Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

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Facts about registration

Registering a Motorboat

 

You must have an Arkansas Certificate of Number (registration) and validation decals to operate a motorboat on Arkansas' public waters. The only exceptions are: 

  • Vessels that are not propelled by an engine or by sail        
  • Vessels properly registered in another state and using Arkansas waters for 90 or fewer consecutive days        
  • Vessels documented by the U.S. Coast Guard    

The Certificate of Number (pocket-sized registration card) must be on board and available for inspection by an enforcement officer whenever the motorboat is operated.

The registration number and validation decals must be displayed as follows: 

  • Number must be painted, decaled or otherwise affixed to the forward half of each side of the motorboat, placed to be clearly visible.        
  • Number must read from left to right on both sides of the motorboat.        
  • Number must be in at least 3-inch high, bold, BLOCK letters.        
  • Number's color must contrast with its background.        
  • Letters must be separated from the numbers by a space or hyphen: AR 3717 ZW, AR-3717-ZW, AR 123 ABC or AR-123-ABC.        
  • No other numbers or letters may be displayed on either side of the bow.        
  • Decals must be affixed on each side of the motorboat, toward the stern of the registration number, 3 inches from and in line with the number.    

If your motorboat requires registration, it is illegal to operate or allow others to operate your motorboat unless it is registered and numbered as described above.

NOTE: Arkansas Code (law) defines motorboat to be any vessel operated upon water that is propelled by sail or machinery, whether or not the machinery is the principal source of propulsion.

Other Facts About Registration

  • The owner of a motorboat that requires registration must apply for the registration within 20 working days of the date of purchase. The motorboat may be operated during this period if the owner has on board a dated proof of purchase.        
  • A Certificate of Number is valid for three years.        
  • If an outboard engine is purchased for a previously registered motorboat, the serial number of the engine must be provided to the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA).        
  • If ownership of a numbered motorboat changes, the new owner must apply to the DFA for the transfer of the registration within 10 working days of the change.        
  • If a numbered motorboat is abandoned or destroyed, the owner must notify the DFA within 15 days of the event and the certificate will be terminated.        
  • If you lose or destroy your registration card or decals, you must apply for a duplicate with a processing fee.        
  • Larger recreational vessels, owned by U.S. citizens, may (at the option of the owner) be documented by the U.S. Coast Guard. (Call the U.S. Coast Guard at 1-800-799-8362.)    

Note: Documentation through the U.S. Coast Guard does not relieve the owner of his or her responsibility to assess the motorboat for personal property taxes.