Official fees
Montana boat registration fee chart
Under 16 feet
$65.50
one-time, permanent registration
16 feet to 18 feet 11 inches
$125.50
one-time, permanent registration
19 feet and over
$295.50
one-time, permanent registration
Vessel title (Form MV1A)
$10.30
Lien filing fee
$8.24
per lien recorded
Validation decal renewal
$0.00
every 3 years, free
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county treasurer's motor vehicle office (MT MVD) - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in Montana
- 1
Confirm it needs registering: any motorized vessel, or any sailboat 12 feet or longer.
- 2
Complete Form MV1A, Application for Certificate of Title for a Vessel.
- 3
Bring the signed-over title or bill of sale to your county treasurer's office.
- 4
Pay the one-time length-based registration fee, the $10.30 title fee, and any lien fee.
- 5
Display your MT numbers and the permanent decal; renew the free validation decal every 3 years.
- Under 16 ft
- $65.50 one-time
- 16'–18'11"
- $125.50 one-time
- 19 ft+
- $295.50 one-time
- Title (MV1A)
- $10.30
- Decal renewal
- Free, every 3 years
Overview
Titling is separate from registering, using Form MV1A rather than the vehicle MV1, and it costs $10.30 (the same 'other vehicles' rate as trailers), plus $8.24 if there's a lien to record. Fish, Wildlife & Parks sets Montana's boating rules of the water, but the county treasurer's office - the same office that titles your truck - handles the actual registration and title paperwork.
Same state, other costs
More Montana vehicle costs
Common questions
Montana boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in Montana?
- A one-time fee based on length: $65.50 under 16 feet, $125.50 from 16 feet to 18'11", and $295.50 at 19 feet and up. Add the $10.30 title fee for a first-time registration. After that, it's permanent - no annual renewal fee.
- Do kayaks and canoes need to be registered in Montana?
- Not if unpowered. Add a motor (including a trolling motor) and registration becomes mandatory regardless of length; unpowered sailboats need registration at 12 feet and longer.
- If registration is permanent, why do I get a renewal notice?
- That's the validation decal, not the registration itself - it's reissued free every three years to confirm the boat is still owned and accounted for. There's no fee attached to that renewal.
- Is a boat's registration the same office as my truck's?
- Yes - your county treasurer's motor vehicle office handles both, using Form MV1A instead of MV1 for the title. Fish, Wildlife & Parks governs boating safety and waterway rules, not the registration paperwork.
- Does my boat trailer register separately?
- Yes - the trailer is a vehicle, titled and registered like any Montana trailer through the regular MV1 process, completely separate from the boat's own MV1A registration.
- Is there sales tax on a boat purchase in Montana?
- No - the same statewide 0% applies to boats as to cars. You'll only pay the one-time registration fee by length and the $10.30 title fee, regardless of purchase price.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
