat Registrations
23 Hazen Drive
Concord, NH 03305

Your registration certificate and decals come back by mail once processed.

After You’re Approved: Numbers and Decals

Once your application clears, you receive a registration certificate, a pair of square registration decals, and a pair of round boat fee decals. Beginning with the 2025 season, both sets of decals must appear on each side of the bow.7New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles. Boaters Required To Display New Decal Effective Jan 1, 2025

The assigned registration number itself must be painted on or permanently attached to both sides of the bow and must:

  • Use block letters at least three inches tall.
  • Contrast sharply with the hull color.
  • Read from left to right on both sides.
  • Separate the letter and number groups with a space or hyphen, for example NH 1118 ZW or NH-1118-ZW.

Place the square registration decal in line with and to the right of the number, then place the round boat fee decal to the right of that. Keep the registration certificate aboard the boat whenever it is in use; marine patrol can ask to see it during any stop.

When You Do Not Need to File This Form

Not every vessel needs an RDMV 612. Under RSA 270-E:4, rowboats, canoes, and sailboats under 12 feet powered only by oars, paddles, or sail are exempt, as are out-of-state boats visiting New Hampshire waters for 30 consecutive days or fewer and vessels owned by the federal government.8New Hampshire General Court. New Hampshire Code 270-E:4 – Exemptions From Registration and Boat Fee Decal Any boat with an inboard or outboard motor must register regardless of length, even if the motor is not currently in use.