Louisiana boat registration is handled by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Every motorized boat, houseboat, and sailboat 12 feet or longer used on state waters must be registered, and the registration lasts three years. Fees run from $36 to $99 depending on the length of the vessel.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat
Which Boats Have to Be Registered
Any boat with mechanical propulsion operated on Louisiana waters must be registered, regardless of size. Sailboats 12 feet or longer must be registered even without a motor. Sailboats under 12 feet with no mechanical propulsion are not required to register, and non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards are outside the requirement unless a motor is attached.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs
How to Apply
Registration starts with the Boat Registration/Boat and Motor Title Application submitted to LDWF along with documents proving ownership. What you need for proof depends on how you acquired the vessel:1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat
- A new boat from a dealer: the original Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin.
- A used boat previously registered in another state: the out-of-state title and registration, plus a bill of sale.
- A used boat with an incomplete chain of ownership: a court order recognizing ownership, or an affidavit on the form LDWF provides. This route can slow the process significantly.
You can submit the application online, by mail, or in person at an LDWF office. Once approved, LDWF issues a registration card, and you must keep it on the boat whenever it is in use.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs
When You Also Need a Title
Not every boat needs a title, but Louisiana requires one if the vessel is financed, currently titled in another state, homemade, or carrying an incorrect hull identification number.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat The title is a separate legal document proving ownership; the registration authorizes use on public waters. If you need both, the applications can be filed together.
Sales Tax Certification
LDWF will not register a boat until state and local sales taxes have been verified as paid. The Louisiana Department of Revenue administers watercraft sales tax, and a tax payment certification is part of the registration packet.3Louisiana Department of Revenue. Watercraft Sales Tax Private sales between individuals currently do not trigger state sales tax, while dealer purchases are taxed at the prevailing rate. Either way, the certification form must be completed before LDWF will process the registration.
Registration Fees
Fees are set by hull length and cover the full three-year period:1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat
- Class A, 15 feet 11 inches or less: $36
- Class I, 16 feet to 25 feet 11 inches: $57
- Class II, 26 feet to 39 feet 11 inches: $78
- Class III, 40 feet or longer: $99
When a boat changes hands, the new owner pays a $5 transfer fee on top of the standard registration fee.4Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.20 – Identification Number
Displaying the Registration Number and Decals
Once registered, the assigned number goes on each side of the forward half of the hull. Letters and numbers must be in plain block design, at least three inches tall, and in a color that contrasts with the hull. A space or hyphen separates the state prefix, numerals, and suffix, for example LA 4002 GS or LA-4002-CS.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs The decals LDWF sends must be attached within six inches of the registration number on each side of the bow, and no other number may appear on the bow.4Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.20 – Identification Number
Renewing Every Three Years
Registrations are valid for three years from the date of issue. LDWF mails a renewal notice before expiration, and you have 60 days after the expiration date to renew. Miss that 60-day window and the registration is canceled rather than merely lapsed, meaning you start the process over from the beginning.2Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Boat Title and Registration FAQs
Renewals can be completed online through the LDWF portal, by mail, or in person. Update any change of address at the same time. If you know your registration is close to expiring, the online system lets you check and renew without waiting for the paper notice.
Selling or Buying a Registered Boat
When you sell a Louisiana-registered boat, you must notify LDWF within 15 days of the sale. The sale terminates the existing registration.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat The buyer then files a new registration application, pays the $5 transfer fee plus the regular registration fee, and receives a new certificate of number and decal valid for three years.4Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.20 – Identification Number
Both parties should keep copies of the bill of sale. If the vessel has a title, the seller assigns it to the buyer. The 15-day notification is easy to overlook, and skipping it can leave a seller exposed if the new owner runs into trouble on the water before re-registering.
Exemptions From Registration
Louisiana law exempts several categories of vessels:5Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.22 – Exemption From Numbering Provisions
- Boats with valid registration from another state, for up to 90 consecutive days on Louisiana waters.
- Motorboats from countries other than the United States, temporarily using state waters.
- Public vessels of the United States, any state, or a local government subdivision.
- Ship’s lifeboats.
- Sailboats under 12 feet without mechanical propulsion.
- Sailboards designed for one person and operated while standing.
Visitors should keep the home-state registration card on board. After 90 consecutive days on Louisiana waters, the boat must be registered with LDWF.
Homemade Boats
A homemade vessel lacks a manufacturer’s hull identification number, so it must be inspected and titled before LDWF will register it. Submit an Application for a Boat Inspection with the registration application, and LDWF will schedule the inspection appointment by mail.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat Bring receipts for the building materials showing that sales tax was paid. The inspection costs $25 on top of the standard registration and titling fees. After inspection, LDWF assigns a hull identification number and completes the registration.
Penalties for Operating Without Registration
Operating an unregistered vessel, failing to display the registration number, or violating most other provisions of the boat registration law is a class one wildlife violation.6Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.31 – Penalties If you are stopped without your registration card on board, you have 10 days to show proof of a valid registration to the issuing authority, which voids the citation. That grace period only helps if a valid registration actually exists; it does nothing if the boat was never registered.
Tampering with a hull identification number is treated more seriously, as a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in jail.6Justia. Louisiana Code 34-851.31 – Penalties
Boat Trailers Are Registered Separately
A boat trailer is registered through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), not LDWF. To make combined trips easier, LDWF hosts an OMV representative at its Baton Rouge headquarters at 2000 Quail Drive on Monday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to noon, so both the boat and trailer can be handled in one visit.1Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Title or Register Your Boat Outside the Baton Rouge area, plan on a separate stop at a local OMV office for the trailer.