Laws and Safety Equipment

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REGISTRATION AND TITLING

Motorboat identification numbers

Every motorboat operating upon public waters within the territorial limits of West Virginia, needs to be numbered. The owner of a motorboat requiring numbering needs to file application for a number with the commissioner of motor vehicles. The application shall be signed by the owner of the motorboat and shall be accompanied by a fee a three-year registration period as follows:

The fee may be prorated for periods of less than three years.

NOTE : Boats with motors of less than three (3) horsepower or electric motors of less than 28 pounds of thrust are required to be registered with the State but there is no fee for this registration.

REGISTRATION AND NUMBERING

All vessels operated on the waters of West Virginia must be registered and/or numbered in West Virginia, except as follows:

• Vessels used exclusively on private lakes or ponds
• Vessels owned by the Federal Government
• Vessels used exclusively as life boats
• Non-motor powered vessels
• Vessels with a current number from another state or country temporarily using West Virginia waters. (Less than 60 consecutive days.)
• Vessels newly purchased in West Virginia (less than 30 days).

Department of Motor Vehicles

In addition to registering, all vessels, except documented vessels and non-motor-powered vessels, must be titled in West Virginia. You will need to know your Hull ID Number (HIN) to title and register your boat. If you have a homemade boat, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles to have a HIN assigned.

Upon registration, you will be issued a certificate of number (registration) and a validation decal.

The certificate must be onboard whenever the boat is used. The boat's numbers must be properly displayed in 3-inch block letters on the forward half of the vessel on both port and starboard side.

The Commissioner will furnish to all applicants two (2) decals bearing the numbers of the year of expiration, which will establish valid registration. The decals are to be displayed on each side of the boat (within 6 inches) immediately following the assigned West Virginia number.

• Should the ownership of a motorboat change, the current number and decal will expire.
• Such certificate of number and registration shall be valid only until the last day of March in the year indicated on the registration card and the accompanying sticker. If, at the end of the registration period, ownership has remained unchanged, such owner shall renew their current registration, at which time a renewed registration and decal will be issued for an additional three year period.
• The owner shall furnish the Commissioner notice of the destruction or abandonment of such motorboat within fifteen (15) days thereof.
• Any holder of a certificate of number shall notify the Commissioner within fifteen (15) days, if his or her address no longer conforms to the address appearing on the certificate and shall, as part of such notification, furnish the Commissioner with the new address.

Unauthorized numbers

An owner shall not paint, attach or otherwise display a number other than the number awarded to a motorboat on either side of the bow of the motorboat.