Official fees
Hawaii boat registration fee chart
New registration, under 20 ft
$25.00
New registration, 20 ft and over
$40.00
Annual renewal, under 20 ft
$20.00
Annual renewal, 20 ft and over
$35.00
New certificate of title
$20.00
Ownership transfer (title + registration)
$30.00
Replacement certificate of title
$50.00
GET on dealer boat sale
4.712%
private-party boat sales are typically exempt, same as cars
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county motor vehicle registration office (Honolulu, Maui, Hawaiʻi, or Kauaʻi) - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in Hawaii
- 1
Get the signed-over title (or dealer paperwork) proving ownership.
- 2
Complete DOBOR's vessel registration/titling application (available online at vessel.ehawaii.gov).
- 3
Submit at a DOBOR district office, or online for renewals, with proof of ownership and ID.
- 4
Pay the registration fee by length class, plus the title fee for a new title or the combined transfer fee for a used-boat purchase.
- 5
Display your Hawaii registration numbers and current decal on the hull as DOBOR specifies.
- Register with
- DLNR / DOBOR, not the county
- New registration
- $25 (<20 ft) / $40 (20 ft+)
- Annual renewal
- $20 (<20 ft) / $35 (20 ft+)
- Title
- $20 new / $30 transfer
- Mooring/slip fees
- Separate, billed by the harbor
Overview
One thing DOBOR fees don't cover: if you keep the boat at a state small-boat harbor, mooring or slip fees are a completely separate monthly charge from the harbors program, billed independent of your annual registration. Most human-powered craft - kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards - don't need DLNR registration at all; it's aimed at motorized and larger sailing vessels. Run the numbers for your vessel below.
Same state, other costs
More Hawaii vehicle costs
Common questions
Hawaii boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in Hawaii?
- New registration is $25 for vessels under 20 feet and $40 for 20 feet and over. Annual renewal is cheaper - $20 and $35 respectively. A first-time title adds $20, or $30 if you're doing an ownership transfer that bundles title and registration together.
- Do kayaks or paddleboards need to be registered with DLNR?
- Generally no - DOBOR's registration requirement targets vessels with mechanical propulsion and larger sailing craft, not human-powered kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards. Add a trolling motor to a kayak and that typically brings it into the registration requirement.
- Is boat registration handled by my county, like a car?
- No - this is the opposite of vehicle registration. Cars register with your county; boats register statewide with DLNR's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation, regardless of which island you live on.
- Do I pay GET on a used boat bought from a private seller?
- Generally not, for the same reason private car sales are exempt - GET only reaches business activity, so a genuine person-to-person boat sale isn't taxed. Buying from a boat dealer is different: that sale carries the same 4.712% visible GET rate a car dealer charges.
- Where do mooring fees fit into this?
- They don't - mooring, berthing, and slip fees at state small-boat harbors are billed by DOBOR's harbors program separately from vessel registration, usually monthly and based on your boat's length and the specific harbor. Registering your boat doesn't include a place to keep it.
- What if I lose my boat's title or registration decal?
- A replacement certificate of title is $50. Contact your local DOBOR office for a replacement registration decal - bring your registration number and ID.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
