Overview
Sales tax on a boat is the same 6.25% rate as a car, filed on Form ST-6 rather than through the RMV - but notably without the car's book-value quirk. Massachusetts doesn't compare a private boat sale against a NADA book value the way it does for cars; the tax is simply 6.25% of the actual purchase price. Beyond the one-time registration and tax, every city or town also levies its own annual boat excise - $10 per $1,000 of value, billed separately by wherever the boat is principally moored each summer.
01 - Official fees
Massachusetts boat registration fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 ft | $44 | 2-year registration |
| 16 ft to under 26 ft | $66 | 2-year registration |
| 26 ft to under 40 ft | $88 | 2-year registration |
| 40 ft and over | $110 | 2-year registration |
| Boat title (14 ft+, motorized) | $27.50 | |
| Sales/use tax | 6.25% | of actual price - no NADA book-value floor like cars |
| Municipal boat excise | $10 / $1,000 of value | billed annually by the mooring town |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Massachusetts RMV - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a boat in Massachusetts
- 1
File Form ST-6 and pay 6.25% sales/use tax on the purchase price through MassTaxConnect before you can complete registration.
- 2
Apply for registration (and title, if the boat is 14 feet or longer with a motor) with the Massachusetts Environmental Police, by mail or at a regional office.
- 3
Pay the length-based 2-year registration fee plus the $27.50 title fee if one applies.
- 4
Display your registration numbers and validation sticker on the bow.
- 5
Expect a separate annual boat excise bill from whichever city or town the boat is principally moored in each summer.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Massachusetts vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Massachusetts boat registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a boat in Massachusetts?
For 2 years: $44 under 16 ft, $66 for 16–25.9 ft, $88 for 26–39.9 ft, $110 at 40 ft and up. First-time buyers of a motorized boat 14 feet or longer add a $27.50 title fee, plus 6.25% sales tax on the purchase price.
Does Massachusetts tax boats on book value the way it taxes cars?
No - that's a car-specific quirk. Boat sales tax under Form ST-6 is simply 6.25% of the actual price paid, with no NADA clean trade-in comparison. A documented low price on a private boat sale is taxed as stated.
Do kayaks or canoes need to register in Massachusetts?
Unpowered kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are exempt regardless of length. Add any motor, including an electric trolling motor, and registration with the Environmental Police becomes mandatory.
What's the annual boat excise tax, and who bills it?
It's a separate municipal tax - $10 per $1,000 of the boat's assessed value - billed each year by the city or town where the boat is habitually moored, docked, or kept for the summer season as of July 1. It has nothing to do with the Environmental Police registration fee.
Is a boat trailer registered with the Environmental Police too?
No - a boat trailer is a highway vehicle and registers with the RMV like any trailer, completely separate from the boat's own Environmental Police paperwork.
Are any boats exempt from the annual excise?
Yes - commercial fishing vessels valued at $10,000 or less, and any other vessel valued at $1,000 or less, are exempt. If you sell or move the boat out of Massachusetts after July 1, the excise is prorated monthly down to a $5 minimum.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.