Helena Frye
Tennessee is home to hundreds of waterways, including freshwater rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. If you want to boat on these waters, you'll need to make sure your boat is registered. In Tennessee, all mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered. This includes federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Sailboats from states that do not require sailboat registration are exempt from registration in Tennessee.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where to register | County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo |
| Who must register | All mechanically powered vessels and sailboats (including federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors) |
| Who is exempt | Boats that don't use mechanical power and use oars or paddles, and sailboats from states that do not require sailboat registration |
| Registration fees | Yes, used by the state to help sustain natural resources and promote responsible boating |
| Requirements for registration | Date of sale, price, a full description of the vessel including the year, make, model, and HIN, and contact information and signatures for both buyer and seller |
| Requirements for registration from another state | Registration documents from the other state and proof sales tax was paid in another state to receive credit for all previous taxes paid |
| Requirements for vessels built after 1972 | HIN in the proper US Coast Guard format; if missing, photos of the vessel are required |
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What You'll Learn
What boats need to be registered in Tennessee
In Tennessee, all mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered. This includes federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and use oars or paddles do not need to be registered. All boats that require registration must be properly registered before use in any public water in Tennessee.
Tennessee boat registration can be completed at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo. Dealers and manufacturers can also apply for transferrable registrations. If the boat was purchased from a person, you will need the date of sale, price, a full description of the vessel including the year, make, model, and HIN, and contact information and signatures for both buyer and seller. To register a boat from another state in Tennessee, you will need registration documents from the other state and proof sales tax was paid in another state to receive credit for all previous taxes paid. If a vessel built after 1972 is missing the HIN or it is not in the proper US Coast Guard format, photos of the vessel are required.
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Where to register a boat in Tennessee
Tennessee has hundreds of waterways for boating, from freshwater rivers to lakes and reservoirs. If you want to boat on any of these, you'll need to make sure your vessel is registered.
All mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered in Tennessee. This includes federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and are powered by oars or paddles don't need to be registered.
You can register your boat in Tennessee at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo.
If you're registering a boat from another state, you'll need registration documents from that state and proof that sales tax was paid. If the vessel was built after 1972 and is missing its HIN or it's not in the proper US Coast Guard format, you'll also need to provide photos of the vessel.
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How to register a boat bought from a dealer or manufacturer
If you have bought a boat from a dealer or manufacturer in Tennessee, you will need to register it before you can use it on any of the state's waterways. All mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered, including federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and are powered by oars or paddles do not need to be registered.
Boat registration can be completed at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo. You will need to pay a registration fee, which is used by the state to help sustain natural resources and promote responsible boating.
Dealers and manufacturers can apply for transferable registrations. To do this, they will need to provide a copy of their business license and sales tax number with their application. Vessels registered in this way can only be used for demonstration purposes, and more than one vessel may not be operated simultaneously with the same number. When demonstrating a vessel, it must have the Certificate of Number on board, and the registration number must be correctly displayed. This can be done by attaching the number to removable signs, which can be temporarily but firmly attached to the vessel.
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How to register a boat bought from a person
If you have bought a boat from a person in Tennessee, you will need to register it before you can use it in any public water in the state. All mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered, including federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and are powered by oars or paddles do not need to be registered.
To register a boat bought from a person, you will need the date of sale, the price, a full description of the vessel (including the year, make, model, and HIN), and contact information and signatures for both the buyer and seller. You can register your boat at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, or Crossville.
If the boat was previously registered in another state, you will need registration documents from that state and proof that sales tax was paid. If the boat was built after 1972 and is missing its HIN or the HIN is not in the proper US Coast Guard format, you will also need to provide photos of the vessel.
Boat registration by dealers and manufacturers can be transferred from one vessel to another. A copy of the business license and sales tax number must accompany the application for a dealer or manufacturer number. Vessels being demonstrated must have the Certificate of Number on board and the registration number must be correctly displayed.
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What to do if your boat was built after 1972 and is missing its HIN
If your boat was built after 1972 and is missing its HIN, you will need to provide photos of the vessel when you register it in Tennessee. All mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered in the state, including federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and use oars or paddles do not need to be registered.
Tennessee boat registration can be completed at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo. All boats that require registration must be properly registered before use in any public water in Tennessee. Boats registered in other states can use public water in Tennessee unless Tennessee is the primary state of use or mooring.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, all mechanically powered vessels and sailboats must be registered in Tennessee. This includes federally documented recreational vehicles and vessels with electric trolling motors. Boats that don't use mechanical power and use oars or paddles do not need to be registered.
You can register your boat at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo.
If you purchased your boat from a dealer or manufacturer, you can apply for a transferrable registration. You will need a copy of the business license and sales tax number, as well as the Certificate of Number. If you purchased the boat from another person, you will need the date of sale, price, a full description of the vessel (including the year, make, model, and HIN), and contact information and signatures for both the buyer and seller.
Yes, there are registration fees that you will need to pay when you register your boat in Tennessee. These fees are used by the state to sustain natural resources and promote responsible boating.
