All motorized boats/vessels operating on Indiana waterways must be registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) unless otherwise exempt.^[1] New owners must register and title their recently acquired vessels within 45 days of purchase. New Indiana residents transferring a vessel from another state must register the vessel within 60 days of establishing residency.

Registrations expire once a year in accordance with the Indiana Expiration Registration Schedule, which sets dates based on the registrants’ last name. Owners may update their registration online upon receiving a renewal notice from the BMV through its myBMV Portal.

All documentation must be presented in person at a nearby Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) location.

• Bill of Sale or Watercraft Ownership Affidavit (State Form 55100);
• Application for Certificate of Watercraft Title (State Form 38529);
• If taxes were paid, use Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Paid on the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft (Form 48842);
• If tax exempt, use Certificate of Gross Retail or Use Tax Exemption for the Purchase of a Motor Vehicle or Watercraft (Form 48841);
• Application for Special Identification Number – Vehicle or Watercraft and Checklist (if the vessel is missing a hull identification number);
• Valid Indiana Driver’s License or Real ID Documentation;^[2] and
• Registration Fees (rates vary based on the vessel’s length).^[3]