Michigan Secretary of State
Michigan boat registration
The Michigan Secretary of State registers watercraft and titles the ones that need a title. A title is required at 20 feet or longer, and for any length if the boat has a permanently affixed engine. Most registrations run for three years and expire on March 31 of the third year.
Figures checked October 24, 2026. This is a summary of the official pages linked below, not legal advice and not a bill.
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Registration prep checklist
Proof of ownership, ID, hull ID, and a blank line for the fee on the official chart. This page does not print a dollar amount for you.
Download the registration checklistFree PDF
Boat transfer checklist
Bill of sale, title versus registration versus CG-1340, the handoff, and a reminder to check your state before you file.
Download the transfer checklistSamples only. State rules vary. This is not legal advice, and it is not the form your agency may require.
Fees from the official chart
The fee table on the Secretary of State page is an original fee and a three-year renewal. Shorter amounts apply if you are only transferring and adding one or two years. Those columns are on the same page and are not copied here.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Motorboat under 12 feet | $14 |
| 12 feet to less than 16 feet | $17 |
| 16 feet to less than 21 feet | $42 |
| 21 feet to less than 28 feet | $115 |
| 28 feet to less than 35 feet | $168 |
| 35 feet to less than 42 feet | $244 |
| 42 feet to less than 50 feet | $280 |
| 50 feet and over | $448 |
| Pontoon, any length | $23 |
| Title, or a duplicate title | $5 |
| Instant title, in addition to the title fee | $5 |
Michigan registration fees are based mostly on length and cover three years. A motorboat under 12 feet is $14. From 16 to under 21 feet it is $42. From 21 to under 28 feet it is $115. A pontoon is $23 at any length. A title is $5, plus another $5 if you want it the same day. Sales tax is 6 percent unless you show it was already paid.
Transferring the boat
A bill of sale the office will accept includes the year and make, the hull identification number, the buyer's name and address, and the seller's name and address. If the boat has to be titled, the signed title is the ownership paper.
Budget 6 percent sales tax unless you already have proof it was paid. Dealers file the title and registration and collect the tax. The three-year decal expires March 31 of the third year.
The national boat bill of sale and title transfer guide explains the difference between a bill of sale, a title, and a registration. File with Michigan Secretary of State.
Coast Guard documented boats
The Secretary of State page has a U.S. Coast Guard designation section, and a Coast Guard certificate is one of the ownership documents the office lists. This summary does not say that documentation cancels Michigan registration. Read that section on the SOS page.
What this page does not pin down
- The one-year and two-year transfer columns are on the SOS chart and are not copied here.
- This page does not state a rule for Coast Guard-documented boats beyond pointing at the SOS page.
Michigan registration questions
Where do I register a boat in Michigan?
The Michigan Secretary of State registers watercraft and titles the ones that need a title. A title is required at 20 feet or longer, and for any length if the boat has a permanently affixed engine. Most registrations run for three years and expire on March 31 of the third year.
How much does Michigan boat registration cost?
Michigan registration fees are based mostly on length and cover three years. A motorboat under 12 feet is $14. From 16 to under 21 feet it is $42. From 21 to under 28 feet it is $115. A pontoon is $23 at any length. A title is $5, plus another $5 if you want it the same day. Sales tax is 6 percent unless you show it was already paid.
How do I transfer a boat title or registration in Michigan?
To register, the Secretary of State wants your license or ID and proof of ownership. That proof can be the previous registration signed by the seller, a bill of sale with the year, make, hull identification number, and both parties' names and addresses, a manufacturer's certificate of origin, the title if one is required, or a Coast Guard certificate of documentation. Selling a titled boat means signing the title. Both people can go to an office together if the title is lost.
Which Michigan boats need a title?
The Secretary of State requires a title for watercraft 20 feet or longer, and for a boat of any length with a permanently affixed inboard engine. The title fee is $5. Registration is separate and is still required for most other watercraft. Paddled boats 16 feet or shorter, and nonmotorized canoes and kayaks that are not rented out, are among the registration exemptions on that page.
Official pages
Michigan SOS: watercraft registration and titleMCL 324.80124, registration feesMCL 324.80311, title fee
Check Michigan harbor conditionsToday's Go or Nope callAll ten state pagesBoat bill of sale
Reviewed October 24, 2026. Source date code 2026-10-24.