To register a boat in Idaho, take proof of ownership, the vessel’s hull identification number, and your ID to a county assessor’s office or a certified vendor, or apply through the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) online portal at getoutside.idaho.gov/boats. The fee starts at $30 for boats 12 feet and under, with $2 added for each additional foot, plus a $1.50 vendor processing charge. Registration runs through December 31 of the year issued, and the fee includes the state’s invasive species sticker.
Which Boats Have to Be Registered
Every motorized vessel and every sailboat that primarily operates in Idaho needs a valid certificate of number. That covers gasoline and electric motorboats, personal watercraft such as jet skis, and sailboats. If it has a motor or a sail, it needs numbers.
Several types of watercraft are exempt:
- Human-powered craft without motors, including canoes, kayaks, rafts, and float tubes.
- Sailboards.
- Boats currently registered in another state, which may operate in Idaho for up to 60 consecutive days.
- Vessels carrying a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation.
When You Also Need a Title
Registration and titling are handled by two different agencies. IDPR issues registrations. The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) issues titles, and you take care of that at the same county assessor’s office where you register. Not every registered boat needs a title, but vessels acquired after December 31, 1999, must be titled if they fall into any of these groups:1Idaho Transportation Department. Titling Vessels in Idaho
- Model year 2000 or newer with a permanently attached propulsion system, including inboards, sterndrives, sailboats with built-in motors, and personal watercraft.
- Model year 2000 or newer and over 12 feet long, regardless of propulsion type, which sweeps in most outboard-powered boats.
- Any boat being financed, no matter its age or power source.
Older vessels can be titled voluntarily but aren’t required to be unless financing is involved.
What to Gather Before You Apply
Have the following ready:
- The hull identification number (HIN), a 12-character alphanumeric code typically stamped or plated on the transom. Idaho requires two identical HINs on every vessel.2Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 67-7004 – Hull Identification Number
- Vessel details: make, model, year, overall length, and propulsion type.
- Your name, physical and mailing addresses, and a valid driver’s license or government-issued photo ID.
- Proof of ownership. For a new boat that’s the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. For a used boat it’s a bill of sale.
If you built the boat yourself, it won’t have a factory HIN. IDPR can assign one on request.3Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. HIN Assignment Instructions for IDZ HINs
Bill of Sale Details
Idaho’s official bill of sale (form ITD 3738) needs the HIN or VIN, the year, make, model, and length of the vessel, the true selling price, the sale date, and the full legal names and addresses of both buyer and seller. Lienholder information goes on the form if the boat is financed. Listing a false selling price, name, or address is a felony under Idaho law.4Idaho Transportation Department. Bill of Sale – ITD 3738
What It Costs
Fees are based on length and cover one calendar year, expiring December 31 no matter when you first register. A boat 12 feet or under is $30. Each foot above 12 adds $2. A $1.50 vendor processing fee is charged on top of the registration amount. The Idaho Invasive Species Fund sticker is included in the registration fee.5Idaho Transportation Department. Registration Fact Sheet – Boats
A few reference points:
- 12 feet and under: $30
- 14 feet: $34
- 16 feet: $38
- 18 feet: $42
- 20 feet: $46
Titling fees, if your boat needs a title, are separate and are collected by ITD at the assessor’s office.
Sales and Use Tax
Idaho charges 6% sales tax on boat purchases. An Idaho dealer collects it at the sale. If you buy from a private party or an out-of-state seller who didn’t collect Idaho tax, you owe 6% use tax at the same rate.6Idaho State Tax Commission. Sales and Use Taxes – Basics Guide If you already paid sales or use tax to another state on the same boat, Idaho gives credit for that amount. Pay at 6% or higher elsewhere and you owe nothing more; pay less and you owe the difference. An out-of-state registration or title serves as proof of tax paid.7Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 63-3621 – Imposition and Rate of Use Tax
How to Submit
You have three ways to file:
- Online through the IDPR portal at getoutside.idaho.gov/boats. The system handles first-time registrations and renewals at any hour, and the email confirmation serves as temporary proof of registration valid for 60 days, so you can launch right away.
- In person at a county assessor’s office or a certified retail vendor with your forms, documents, and payment.
- By mail, sending the completed application, supporting documents, and payment to IDPR.
The certificate and validation decals arrive by mail, usually within about two weeks.8Department of Parks and Recreation. Registration and Permits
Displaying Numbers and Stickers
Your assigned number must be painted on or permanently attached to each side of the bow. Idaho numbers start with “ID” followed by numerals and capital letters. The characters must be plain vertical block letters at least three inches tall, in a color that contrasts with the hull, separated by hyphens or spaces the width of a letter between the letter and number groups, and read left to right. Place them as high above the waterline as practical while keeping them visible.9Idaho State Legislature. Idaho Code 67-7008 – Certificate of Number, Expiration, Fees
Validation stickers go on each side of the bow within six inches of the registration number, in line with it. They’re roughly three inches square and color-coded by expiration year. Remove old stickers when a new set arrives.
Invasive Species Inspection Before You Launch
The sticker included with your registration is only part of the invasive species rules. Every person passing a watercraft inspection station with any watercraft or water-related equipment must stop, and that includes not just boats but kayaks, paddleboards, and gear like waders, decoys, and fishing tackle. Before transporting a boat overland within Idaho, drain plugs must be pulled and every compartment drained, including ballast tanks, bilges, live wells, and motors, with plugs left open during transport.10Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Watercraft Inspections – Invasive Species of Idaho
A few situations trigger extra steps. Any boat arriving from out of state must be inspected and decontaminated at an inspection station before it launches in Idaho. Boats that have been in known mussel-infested waters within the last 30 days require inspection and decontamination with proof. A stretch of the Snake River between Broken Bridge (Yingst Grade) and Pillar Falls requires decontamination both before launching and after leaving. Skipping a station or launching without the sticker can result in fines.
Renewing Each Year
Registrations expire December 31 every year, whatever date they were first issued. IDPR mails renewal notices, but the deadline applies whether or not the notice reaches you. The online portal is the fastest route, no PIN needed, and multiple vessels can be renewed in one transaction. If the system can’t find your prior registration, call the IDPR help desk at 1-888-922-6743. You can also renew in person at retail vendors and county motor vehicle offices, or by mail. Contact IDPR for replacements if a certificate or sticker is lost or destroyed.8Department of Parks and Recreation. Registration and Permits
Buying or Selling a Boat
A seller has to file a release of liability statement within five days of delivering the boat to the buyer. The buyer must apply for a new title within 30 days to avoid a late penalty.4Idaho Transportation Department. Bill of Sale – ITD 3738 As the buyer, bring the signed bill of sale, the title if the boat has one, your ID, and payment to a county assessor’s office. The assessor handles the ITD title transfer and the IDPR registration in the same visit. Update your address with the agencies if it changes, and notify them if the boat is destroyed, stolen, or abandoned so renewal notices and any recalls reach you.