Virginia Boat Registration Summary
Virginia boat registration summary is a free resource designed to inform the boating public about registration requirements, recording methods, and title search guidelines for the State of Virginia The data is maintained as an open wiki forum where readers are encouraged to participate by sharing knowledge and experiences with this particular state. Simply click on the "Wiki-Share" link to contribute further details or suggest a revision.
This information is subject to change and should be confirmed with the respective agency.
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State of Virginia
Department of Wildlife Resources
Boat Registration Website
Boat Registration Overview
Virginia issues both registration and title certificates for all non-exempt boats operating within its jurisdiction. These are administered by the Department of Wildlife Resources in Richmond. Outboard motor titles and registrations are not available from this state. However, they can be listed on the boat registration records. Boat trailer registration and titling is required. Virginia has adopted the Uniform Certificate of Title Act for Vessels Act (UCOTVA) which basically sets the same nationwide standards for boat titling as those established for vehicles. Boat registration applicants must accordingly declare any known damages that may have affected the hull's integrity. This includes collisions, submersions, fires, running aground, and similar occurrences. This state is also a participant in the Vessel Identification System (VIS) where boat registration data is shared among other government agencies throughout the country. Sales tax applies to boat transactions in the State of Virginia. There are approximately 230,195 boats registered in the State of Virginia. This accounts for 1.9% of all nationwide registrations.Registration Requirements
Virginia registers all non-exempt boats that operate within their jurisdiction. This includes all watercraft propelled by machinery, including but not limited to, gasoline, diesel, and electric motors. Sailboats with no motor over 18' are titled but not registered. Coast Guard documented vessels may become registered but this is not required. Exemptions includes watercraft visiting Virginia which are registered in another state for up to 90 consecutive days. A complete list of requirements and exemptions may be found on the DWR website. Transfers of interest, abandonments, destructions, and thefts must be reported within 15 days.Marking Requirements
Virginia boat registration numbers begin with a "VA" designation which is followed by four numbers and then two letters. These must be displayed on all non-documented boats along with registration sticker tabs. Coast Guard documented vessels may not display the state registration numbers. However they must display the state registration tabs when applicable, an owner designated vessel name, and a hailing port. An official documentation number must also be affixed to a visible interior location in the hull itself or an integral part of the hull. All boats manufactured after 1972 are required to have a 12 digit hull identification number affixed to the vessel by the manufacturer. State assigned hull numbers prefixed with the letters "VAZ" are available for home made boats and those without factory designations. The boat must be inspected by a Virginia law enforcement official if there is a discrepancy with the hull identification number.Ownership and Liens
Virginia issues titles on all registered boats except for those which are Coast Guard Documented. This includes certain sailboats which are exempt from registration. This state has defined procedures for titling or registering boats when there is insufficient proof of ownership. There are also procedures for titling abandoned boats. Security interests in state titled boats are recorded with the Department of Wildlife Resources. These will be shown on both the registration and title certificates when applicable. This state has a paperless or electronic system for titles when there is secured party. Security interests in boats that are neither titled or USCG documented are recorded with the Secretary of State as Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings. Tax liens may be flagged on boat registration records, recorded as UCC filings, shown on state revenue records, or filed with a county clerk's office. There are no provisions for recording mechanic's liens or other non-secured claims against state titled boats. If the vessel is USCG documented, a lender's security interest must be perfected by filing a preferred vessel mortgage. These are recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center and priority is attained according to the date filed. Other maritime liens can be filed in the same manner although they function as notifications only. All mortgage and lien filings are indexed on the vessel's underlying abstract of title.Boat Title Searches
Boat title and registration records in Virginia are maintained by the Department of Wildlife Resources. This agency provides an online boat record search database, however it is necessary to set up a login account and there is a hefty fee involved. Individual record printouts may be obtained by submitting a boat record request form. It is also reported that their office will check for hull numbers by telephone or verify information shown on boat title or registration certificates in hand. Uniform Commercial Code searches are available online from the Secretary of State. If there are any suspected state or federal tax liens however, it may be advisable to use a public record vendor as they have a much broader access to such filings nationwide. Ownership, mortgage, and lien search recordings for USCG documented vessels can be obtained by ordering an abstract of title and a copy of the certificate of documentation from the National Vessel Documentation Center. However, these are encoded and can be difficult to interpret, especially on older vessels with numerous recordings. It may be worthwhile to contact a professional vessel title company for assistance in this regard. Non-recorded maritime liens may also be a factor when conducting boat title research in Virginia. These include liabilities for items such as services, equipment, fuel, storage, parts, supplies, and damages which can become attached to the boat itself regardless of ownership. One of the most useful tools for doing this kind of research is our premier boat history search database. It offers a gathering of eight nationwide databases into a single interface which can be searched by numerous criteria. These include records for stolen boats, marine lien claims, boating accidents, pollution incidents, auctioned boats, factory recalls, and documented vessels. Yacht brokers, documentation companies, and attorneys do not warrant or guarantee titles. It is therefore incumbent on the owner to stand behind any such representations. Of course it will be of no consolation if a guarantor is insolvent, non-cooperative, or can not be located. This calls for a thorough background check to ensure the owner's wherewithal for making good on any hidden liens or title deficiencies.Advertisement
