Overview
The sales tax picture is where boats diverge sharply from cars. A casual sale - one individual selling directly to another - owes no Arkansas sales tax at all, no price threshold required, unlike the tiered rules on used vehicles. Buy from a dealer, though, and the standard 6.5% state rate applies, with local city/county tax capped at the first $2,500 of the price, same as it is for motor vehicles. Boats built in model year 2020 or later also require an Arkansas title, at the same $10 fee as a car.
01 - Official fees
Arkansas boat registration fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat under 16 ft | $7.50 | 3-year registration |
| Motorboat 16 ft to under 26 ft | $15.00 | 3-year registration |
| Motorboat 26 ft to under 40 ft | $51.00 | 3-year registration |
| Motorboat 40 ft and over | $105.00 | 3-year registration |
| Title fee (boats model year 2020+) | $10.00 | |
| Casual (individual-to-individual) sale | $0 sales tax | |
| Dealer sale | 6.5% + local | local tax capped at first $2,500 of price |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your local Arkansas DFA Revenue Office - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a boat in Arkansas
- 1
Get the signed-over registration (and title, if the boat is model year 2020 or newer) from the seller.
- 2
Bring proof of purchase and ownership documents to any DFA Revenue Office within 30 days of the sale - boats have a shorter window than cars.
- 3
If it was a dealer sale, pay 6.5% state tax plus local tax on the first $2,500 of the price; casual sales owe no tax.
- 4
Pay the length-based registration fee (and $10 title fee, if applicable) for a 3-year term.
- 5
Display your Arkansas registration numbers and validation decal on the bow as required.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Arkansas vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Arkansas boat registration FAQ
Which Arkansas agency actually handles boat registration?
The Department of Finance and Administration's Office of Motor Vehicle - the same office that titles and registers cars and trucks. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission handles fishing licenses and wildlife regulation, not boat titling or registration.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Arkansas?
For a 3-year term: $7.50 under 16 feet, $15 from 16 up to 26 feet, $51 from 26 up to 40 feet, and $105 at 40 feet and beyond. A first-time buyer of a 2020-or-newer boat also pays the $10 title fee.
Do I owe sales tax buying a used boat from a private seller?
No - Arkansas exempts casual, individual-to-individual boat sales from sales tax entirely, with no price cutoff at all. That's a meaningfully better deal than buying a used car privately, which still owes tax once the price crosses $4,000.
Why did I get taxed on my boat when I bought it from a dealer?
Dealer sales aren't 'casual' sales, so the standard 6.5% state rate applies to the full price, plus local city/county tax - capped at the first $2,500 of the price, the same cap that applies to cars, aircraft, and manufactured housing.
Does my boat need a title in Arkansas?
Only if it was manufactured in model year 2020 or later - that requirement took effect January 1, 2020. Older boats register without a separate title, though they still need registration numbers and a validation decal.
What about the trailer I haul my boat on?
That's registered separately as a vehicle, not part of the boat's paperwork - a boat trailer falls under Arkansas's standard trailer weight tiers ($7, $21, or $31 a year) through the same DFA office.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.