How to Register a Vessel

Virginia’s State Law specifies that all watercraft propelled by a motor or sailboats with a length of 18 feet or longer must comply with the jurisdictional requirements of retaining active in-state registration and title to utilize the vessel upon Virginia waterways legally. Valid exceptions to this ordinance are:

• Vessels used for less than 90 successive days have current active registration and/or title in an alternate state or country.
• Vessels to operate solely on private waterways.

You will have the option to mail appear at your nearest Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries location or area Virginia DMV facility with the following presented documents:

•  A finalized Virginia Application for Watercraft Certificate of Title and Certificate of Number (BRT-001).
• Sufficient evidence that you own the watercraft:
  • A manufacturer’s certificate of origin for a newly purchased vessel.
  • A reassigned title for used vessels purchased from a private party with a title.
  • An executed bill of sale or filled-out Virginia Notification of Change in Status of a Numbered Vessel (Form BRT-010), in the case the vessel purchased had prior registration but had not been titled.
  • If purchased or relocated from out-of-state, a bill of sale must be included along with the prior registration.
• Adequate funds to pay all necessary fees and taxes associated with registration and/or titling.

Should you prefer to mail in the required forms, place the paperwork in an envelope with proper postage and mail it to the following address:

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
Client Services
P.O. Box 9930
Henrico, VA 23228