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Rhode Island Boat Registration Fees

Rhode Island made a deliberate bet in 1993 to keep boat buyers from registering their yachts in Delaware or Florida instead: it eliminated sales tax on boats entirely, tied to Congress repealing the old federal luxury tax on boats. That exemption never expired - buy any boat in Rhode Island today, new or used, six figures or six hundred dollars, and you owe 0% state sales tax on the hull. Outboard motors don't share that break; a motor bought from a dealer is taxed at the normal 7%, though a privately-sold motor stays tax-free.

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Official fees

Rhode Island boat registration fee chart

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 July 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.

Step by step

How to register a boat in Rhode Island

  1. 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. 2

    Apply for a DEM vessel title if the boat is over 14 feet and doesn't already have one.

  3. 3

    Submit the DEM boat registration application with your length class and any outboard motor details.

  4. 4

    Pay the length-based registration fee plus the environmental assessment fee - no sales tax applies to the hull.

  5. 5

    Display your RI registration numbers and current decal on both sides of the bow as required.

Register at
RI DEM, not DMV
Term
2 years (1-year option, 31 ft+)
Registration
$37–$636
Boat sales tax
0% since 1993
Title (boats > 14 ft)
$25 ($40 with lien)

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.

Same state, other costs

More Rhode Island vehicle costs

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.

Receipts

Official sources

Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.

Everywhere else

Boat Registration Fees by state

Fees and rules are different in every state. Pick yours for exact numbers.

each state hand-verified against its DMV before it goes live

Disclaimer

DMVCosts provides fee estimates for general informational purposes only - it is not legal, tax, or financial advice, and no calculator can account for every county surcharge, exemption, or mid-year rate change. Figures are verified against official sources on the date shown, but fees change over time.

The final, binding amount is always the one quoted by the RI Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Confirm with them before making payment decisions. To the fullest extent permitted by law, DMVCosts disclaims all liability for decisions made based on these estimates.