Indiana Boat Registration Summary
Indiana boat
registration summary presents an overview of boat titling, registration,
loan perfection, and operational requirements for the State of
Indiana. More detailed information, forms, guidelines, and other
resources are obtainable by downloading a
Boat Registration Kit
for this state. You will also find an extensive listing of general
purpose boat and trailer registration forms on our Forms
page.
Please visit our
State page for additional
articles and information about registering or titling boats, trailers,
and outboard motors.
The information presented here is subject to change and should be
confirmed with the respective state agency.
Please
read our
terms of use before proceeding.
|
Boat Registration Statistics |
There are
approximately 165,000 boats registered in the Staten of Indiana. |
|
Registration Numbering |
The boat
registration number prefix for the State of Indiana is "IN". |
|
Registration Agency |
Bureau of
Motor Vehicles. |
|
Registration Requirements |
All motorized
boats, including motorized sailboats and jet skis must be
registered. This includes boats with trolling motors. Coast
Guard documented vessels must also be registered. Registrations
must be renewed on a yearly basis. |
|
Title Requirements |
Titling is
required for all registered boats, boats built for an Indiana owner before January 1,
1986, boats valued at less than $3,000 when new, and home built
boats for personal use which are not for resale. Titles are not
issued for Coast Guard documented boats. |
|
Conditional Registrations |
Indiana does
not have provisions for bonded boat titles or conditional boat registrations where sufficient proof of ownership is not
otherwise available. Under these circumstances, an award of
ownership will be required from a court of proper jurisdiction. |
|
Abandoned Boats |
Indiana does
not have a formal program to address boats abandoned on private
property. However it does have titling and registration
procedures for those abandoned in marinas. Detailed information
on such procedures can be found in our
boat registration kit for this state. |
|
Registration Records |
Boat
registration records are maintained indefinitely in Indiana. Detailed information on how to
obtain verbal and written reports can be found in our
boat registration
kit for this state. |
|
Tax Requirements |
State sales
tax applies to boat transactions. |
|
Loan perfection |
Security
interests on non-documented boats which are state titled must be
recorded on the state title records. On
Coast Guard documented vessels, a preferred mortgage must be
recorded on the vessel's abstract of title. A UCC financing
statement must be filed if the boat is neither titled or
documented. |
|
Ownership Designations |
"AND"
indicates joint ownership on Indiana boat records, "OR" is not defined. |
|
Reporting Requirements |
Transfer, abandonment, theft, or destruction of an
Indiana registered boat
must be reported to the Marine Police Division within 15 days. |
| Hull
Inspection |
Required for
first time registration and title applications. |
|
Outboard Motors |
Indiana does
not register or title outboard motors. |
|
Boat Trailers |
Boat trailers must be registered in Illinois. Boat titling is
required on boat trailers weighing over 3,100 lbs. |
| Notary
Regulations |
Eight year
term, $5,000 bond required, must use embossed or inked stamp
seal. |
|
Visitation Period |
A visitation
period of 60 days is allowed for boats that are registered in another state,
Coast Guard documented, or registered in a foreign country. |
|
Indiana Boat Registration
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
|
