Signing Requirements – Both the buyer and the seller must sign the document, but it does not need to be notarized.
Registering a Boat
To operate on Vermont waters, all boats owned by Vermont residents must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Visitors from other states who stay on Vermont waters for less than 90 consecutive days are exempt from registration.
Vermont law does not specify how soon a buyer must register a boat after purchasing it, but the best practice is to do so as soon as possible. Boats may be registered for one or two years.
Where to Register
Registration may be completed in person at any of the Vermont DMV locations.
Required Documents
- A completed Motorboat Registration & Title Application (Form TA-VD-37)
- A Bill of Sale
- If the boat purchased is new: a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)
- If the boat is purchased used: the Certificate of Title, signed over to the owner
- Payment of all registration fees in accordance with the fee schedule