How to Register a Boat With a Trolling Motor in Missouri

To register a boat with a trolling motor in Missouri, file Form 93 with the Missouri Department of Revenue within 60 days of buying the boat, bring proof of ownership and a paid personal property tax receipt, and pay the titling fee, registration fee, and 4.225% state sales tax on the purchase price. Missouri treats any motorized vessel the same for registration, so an electric trolling motor triggers the requirement just like a gas outboard would.¹

Does the Trolling Motor Itself Need To Be Registered

No. Missouri generally requires outboard motors to be titled and registered separately from the hull, but trolling motors and electric outboards are specifically exempt. You file one set of paperwork for the boat, and the motor comes along for the ride.¹

The hull itself still needs a title and registration. Private ponds and private lakes are not listed as exemptions, so the requirement applies even if you never plan to launch on public water.¹

What It Costs

Missouri charges a titling fee of $7.50 plus a $9 processing fee. Registration fees scale with the length of the vessel, and each also carries a $9 processing fee:²

Under 16 feet: $25
16 feet to under 26 feet: $55
26 feet to under 40 feet: $100
40 feet and over: $150

Most trolling-motor boats fall in the under-16-foot tier, which puts total fees around $50.50. On top of that, you owe 4.225% Missouri state sales tax on the purchase price plus any applicable local tax.²

What To Bring to the License Office

Gather these before you go:

Proof of ownership. For a new boat, the Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin. For a used boat, a properly assigned Missouri Certificate of Title, or a descriptive bill of sale if the vessel was rebuilt or came from a state that doesn’t title watercraft.
A paid personal property tax receipt from your county for the previous year, or a statement of non-assessment from your county collector or assessor (or the City of St. Louis) if you weren’t assessed.¹
Payment for sales tax on the purchase price.
The Hull Identification Number. Vessels with a model year of 1975 or newer must have a 12-character HIN. If yours is missing or incomplete, the Department of Revenue will issue a replacement plate.³
Your driver’s license number (or Federal Employer Identification Number) and date of birth for the primary owner.

The application itself is Form 93, “Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration.” Download it from the Department of Revenue site or pick one up at any license office.⁴

Where To File

Submit the signed Form 93, supporting documents, and payment either in person at any Missouri license office or by mail to the Department of Revenue. Mail processing takes several weeks. If you want to be on the water sooner, go in person. Once processed, you’ll receive a Certificate of Registration and two validation decals. Keep the certificate on board whenever the boat is in use.

Displaying the Registration Number

Your number takes the format MO 1234 AB: two letters, four digits, two letters. Place it on each side of the forward half of the boat in block characters at least three inches tall, using dark characters on a light hull or light characters on a dark hull so they read clearly. The two validation decals go on both sides of the bow near the number.⁵

The Boater Education Card You Also Need

Registration only covers the boat. If you were born after January 1, 1984, Missouri requires you to carry a boating safety identification card whenever you operate any motorized vessel on the lakes of the state. A trolling motor counts.⁶

You earn the card by completing an approved boating safety course or passing an equivalency exam administered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Water Patrol Division. It’s valid for life. Holders of a valid U.S. Coast Guard master’s, mate’s, or operator’s license are exempt.⁶

The education requirement applies on lakes, not on rivers or streams. Separately, the minimum age to operate any motorized vessel in Missouri is 14 unless a supervising adult is on board, and a child under 14 with adult supervision still needs the identification card to operate on a lake.⁷

What Happens if You’re Late

Miss the 60-day window to apply for a title after purchase or after bringing a vessel into Missouri, and the state adds a $10 delinquency penalty for every 30 days you’re late, up to $30.⁸

The Director of Revenue also has authority to cancel the registration of every watercraft in your name if you don’t comply with titling requirements, and operating an unregistered motorized vessel can draw a fine from the Water Patrol.

Renewing Later

Missouri boat registrations run three years and expire on June 30 of the year printed on the decal. The Department of Revenue mails a renewal notice about 30 days ahead. To renew, send in the notice with your paid personal property tax receipt or non-assessment statement for the previous year. If no notice arrives, use Form 2686, “Application for Watercraft/Outboard Motor Registration and Replacement Decal.” Renewals can be done in person, by mail, or by phone. Notify the Department of Revenue within 15 days of any name or address change.¹

1
Missouri Department of Revenue. Boat/Vessel/Outboard Motor Titling and Registration
2
Missouri Department of Revenue. Motor Vehicle Fees
3
Missouri Department of Revenue. Section 8 Marine/Watercraft
4
Missouri Department of Revenue. Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration
5
Missouri Department of Revenue. Boat/Vessel Titling and Registration – Additional Information
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Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 306.127 – Boating Safety Identification Card Required
7
Missouri State Highway Patrol. Boater Education Law FAQ
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Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Missouri Code 306.015 – Vessels, Registration, Procedure, Fee