North Carolina Boat Registration Overview
All you should know about registering and titling a boat in North Carolina.
North Carolina boat registration and titling overview is a free public service designed to inform boaters about operational requirements, recording methods, and record search lookups for the State of North Carolina. This includes essential references for the most detailed and accurate information currently available.
Registration and Titling Agency
Boat registration and titling in North Carolina are administered by
the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) which is headquartered in Raleigh.
Services are available from the home office or through a network of service
agents.
Registration Statistics: There are approximately 339,851 boats
currently registered in the State of North Carolina which accounts for 2.9%
percent nationwide. USCG vessel documentation records indicate 5,125
documented owners with a North Carolina address and 4,973 documented vessels
that display a North Carolina hailing
port.
Uniform Titling: North Carolina has not yet fully adopted
the Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels Act (UCOTVA) which basically
sets the same nationwide standards for boat titling as those for vehicles.
There are accordingly no provisions for boat title branding in North
Carolina .
Vessel Information System: North Carolina participates in the Vessel Identification System (VIS) where boat registration data is shared among government agencies throughout the nation.
Registration and Titling Requirements
North Carolina requires registration of all non-exempt
boats that operate within its jurisdictional waters. The following are basic
requirements and exemptions with further details available from the
referrals for this overview.
Motor Boats: All Motorized boats and
watercraft must become registered in North Carolina.
Sailboats:
Sailboats longer than 14 feet must become registered in North Carolina regardless of
propulsion.
Canoes and Kayaks: Manually propelled canoes and kayaks are exempt
from registration in North Carolina.
Inflatable Boats:
Manually propelled inflatable boats are exempt from registration in North
Carolina.
Dinghies and Tenders:
Dinghies and tenders that are manually propelled are exempt from
registration in North Carolina.
Lifeboats:
Lifeboats are exempt from registration in North Carolina if they are used solely
for that purpose.
Documented Vessels: Coast Guard documented vessels are
not exempt from registration in North Carolina.
Visiting Boats:
Foreign boats and those registered in another state may visit North Carolina for 90 consecutive days without having to register.
Boat Titles:
North Carolina requires boat titles for all registered boats.
Outboard Motors: Titling and registration is not available
for outboard boat motors in North Carolina.
Boat Trailers:
Boat trailers are registered and titled in North Carolina through the
Division of Motor Vehicles.
Registration and Title Application
Boat registrations and titles in North Carolina are
available in person, by mail or online from the Wildlife
Resources Commission. They can also be obtained through a
Wildlife Service Agent, a list of which can be fund in the
referrals for this overview. In doing so, you will need to
provide evidence of ownership, fees and taxes.
Application Forms: Boat Titling and registration forms are
available from the WRC boat registration website.
Manufacturer's Statement:
When a new boat is to be registered for the first time, you must
present a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin or Builder's certification. The statement or
certification must be properly
assigned into your name or accompanied by a bill of sale.
Previous Title: When a boat was previously state titled,
you must present a properly assigned title certificate or one
that is accompanied by a bill of sale.
Previous
Registration: If a boat was registered in a non-title
state, it will be necessary to present an assigned registration
certificate or one that is accompanied by a bill of sale.
Loan Foreclosures: In order to register a foreclosed
boat, the lender will need to provide evidence of compliance with
the respective state laws.
Mechanic's Liens: In order
to register a boat foreclosed on towing, storage and service possessory liens you must provide evidence of compliance
with state lien laws.
Abandoned Boats: In
order to register an abandoned boat you must provide evidence of
compliance with state abandoned property laws.
Title Bonding: Boat title bonding in North Carolina is
available where sufficient proof of ownership is unavailable.
Contact the WRC for additional information.
Registration Fees:
The most current list of boat registration fees may be found by
visiting the WRC website.
Registration Renewals:
Boat registration renewals are available online, by mail or
in-person from the WRC. These can also be implemented through a
Wildlife Service agent..
Numbering Requirements
Boat registration numbers in North Carolina begin with
an "NC" designation which is followed by four numbers and then
two letters. These must be displayed on all registered boats
along with the current registration decals. State boat numbering
configuration, size and placement requirements are dictated by
federal regulations. More detailed information can be found in
the referrals for this summary.
Hull Numbers:
All vessels built after 1972 are required to have a properly
formatted 12 digit hull identification number. Although
typically assigned and installed by the manufacturer, owners
with older, homemade, or imported boats may apply to the MVD for a hull number
assignment. These are prefixed with the letters "NCZ" in place
of the manufacturer's identification code. Boats must be
inspected by a law enforcement official whenever their is a
missing or questionable hull identification number.
Lien and Security Interest Recordings
Available options for securing loans, liens and
claims against boats registered North Carolina are determined
by various factors. These include the type of debt, obligation
or liability and whether the boat is USCG documented or state
titled.
Loan Security Interests: Boat loan security interests on
titled boats in North Carolina are listed on the certificate of title. Security interests
in non-titled and non-documented boats must recorded as UCC
filings with the Secretary of State. If a boat qualifies for USCG documentation, the
lender must obtain a preferred vessel mortgage in order to perfect or
prioritize its security interest. These are recorded with the National
Vessel Documentation Center.
Tax Liens: Tax liens are
sometimes flagged in the state's boat registration database,
recorded as Uniform Commercial Code filings, shown on state
revenue records, or filed with a county clerk's office.
Mechanic's Liens:
There are no means of recording mechanics or storage liens on
North Carolina boat registration records. However these may be listed
for informational purposes on a USCG documented vessel's underlying
abstract of title. Our boat lien claims registry also serves as
a proprietary source of exposing such information to the general
public.
Stolen Boats:
Although stolen boats are not typically viewed as maritime
liens, the true owner may have rights of recovery regardless of
a subsequent owner's awareness. There are no methods for
recording stolen boats in North Carolina other than by filing a
report with the WRC office. These will in turn become listed
in their stolen boat database and perhaps the National Crime
Information Center database. Our stolen boat registry also
serves as a proprietary database for the boating industry.
Title and Lien Searches
Title and lien search methods for North Carolina registered
boats will vary according to the type of lien and whether the
boat is USCG documented.
Registration Database Searches:
Registration and title records for North Carolina are maintained
in a database administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Access to such data is available for owners and certain
qualified parties as prescribed by regulatory standards.
Comprehensive guidelines about boat record searches in North
Carolina can be found in the references
for this overview.
UCC Searches:
Uniform Commercial Code filing searches in North Carolina are
available online from the Secretary of State.
USCG Documentation Searches: Ownership,
mortgage and lien information on USCG documented vessels can be
obtained by ordering an abstract of title from the National
Vessel Documentation Center.
Tax Lien
Searches: State and Federal tax liens on boats are not
always recorded in a consistent manner and are therefore
difficult to identify. They may show up as a flag on state
registration records, as UCC filings, in state revenue records,
in a county clerks records, or on a vessel's abstract of title
for documented boats. Given these disparities, it may be worth
obtaining the services of a public record vendor that has access
to a broad range of personal lien
recordings.
Non-Recorded Liens: Non-recorded maritime liens may also
be a factor in conducting lien searches. These may include
liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel,
storage, parts, supplies, and damages which are related to the
boat itself. This type of research can only be determined through
personal investigation, owner disclosures, and boat history
lookups.
Lien Claim Searches: Additional information
about boat lien claim searches can be found in the referrals for
this overview.
Owner Background Checks: Yacht brokers,
documentation companies and attorneys do not warrant or
guarantee titles. There is moreover no such thing as boat title
insurance in the marine industry. It is therefore incumbent on
the owner to stand behind any such representations. This will of
course be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent,
non-cooperative, or can not be subsequently located. A thorough background check to ensure the owner's
inclination and ability for making good on any hidden liens or title
deficiencies is recommended. Information on how to go about this
can be found in the referrals for this page.
Business Entity Search:
You should run a business entity search when dealing with a boat
registered to an entity such as a corporation or limited
liability company. This will help confirm the legitimacy of such
enterprise and identify those authorized to act on its behalf.
An online search portal for doing so is maintained by the
Secretary of State which can be accessed from the referrals for
this overview.
Stolen Boat Search: North Carolina does not maintain a
list of boats that have been stolen within the state. You will
need to contact the WRC office for such information. You will also find
detailed information about stolen boat searches in the resources
and guidelines sections of our website. Visit the resources and
guidelines sections of our website for additional information
about stolen boat detection.
Taxes and Insurance
Sales and Use Tax: Sales and use taxes
apply to North Carolina registered boats and must be
paid at the time of registration.
Personal Property
Tax: Recreational boats may are subject to yearly personal
property tax assessments by the respective county tax office.
Insurance
Requirements: Boat liability and collision insurance are not required in
North Carolina. However,
you should check with a local insurance agent as this may be
subject to change without notice. In any event, insurance is
highly recommended and you may also need this for moorage
purposes or when making a loan on the boat.
Operator Requirements
Operator Requirements: Age limitations and
boater education requirements apply to boat operators in
North Carolina. Visit the referrals for this overview for the most current age
and boater education requirements
Accident Reporting:
Boating accidents in North Carolina must be immediately reported
to the WRC office.
Notifications: The WRC must be notified
immediately whenever a registered or titled boat has been transferred, stolen, lost, abandoned.
This also applies to ownership and address changes.
Enforcement Agency: The Wildlife Resources Commission is primarily responsible for
boating law enforcement in North Carolina. However, all law
enforcement agencies are authorized to enforce boating laws.
Conclusion
The information provided herein is gathered from various sources and may be subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice. You should consult directly with the appropriate agency or a qualified attorney before taking any actions based on this overview.
References and Referrals
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections