Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin boat registration
The Wisconsin DNR registers boats and titles the ones that qualify. Form 9400-193 says a registration is valid for three years and expires on March 31 of the third year. Wisconsin titles motorized boats and sailboats of 16 feet or more that are not Coast Guard-documented.
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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Print this before you file
Free PDF
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 DNR fee page lists the registration fee and, separately, a $1 renewal issuing fee. Form 9400-193 folds that dollar into the renewal column, which is why the form can show $23 where the fee page shows $22.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Motorized, under 16 feet | $22 |
| Motorized, 16 feet to less than 26 feet | $32 |
| Motorized, 26 feet to less than 40 feet | $60 |
| Motorized, 40 feet and over | $100 |
| Non-motorized sailboat | $17 |
| Registration transfer | $3.75 |
| Renewal issuing fee | $1 |
| Title, replacement title, or lien filing, each | $5 |
Wisconsin DNR lists motorized-boat registration at $22 under 16 feet, $32 from 16 to under 26, $60 from 26 to under 40, and $100 at 40 feet and over. A non-motorized sailboat is $17. Transferring a registration is $3.75. Renewals add a $1 issuing fee. A title, a replacement title, or a lien filing is $5 each. The registration runs three years and expires March 31 of the third year.
Transferring the boat
Use Form 9400-193 for a new owner. If the Wisconsin registration has not expired, the form starts with the $3.75 transfer. If it has expired, you also pay the renewal. A $5 title fee applies when the boat is getting a Wisconsin title.
The DNR does not handle trailers. Call the Wisconsin DOT number printed on the form, (608) 264-7447, for the trailer.
A boat that already has a Wisconsin title needs that original title, signed, as evidence of the transfer.
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 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Coast Guard documented boats
Documented boats are not titled by Wisconsin. The form still has registration fees for them and says the title fee does not apply. Read the Coast Guard block on 9400-193 before you file.
What this page does not pin down
- The Wisconsin sales-tax rate is not listed here. The form says sales tax applies and does not print the percent on the instruction page reviewed.
- Voluntary registration for some non-motorized boats is $11 on the fee page and is not the line most powered boats use.
Wisconsin registration questions
Where do I register a boat in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin DNR registers boats and titles the ones that qualify. Form 9400-193 says a registration is valid for three years and expires on March 31 of the third year. Wisconsin titles motorized boats and sailboats of 16 feet or more that are not Coast Guard-documented.
How much does Wisconsin boat registration cost?
Wisconsin DNR lists motorized-boat registration at $22 under 16 feet, $32 from 16 to under 26, $60 from 26 to under 40, and $100 at 40 feet and over. A non-motorized sailboat is $17. Transferring a registration is $3.75. Renewals add a $1 issuing fee. A title, a replacement title, or a lien filing is $5 each. The registration runs three years and expires March 31 of the third year.
How do I transfer a boat title or registration in Wisconsin?
New owners use Form 9400-193, including online at gowild.wi.gov. If the boat will be titled, or if it is Coast Guard-documented, the form requires evidence of the ownership transfer. A Wisconsin title has to be signed over to the buyer. The DNR does not register or title trailers. Trailers go through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Sales tax applies, and this page does not quote the rate.
Does Wisconsin title a documented boat?
No. Form 9400-193 says Wisconsin titles motorized boats and sailboats 16 feet or longer that are not documented with the Coast Guard. Documented boats still have registration fee lines on that form, and the title column is marked not applicable. The DNR fee page is the registration amount. The form is the title rule.
Official pages
Wisconsin DNR registration feesWisconsin DNR: register your boatForm 9400-193, registration and title (PDF)Go Wild online services
Check Wisconsin harbor conditionsToday's Go or Nope callAll ten state pagesBoat bill of sale
Reviewed October 24, 2026. Source date code 2026-10-24.