Whether you are a completely new, first-time boat owner, or you have simply decided to upgrade your existing vessel, the one thing that you absolutely cannot forget to do is make sure that you register your new property with the coast guard. This is something that is absolutely essential for every vessel on the water, and those who do not follow the rules and get their vessel registered can be subject to a number of different repercussions, none of them good! With this in mind, here is a simple step-by-step guide for registering a boat with the coast guard.
Gather Your Documents
The first thing to do is ensure that you have all of your relevant documents on hand. This will typically include proof of ownership like the bill of sale, proof of identity like a driver’s license or passport, and any other paperwork that might be relevant and specified by the requirements of the Coast Guard.
Select The Right Form
Determine which of the documents is the appropriate one for your vessel, the two primary forms of documentation will be the Application for Documentation for initial registration and the Exchange of Certificate of Documentation for transfer of ownership. You can quickly find those on our site.
Complete The Form
Fill out the chosen form and make sure to do it completely and accurately, providing all of the information and vessel details such as length, hull material, and type, along with owner information and other requested details. You will see the forms of the National Documentation Portal are easy to understand and fill out.
Provide Supporting Documents
Make copies of all the necessary supporting documents, and make sure they are all as clear and eligible as possible.
Submit Application
Once you have filled out the form, it is time to submit the application to the Coast Guard, there are multiple ways to do this including online submission and mail submission. It goes without saying that online is the preferred method for efficiency and speed!
Pay The Fee
Depending on the size of your vessel, there may be a registration fee required. The list of various fees for vessels can be found on the NVDC website, and payment options will include money orders, checks, and debit or credit cards.
Wait And Receive
Now all that is left to do is wait for the application to be processed by the Coast Guard. Depending on the traffic of the applications, this can take some time, so the key is to be patient. Once approved, you will receive the Certificate of Documentation for your vessel, which is proof of ownership and registration.
So, if you would like more help and information about registering a boat with the coast guard, then all of the relevant details you need and more can be found at the National Documentation Portal. Use the website to find all of the answers that you could possibly need in order to sort your paperwork out accordingly. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions that you still haven’t managed to get a satisfactory answer for. We will be more than happy to help!