Official fees
Georgia boat registration fee chart
Under 16 ft
$35
3-year registration
16 ft to under 26 ft
$70
3-year registration
26 ft to under 40 ft
$140
3-year registration
40 ft and over
$210
3-year registration
Boat title
$18.00
mandatory since July 2023
Transaction fee
$10.00
every application, new or renewal
Sales tax on purchase
4% state + local
not TAVT - combined rate typically 6–9%
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county tag office (Georgia Department of Revenue) - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in Georgia
- 1
Get the signed-over title from the seller (dealers handle this for a new boat).
- 2
Complete the DNR boat registration application, available online through GoOutdoorsGeorgia or at a license agent.
- 3
Submit the application along with your registration fee, the $18 title fee, and the $10 transaction fee.
- 4
Pay Georgia sales tax (4% state plus your county's local rate) on the purchase price if it's a new-to-you boat.
- 5
Display your GA registration numbers and the current decal on both sides of the bow.
- Register at
- Georgia DNR, not DOR
- Term
- 3 years
- Registration
- $35–$210
- Title fee
- $18
- Tax
- State + local sales tax, not TAVT
Overview
Every application, new or renewal, also carries a flat $10 transaction fee, and titling - mandatory in Georgia since mid-2023 - costs $18. Any motorized vessel and any sailboat 12 feet or longer has to register; unpowered canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards don't. The calculator below totals registration, title, and sales tax for a purchase, or just the renewal cost if you already own the boat.
Same state, other costs
More Georgia vehicle costs
Common questions
Georgia boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in Georgia?
- For a three-year term: $35 under 16 ft, $70 for 16 up to 26 ft, $140 for 26 up to 40 ft, $210 for 40 ft and over - plus the flat $10 transaction fee every time. First-time buyers add the $18 title fee and Georgia's state-plus-local sales tax on the purchase price.
- Do kayaks or canoes need to register in Georgia?
- No - unpowered kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards never need registration, regardless of length. Add a motor of any kind, including an electric trolling motor, and registration becomes mandatory. Sailboats register once they reach 12 feet.
- Why doesn't my boat pay TAVT like my car did?
- TAVT is specific to titled motor vehicles under Georgia's vehicle code - boats fall under a separate statute and are taxed through the regular state-and-local sales tax system instead, at whatever the combined rate is in the county where you take delivery.
- Is a boat title actually required in Georgia?
- Yes, since July 1, 2023 all registered vessels need a title, not just registration - a change from the old system where many boats only carried a registration number. If you're buying used, make sure the seller can produce a proper title, not just an old registration card.
- Does an outboard motor get its own registration in Georgia?
- No - unlike some states that title the boat and motor separately, Georgia treats the outboard as part of the vessel for registration purposes. You register and title the boat as a whole.
- What's the deadline to transfer a boat title after buying one?
- Georgia expects the new owner to title and register promptly after the sale - treat it the same as the vehicle standard and file within 30 days to avoid the risk of operating an unregistered vessel, which can draw a citation from DNR law enforcement on the water.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
