Missouri Boat Registration: Who Owns Mo2151 Et?

Missouri boat registration numbers begin with a “MO”, followed by four numbers and then two letters. The state registration number should not be confused with the 12-character Hull ID (HIN). All boats manufactured after 1972 are required to have a 12-digit hull identification number affixed to the vessel by the manufacturer. State-assigned hull numbers prefixed with the letters MOZ are available for homemade boats and those without factory designations. Hull number inspections are required in Missouri, as are sales taxes and titling of abandoned boats. The registration number assigned to a boat/vessel must be attached to each side of the forward half of the boat/vessel and be clearly legible.

Requirements for boat registration in Missouri

In Missouri, all motorized vessels, including Documented Vessels and those powered by electric trolling motors, are required to be registered. If your boat must be registered, it must also have a certificate of title, which serves as proof of ownership.

Non-motorized vessels that are exempt from registration include:

• Sailboats less than 12 feet long
• Vessels registered in another state and operated on Missouri waters for 60 consecutive days or less

To register your boat in Missouri, you must submit the following items at your local Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) motor vehicle office within 60 days of purchase:

• A completed Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form DOR-93)
• One of the following ownership documents: Manufacturer's Statement of Origin, Properly assigned MO boat title, or an Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form DOR-93) certified by a licensed Missouri boat dealer
• If applicable, a notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name from Title (Form DOR-4809)
• Documents regarding personal property taxes paid, such as a paid personal property tax receipt for your vessel or a statement of non-assessment from your local tax collector or assessor
• The applicable fees for titling and registering your boat, including the boat registration fee based on the length of your boat, the one-time title fee, and the processing fee

Upon registration, the Missouri Department of Revenue will assign your boat a certificate of title, registration number, decals, and registration card. The registration number must be displayed on each side of the bow, with the validation decals placed underneath.

It is important to note that Missouri has its own set of boating rules and regulations, and as a vessel operator, you are responsible for knowing and adhering to these laws to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, and others on the waterways.

Registration fees and their uses

Boat registration fees in Missouri are based on the length of the boat. The fees are used to fund projects such as waterway clean-up efforts, boat ramp maintenance, lake mapping, and boat safety education.

When registering a boat in Missouri, you will need to pay a one-time title fee and a registration fee that must be paid by June 30 every three years. The registration fee is based on the length of the boat, with different fees for different classes of vessels:

• Class A Vessels (less than 16 feet long)
• Class 1 Vessels (16 to less than 25 feet long)
• Class 2 Vessels (26 to less than 40 feet long)
• Class 3 Vessels (over 40 feet long)

In addition to the registration fee, there is also a processing fee. The processing fee is $6 for both boats and outboard motors.

For outboard motors, there is a separate titling and registration process. The owner must pay a $5 title fee and a $2 registration fee. The registration and title of an outboard motor are permanent as long as ownership does not change.

When registering a boat or outboard motor in Missouri, you must also submit a paid personal property tax receipt or a statement of non-assessment from the previous year. This is in addition to the registration and title fees.

If you are late in titling your boat or outboard motor, there is a title penalty of $10 on the 61st day after purchase, which increases by $10 every 30 days, up to a maximum of $30.

For documented vessels, there is a separate registration process. The owner must submit a completed and signed Application for Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration, along with proof of ownership and a paid personal property tax receipt. The fees for a documented vessel include "in-lieu" taxes based on the purchase date and price of the vessel, the boat registration fee based on length, a $7.50 certificate fee, and a $12 processing fee.

Displaying the registration number

Location

The registration number must be attached to each side of the forward half of the boat/vessel, specifically on the bow, above the waterline. The decal must be affixed on both sides of the vessel, directly underneath the main body of the registration number or, if there is insufficient room, as close as possible to the registration number.

Readability

The number must be clearly legible and read from left to right on both sides of the bow. The letters and numbers must be separated by a space or dash. A hyphen may be used within the two-inch space. For example: MO 1255 HP or MO-1255-HP.

Colour Contrast

The number's colour must sharply contrast with its background. Black or dark numbers should be used on light hulls, and white or light numbers on dark-coloured hulls.

Size and Style

The registration number must be in block characters of good proportions, with a minimum letter height of 3 inches.

Exclusivity

No other numbers may be painted, attached, or displayed on either side of the bow of the boat/vessel.

Exemptions from registration

Exemptions from Boat Registration and Titling in Missouri

It is important to know which boats are exempt from registration in Missouri so that you do not have to unnecessarily go through this procedure. Exempt vessels include the following:

• Boats of any length propelled solely by oars or paddles.
• Sailboats and sailboards under 12 feet in length.
• Ship lifeboats used only for lifesaving purposes.
• Vessels owned by the U.S. government.
• Vessels owned by foreign governments being used in Missouri for 60 consecutive days or less.
• Boats with valid out-of-state registrations that are being used or stored in Missouri for 60 consecutive days or less.
• Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard.

All other boats and vessels must be registered and titled in the state of Missouri. This includes all motorized boats or vessels and any sailboats longer than 12 feet.

Upon purchase of a newly acquired boat, vessel, or outboard motor, you may purchase a temporary permit to operate it on Missouri's waterways. If the unit is not a documented vessel, a temporary permit will be issued for a period of up to 30 days and must expire before the 60th day from the purchase date. If the unit is a documented vessel, a temporary permit will be issued for a period of up to 60 days from the temporary permit issuance date.

To obtain a temporary permit, you must bring the following items to any Missouri license office:

• One of the following ownership documents: Certificate of Title, Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO), Bill of Sale (Form 1957), Notice of Sale (Form 5049), or a documented vessel Abstract of Title (CG-1332).
• A Special Permits Application (Form 1275).

Title and registration certificates

The Missouri Department of Revenue requires all mechanically propelled vessels to be titled and registered. This includes all motorized boats or vessels and any sailboats longer than 12 feet. The registration number assigned to a boat or vessel must be displayed on each side of the forward half of the boat or vessel with clear legibility. The registration number should be in block characters of good proportions, not less than 3 inches in height. The letters, prefix, and suffix should be separated from the numbers by 2-inch spaces.

To obtain a title and registration certificate for a boat or vessel in Missouri, the owner must submit the following items at any Missouri license office:

• The Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO), properly assigned Certificate of Title (see instructions), descriptive bill of sale, or an Application for Missouri Watercraft or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93) certified by a licensed Missouri boat dealer
• A signed Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93)
• A paid personal property tax receipt listing the boat or vessel, or a statement of non-assessment from the county (or city of St. Louis) Collector or Assessor for the previous year
• If the boat/vessel is not listed on the tax receipt, a corrected tax receipt (with the county seal) or a letter from the county Collector (on letterhead or containing the county seal) reflecting payment of taxes
• A notarized lien release, if applicable

For a boat or vessel, you will pay:

• State sales tax of 4.225% plus local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance (if any)
• The $7.50 boat or vessel title fee
• The boat or vessel registration (decal) fee, based on the length of the boat or vessel
• The appropriate processing fee(s)

For an outboard motor, you will pay:

• State sales tax of 4.225% plus local sales tax on the purchase price, less trade-in allowance (if any)
• The $5 outboard motor title fee
• The outboard motor registration fee of $2
• The appropriate processing fee(s)

Upon completion of the above steps, you will receive a certificate of title, registration number, decals, and registration card for your boat or vessel.

Temporary Permits

Upon purchasing a new boat, vessel, or outboard motor, you may purchase a temporary permit to operate it on Missouri's waterways. To obtain a temporary permit, you must bring the following items to any Missouri license office:

• One of the following ownership documents: The Certificate of Title, Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO), a Bill of Sale (Form 1957), a Notice of Sale (Form 5049), an Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form 93) signed by the dealer, a documented vessel Abstract of Title (CG-1332), or an assigned Documented Vessel Certificate of Registration (Form 4086)
• A Special Permits Application (Form 1275)

The temporary permit must be carried in the boat or vessel while it is in operation. Temporary permits are non-renewable and are no longer valid once an application for title and registration has been made.

Renewal Requirements

A boat, vessel, or documented vessel registration must be renewed every three years. The registration expires on June 30th of the final registration year. To renew a boat, vessel, or documented vessel registration, the owner must submit the following items at any Missouri license office, by mail, or by phone:

• A boat, vessel, or documented vessel registration renewal notice. If you did not receive this notice, you may use the Application for Watercraft/Outboard Motor Registration and Replacement Decal (Form 2686)
• A paid personal property tax receipt listing the boat or vessel, or a statement of non-assessment from the county (or city of St. Louis) Collector or Assessor for the previous year
• If the boat or vessel is not listed on the tax receipt, a corrected tax receipt (with the county seal) or a letter from the county Collector (on letterhead or containing the county seal) reflecting payment of taxes

For a boat or vessel renewal, you will pay:

• The boat or vessel registration (decal) fee, based on the length of the boat or vessel
• The $6 processing fee

Duplicate Title and Registration

If your vessel's title or registration is lost or destroyed, you can request a duplicate from the Missouri Department of Revenue. To request a replacement boat title, you must submit the following items in person at your local motor vehicle licensing office:

• A completed and notarized Application for Missouri Boat/Vessel or Outboard Motor Title and Registration (Form DOR-93)
• If applicable, a notarized Notice of Lien, Lien Release, or Authorization to Add/Remove Name from Title (Form DOR-4809)
• The appropriate duplicate title fees

To receive a duplicate boat registration or decal, you must submit the following items by mail to the Motor Vehicle Bureau in Jefferson City, MO:

• A completed and notarized Application for Watercraft/Outboard Motor Registration and Replacement Decal (Form 2686)
• The boat's most recent registration receipt
• Payment for the necessary registration replacement fees

Exemptions

The following vessels are exempt from the requirement to be titled and registered in the state of Missouri:

• Boats (any length) propelled by oars or paddles only
• Sailboats or sailboards less than 12 feet in length
• A ship's lifeboat used solely for lifesaving purposes
• Watercraft registered out-of-state being stored or used in Missouri for less than 60 consecutive days
• Vessels owned by foreign governments being used in Missouri for less than 60 consecutive days
• U.S. government-owned vessels

Frequently asked questions