Overview
One sticker to know: the Lake and River Protection sticker guards against invasive species and is bundled free into a Maine registration for residents - but if your boat is registered in another state and you're using it here, you need to buy that sticker separately for $60 a year (rising to $75 in 2028). Boats also follow the same 25-model-year rolling title exemption as cars: as of January 1, 2026, boats model year 2001 and newer need a $33 title.
01 - Official fees
Maine boat registration fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excise tax - under 13 ft (incl. canoes) | $6 | |
| Excise tax - 20 ft | $22 | length-only tax; see 36 M.R.S. §1504 for every foot |
| Excise tax - 30 ft | $96 | |
| Horsepower add-on (13–23 ft motorboats) | $2 / $5 / $12 | by ≤20 hp / 21–70 hp / 71+ hp |
| Excise reduction, 10+ years old | −20% | |
| Excise reduction, 20+ years old | −40% | floor of $12 total, unless base tax was already lower |
| MDIFW registration - 0–10 hp | $41 inland / $16 tidal | |
| MDIFW registration - 11–50 hp | $46 inland / $21 tidal | |
| MDIFW registration - 51–115 hp | $52 inland / $27 tidal | |
| MDIFW registration - 116+ hp / PWC | $60 inland / $35 tidal | |
| Lake & River Protection sticker (non-Maine boats) | $60/yr | |
| Title fee (model year 2001 and newer) | $33.00 |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your town office (Maine BMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a boat in Maine
- 1
Pay excise tax at your town of residence (or, for nonresidents, the town where the boat is principally moored).
- 2
Get a title if the boat's model year falls inside the rolling 25-year requirement ($33).
- 3
Complete the MDIFW registration application, choosing inland or tidal water use and your motor's horsepower band.
- 4
Pay the MDIFW registration fee - the Lake and River Protection sticker is included at no extra charge for Maine-registered boats.
- 5
Display your registration numbers and the sticker on the bow before launching.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Maine vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Maine boat registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a boat in Maine?
Two separate bills: town excise tax (length-based, $6 for a canoe up to $96 at 30 feet, plus a horsepower add-on for 13–23 ft motorboats) and the MDIFW registration fee ($16–$60 depending on horsepower and whether you boat inland or tidal waters). A typical 20-ft inland outboard might owe roughly $24–$30 in excise plus $46–$52 in registration.
What's the Lake and River Protection sticker and do I have to pay for it separately?
It's Maine's invasive-species prevention sticker. If your boat is registered in Maine, it's bundled into your MDIFW registration fee at no extra cost. If your boat is registered in another state but used on Maine waters, you must buy the sticker on its own - $60 a year currently, stepping up to $75 on January 1, 2028.
Does my kayak or canoe need to be registered?
No - unpowered kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards don't need Maine registration. The moment you add a motor (even a small trolling motor), registration and excise tax both kick in.
Why is my boat's excise tax lower than my neighbor's identical boat?
Age. Maine reduces boat excise tax by 20% once a boat passes 10 years old and by 40% once it passes 20 years old - the length and horsepower tax is fixed, but the reduction applies on top of it (down to a $12 floor when the un-reduced tax exceeds that).
Do I owe excise tax to my town if I keep my boat moored somewhere else in Maine?
Residents pay excise tax to their own town of residence regardless of where the boat is docked. Nonresidents (or a boat principally kept elsewhere) pay it to the town where the boat is moored, docked, or usually located instead - and a nonresident owes it only once the boat's been in Maine more than 75 days in a calendar year.
Does an old boat need a title in Maine?
Boats follow the same rolling 25-model-year rule as cars - as of January 1, 2026, model year 2001 and newer need a $33 title; anything older is exempt. The cutoff moves forward one model year every January 1.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.