Overview
Buy a boat and you also owe the same $15 title fee and 7% sales tax that apply to cars, including the same private-sale fair-market-value check. One Indiana-specific break: if the boat sits in storage and never touches the water for the full registration year, the owner can pay a flat $12 storage tax instead of the value-based excise tax. The calculator below covers a new purchase or a straight annual renewal.
01 - Official fees
Indiana boat registration fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 13 feet | $15.00 | |
| 13 to 25 feet | $18.00 | |
| 26 to 39 feet | $21.00 | |
| 40 feet and over | $24.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class 1–2 | $5.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class 3–5 | $10.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class 6 | $15.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class 7–8 | $20.00 | |
| Excise tax, Class 9–14 | $25.00 | |
| DNR fee | $5.00 | every registered boat |
| Storage-only tax (not used on waterways) | $12.00 | flat, replaces the excise tax |
| Title fee | $15.00 | |
| Sales tax | 7% | on purchase price or fair market value |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a boat in Indiana
- 1
Get the signed-over title or manufacturer's statement of origin from the seller.
- 2
Figure your boat's length tier and excise class (based on its value) using the BMV's watercraft fee schedule.
- 3
Bring the title, a bill of sale, and ID to any BMV branch - the same branch that handles car titles.
- 4
Pay the length-based fee, the excise tax for its class, the $5 DNR fee, the $15 title fee, and 7% sales tax.
- 5
Renew annually; if the boat sat in storage all year, ask about the flat $12 storage tax instead of the excise tax.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Indiana vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Indiana boat registration FAQ
Why does the BMV handle my boat instead of a wildlife agency?
It's simply how Indiana structured it - the Bureau of Motor Vehicles titles and registers watercraft the same way it does cars and motorcycles, rather than routing boats through the DNR the way most states do. DNR still collects a $5 fee riding along on the registration, but the BMV runs the transaction.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Indiana?
Add the length fee ($15 to $24), the excise tax for the boat's value class ($5 to $25), and the flat $5 DNR fee - a typical mid-size boat runs $35 to $50 a year. First-time registration adds the $15 title fee and 7% sales tax on the purchase.
What's the storage tax and who qualifies?
If a boat spends the entire registration year in storage and never operates on Indiana waterways, the owner can pay a flat $12 storage tax instead of the value-based excise tax - a meaningful discount for a boat in the higher excise classes.
Do canoes and kayaks need to register in Indiana?
Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and similar paddle craft are generally exempt from titling and registration. Add a motor of any size and it needs the same BMV registration as a powered boat.
Is there sales tax on a used boat bought from a private owner?
Yes - the same 7% that applies to cars, based on your purchase price or the boat's fair market value if the BMV thinks the stated price is too low. There's no separate boat-specific rate.
Does my boat trailer register separately?
Yes - a boat trailer is a vehicle in its own right and registers through the BMV like any trailer, with its own base fee and excise tax, completely separate from the boat's own registration.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.