Boat Titles & Registration
 Phone (502) 875-8715

First time title & registration of a new boat.
Out of State Boat Title & Registration 
Transfer of a Kentucky Titled Boat 
Out of State Transfer of Kentucky Boat
Duplicate Boat Title
Boat Registration Renewal 
Fees & Taxes

First time title & registration of a new boat.

The following documents and information are required: 

¨      Manufacturers Certificate of Origin properly assigned to the buyer by the selling dealer

¨      Application for boat title/registration (BTR –form #TC96-184)

If County Clerk staff notarize signature(s) of buyer and/or seller, personal identification must be presented.

¨      Title Lien Statement if a lien is to be filed. Click here to see filing instructions for boat, motor and trailer.

¨      Social Security Number of each individual listed on title or Federal ID number for companies

¨      Boat trailers must be titled but are not required to be licensed.  Use same procedure except use Application for vehicle title/registration (VTR-form #TC96-182). 

            FEES

            Kentucky Title Fee-    $ 6.00

            Title Lien Statement  -$21.00

            Registration Fee- Varies by length of boat. Click here to see fee chart.

          Out of State Boat Title & Registration 

The following documents and information are required:  

¨      Original out of state title-Some states do not issue boat titles.  If your state does not issue boat titles, you will need your current out of state registration.

¨      Application for boat title/registration (BTR- form # TC96-184)   

If County Clerk staff notarize the signature(s) of owner(s), personal identification must be presented.  Note-Titles that list AND (instead of OR) between names of owners requires signatures of all owners listed. 

¨      Title Lien Statement if applicable.  Click here to see filing instruction for boat, motor, & trailer.

¨      Social Security number of each individual listed on title or Federal ID number for companies.

¨      Boat trailers must be titled.  Use same procedure except use Application for vehicle title/registration (VTR-form #TC96-182).                       

FEES

Kentucky Title Fee-    $  6.00

Title Lien Statement-  $21.00

Registration Fee-Varies by length of boat.  Click here to see fee chart 

Liens on Boats  

Liens on boats are filed in the same manner as vehicles.  If the boat has a full inboard motor, the title lien statement is filed on the boat  and a separate one for the trailer.  Titles for the boat & trailer are required to record. The filing fee is paid for each title lien statement filed. 

If the boat is inboard/outboard or has a full outboard motor, a title lien statement is filed on the boat & a separate one for the trailer.  In addition, a UCC-1 or financing statement (See UCC Filings) must be filed to secure a lien on the boat motor.  

To record a lien on a vehicle, mobile home, trailer or motorboat a title lien statement must be filed. To download a copy of a title lien statement, click here. 

The following information & documents are required:  

¨      Name(s) of the debtor and their address

¨      Name of secured party (the person or Bank lending money) & their mailing address

¨      Signature of debtor & date executed

¨      Description of collateral (year, make, vehicle identification number)

¨      Title or goldenrod copy of registration if a pending lien has been filed

Transfer of a Kentucky Titled Boat 

The following documents and information are required: 

¨      Kentucky Certificate of Title with assignment of title properly completed. Photocopies are not acceptable. Kentucky began titling boats in 1990.  If a title has never been issued, the registration is used in place of the certificate of title. 

¨      Boat Title/Registration Application (BTR-form #TC96-184) properly signed & notarized.  If County Clerk staff notarize signature(s) of buyer &/or seller, personal identification must be presented.  Click here to see an example of a properly completed Boat Title/Registration Application form-KY transfer.   Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of the owners requires that all owners sign this document.

¨      Social Security number of each buyer listed on title or federal id # of companies.  

FEES 

 Out of State Transfer of Kentucky Boat 

¨      Kentucky Certificate of Title with assignment of title properly completed.  The title is then presented to the out of state purchaser so they can title & register the boat in their state.

¨      Affidavit of Non-Exchange Form #TC 96-167must be submitted for all boats sold out of state.  The registered owner must sign this form and signature notarized.  If County Clerk staff notarize signatures, identification must be presented.   

Note-If the out of state transfer occurred after January 1st of the current tax year, the seller will be responsible for the taxes for that tax year.  If the sale occurred before January 1^st the tax can be exonerated.  It is advised that the seller make a copy of the front & back of the title to present to the Property Valuation Administrator so that the tax may be exonerated.

Duplicate Boat Title 

If you have lost your original boat title, you must apply for a duplicate title before any change of ownership or updates may be done.  Application is made at your local county clerk’s office. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet prints the title the following work day and mails the title to the owner.  Duplicate titles cannot be picked up on a walk-thru basis.    

      The following documents and information is required: 

¨      Boat Title/Registration Application (BTR-form #TC96-184) properly signed & notarized.  If County Clerk staff notarize signature(s) of buyer &/or seller, personal identification must be presented.  Click here to see an example of a properly completed Boat Title/Registration Application form-Duplicate.  Note-Titles that contain AND (instead of OR) between the names of the owners requires that all owners sign this document. 

FEES

             Boat Registration Renewal 

Boats are required to be licensed every year with the registration expiring in April.  The Kentucky Revenue Cabinet mails each boat owner a renewal notice listing the registration fee and property tax due.  The owner is responsible to renew the boat, even if he/she does not receive a notice.  The notice is not a required document for renewal. 
¨      The only document needed for renewal of a boat is the certificate of registration submitted with payment for tax and license.

Fees & Taxes

Property Tax

¨      Each boat titled in Kentucky as of January 1 of each year is assessed a taxable value by the Property Valuation Administrator.  The owner of the boat as of January 1 of each year is responsible for the tax. Taxes are due upon renewal or registration change. If a boat is transferred prior to renewal, the owner as of January 1 is liable for the taxes.  It is recommended that property taxes be paid at the time of transfer, but not required.  However, if not paid at time of transfer, a tax notice will be sent to the seller once the transfer is complete. 

¨      Delinquent taxes owed by the owner of a boat will prohibit the renewal of any boat the taxpayer owns.  Also, delinquent taxes owed by either the buyer or seller of a boat may prohibit the transfer of a boat  

Note-The County Clerk is the tax collector and has no authority to exonerate taxes or change assessments.  Questions concerning assessments should be directed to the Property Valuation Administrator at (502) 875-8780.  

 Registration Fees 

Based on Length:

1 ft. to 16 ft. (1ft.  through 15 ft. 11 in.)	$19.00
16 ft. to 26 ft. (16 ft. through 25 ft. 11 in.)	$23.00
26 ft. to 40 ft. (26 ft. through 39 ft. 11 in.)	$29.00
40 ft. or over	$33.00

Based on motor:

Mail-In Service  

Boats may be renewed by mail.  Send current registration and appropriate fees including a $2.00 postage & handling fee.  Your renewal will be processed the same day it is received and returned to you by mail.  Generally, this takes about 4-5 days.    
Note-Expired registrations cannot be renewed by mail