Overview
Registration itself runs through the Department of Environmental Management, not the DMV, and it's priced by length: $37 for a small boat under 16 feet (including the $5 environmental assessment fee) up to $636 for anything over 50 feet, each covering a 2-year cycle. Vessels over 14 feet also need a DEM title - $25, or $40 if there's a bank lien - separate from the registration decal. The calculator below totals it for your boat.
01 - Official fees
Rhode Island boat registration fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 ft | $37 | $32 registration + $5 environmental fee, 2-year |
| 16–20 ft | $47 | $42 + $5 environmental fee, 2-year |
| 21–25 ft | $71 | $66 + $5 environmental fee, 2-year |
| 26–30 ft | $114 | $108 + $6 environmental fee, 2-year |
| 31–35 ft | $219 / $113 | 2-year / 1-year option, incl. $7 fee |
| 36–40 ft | $273 / $141 | 2-year / 1-year option, incl. $9 fee |
| 41–45 ft | $326 / $168 | 2-year / 1-year option, incl. $10 fee |
| 46–50 ft | $430 / $221 | 2-year / 1-year option, incl. $12 fee |
| Over 50 ft | $636 / $326 | 2-year / 1-year option, incl. $16 fee |
| Vessel title (boats over 14 ft) | $25 | $40 if a bank lien is recorded |
| Outboard motor registration | $20 | separate from the boat |
| Boat sales tax | 0% | exempt statewide since 1993 |
| Outboard motor sales tax | 7% | dealer sales only; private-party motor sales are exempt |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the RI Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - counties can add small local fees.
02 - Step by step
How to register a boat in Rhode Island
- 1
Get the signed bill of sale or title from the seller (boats over 14 ft need a title, not just a bill of sale).
- 2
Apply for a DEM vessel title if the boat is over 14 feet and doesn't already have one.
- 3
Submit the DEM boat registration application with your length class and any outboard motor details.
- 4
Pay the length-based registration fee plus the environmental assessment fee - no sales tax applies to the hull.
- 5
Display your RI registration numbers and current decal on both sides of the bow as required.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Rhode Island vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Rhode Island boat registration FAQ
Is it true Rhode Island charges no sales tax on boats?
Yes - since 1993, boats sold in Rhode Island owe 0% state sales tax, at any price. The exemption was written to survive permanently once Congress repealed the federal 10% luxury surcharge on boats that same year, and it's never been reversed.
Does the tax exemption cover the motor too?
Not if it's an outboard bought from a dealer - that's taxed at the normal 7%. A privately-sold outboard motor is tax-exempt, same as most private-party sales. Inboard motors, being part of the boat itself, follow the boat's 0% treatment.
How much does it cost to register a boat in Rhode Island?
For two years: $37 under 16 ft, up through $114 for 26–30 ft, and $219–$636 for anything over 30 ft depending on length (vessels 31 ft and up can also register annually at roughly half that price). All figures include the required environmental assessment fee.
Do kayaks or small boats need to register in Rhode Island?
Non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards 12 feet or shorter, plus houseboats, are exempt from registration. Anything motorized, or a non-motorized boat over 12 feet, needs a Certificate of Number from the DEM.
Do I need a title for my boat, or just registration?
Both, if the boat is over 14 feet: a DEM vessel title ($25, or $40 with a bank lien noted) plus the length-based registration and decal. Boats 14 feet and under skip the title requirement and only need registration.
Does a registered boat owe Rhode Island's old car tax?
No - and this predates the vehicle excise tax's 2023 elimination. Rhode Island has long exempted currently-registered motorboats from local property tax, on top of the 0% sales tax at purchase.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.