
In Tennessee, boats must be registered with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) at the County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo. Boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard must be registered in Tennessee and must carry the Certificate of Number on board, but they are not required to display the registration number. Validation decals must be placed on each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the registration number.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who issues boat registration numbers in Tennessee? | The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency |
| Where do you go to register a boat in Tennessee? | The County Clerk's office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo |
| What is the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency's address? | Tennessee Boat Registration, P.O. Box 41729, Nashville, TN 37204-1729 |
| What is the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency's phone number? | 615-781-5270 |
| What is the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency's website? | https://www.tn.wildlifelicense.com |
| What is the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency's local office phone number? | 1-800-624-7406 |
| What is the Hull Identification Number (HIN)? | A 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards |
| Where do you place the registration number on a boat in Tennessee? | On each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the validation decals |
| Where do you place the validation decals on a boat in Tennessee? | On each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the registration number |
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What You'll Learn

Where to register your boat in Tennessee
Boats in Tennessee must be registered at the County Clerk’s office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo. The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) will mail your renewal form to you, which you can then mail back with the registration renewal fee. You can also obtain an 'Application for Boat Certificate of Number' by calling the T.W.R.A. or renew your registration online.
Boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard must be registered in Tennessee and must carry the Certificate of Number on board, but they are not required to display the registration number. The validation decals must be placed on both sides of the documented boat on the windows closest to the main operator station. The same placement requirements apply to personal watercraft (PWCs).
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. All registered vessels in the State of Tennessee must provide a properly formatted HIN to TWRA.
The owner of a numbered boat must notify the TWRA within 15 days if they change their address, or if the boat is lost, stolen, recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold. If you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number or validation decals, you must apply to the TWRA for a replacement and submit a processing fee.
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Validation decals
The decals must be placed on both sides of the documented boat on the windows closest to the main operator station. The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards.
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Certificate of Number
In Tennessee, boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard must be registered and carry the Certificate of Number on board. The Certificate of Number is valid for one, two, or three years, at the owner's discretion. The owner must notify the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) within 15 days if they change their address or if the boat is lost, stolen, recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold. If the Certificate of Number is lost or destroyed, a replacement can be obtained from the TWRA for a processing fee.
The Certificate of Number must be kept on board the vessel, along with the Hull Identification Number (HIN), which is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies the boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. Validation decals must be placed on each side of the bow, immediately preceding or following the registration number. For boats with windows, the decals must be placed on the windows closest to the main operator station.
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Hull Identification Number (HIN)
In Tennessee, boats that have been federally documented by the Coast Guard must be registered and carry the Certificate of Number on board, but they are not required to display the registration number. Validation decals must be placed on each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the registration number. The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. The HIN must be provided to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). The owner of a numbered boat must notify the TWRA within 15 days if they change their address, or if the boat is lost, stolen, recovered, destroyed, abandoned, or sold. If the Certificate of Number or validation decals are lost or destroyed, the owner must apply to the TWRA for a replacement and submit a processing fee.
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Renewing your boat registration
The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) will mail your renewal form to you. You will need to mail the completed form with the registration renewal fee to: Tennessee Boat Registration, P.O. Box 41729, Nashville, TN 37204-1729. Alternatively, you can renew your registration online by visiting https://www.tn.wildlifelicense.com. If you have any questions about renewing your boat registration, you can call the local TWRA office at 1-800-624-7406.
It is important to note that if you lose or destroy your Certificate of Number or validation decals, you must apply to the TWRA for a replacement and submit a processing fee. The validation decals must be placed on each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the registration number.
Additionally, all registered vessels in the State of Tennessee are required to provide a properly formatted Hull Identification Number (HIN) to the TWRA. The HIN is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards.
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Frequently asked questions
You can register your boat at the County Clerk’s office, online, or at TWRA regional offices in Jackson, Nashville, Crossville, or Mo.
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12-character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards.
Validation decals must be placed on each side of the bow immediately preceding or following the registration number.











































