Where can I register a boat?
The Fish & Wildlife Office in Augusta is the central office for boat registrations and registration records. Many Maine municipal tax collectors or town clerks are Recreational Vehicle Agents for the Fish & Wildlife Department. If you are registering a watercraft at the Augusta Office or in a town other than your town of legal residence, you must first pay your excise tax in your town of residence. Be sure you have a receipt that shows the annual excise tax has been paid on your watercraft or your watercraft cannot be registered at another location.
All motorboats of any size, including airmobiles and personal watercraft, must be registered in Maine to be used on the waters of this State, except the following:
- Watercraft required to have a valid marine document as a watercraft of the United States. Vessels over 5 net ton used for commercial fishing must be documented. Call the U.S. Coast Guard in Boston, Massachusetts at (617) 223-3030 for further information;
- Watercraft with valid registration from another state, provided the watercraft registration number is displayed on the motorboat and the motorboat will not be in Maine over 60 consecutive days after the state of principal use has been changed;
- Military or public watercraft, except recreational type watercraft of the United States;
- A motorboat owned by the United States, a state, or subdivision thereof, which is used for governmental purposes and clearly identifiable as such;
- A ship's lifeboat;
- Motorboats from another country which are not within Maine over 60 consecutive days; and
- Motorboats used exclusively for racing purposes and displaying a valid boat number issued by a recognized racing association.
Fees (*Fee includes $1.00 agent fee.)
0-10 Horsepower Motor - $26.00* with lake and river protection sticker
0-10 Horsepower Motor - $16.00* without lake and river protection sticker
11-50 Horsepower Motor - $31.00* with lake and river protection sticker
11-50 Horsepower Motor - $21.00* without lake and river protection sticker
51-115 Horsepower Motor - $37.00* with lake and river protection sticker
51-115 Horsepower Motor - $27.00* without lake and river protection sticker
Over 116 Horsepower Motor - $45.00* with lake and river protection sticker
Over 116 Horsepower Motor - $35.00* without lake and river protection sticker
Personal Watercraft - $45.00* with lake and river protection sticker
Personal Watercraft - $35.00* without lake and river protection sticker
Duplicate Boat Registration - $1.00 agent fee
Duplicate Boat Registration & Sticker - $2.00
Boat Temporary Transfer - $4.00
Agents may charge a fee of $1.00 for renewals and duplicates, and $2.00 for new registrations, rollovers, or transfers.
Boat excise tax must be paid by a resident to the tax collector of their town before registration. A nonresident, prior to registering a motorboat which is located in Maine more than 75 days during a calendar year, must pay an excise tax to the Maine town where the boat is principally moored, docked or located. If the boat is exempt from tax, a tax exemption form must be completed by the owner and submitted with registration application and registration fee.
Proof of payment of sales tax is required for new registrations (resident and nonresident).
Registrations may be obtained from licensing agents or by mail. For applications and agent information please call (207) 287-8000.
Watercraft registrations are issued for a specific calendar year and are valid through December 31st of the year issued.