Official fees
Texas boat registration fee chart
Under 16 ft (Class A)
$32
2-year registration
16 ft to under 26 ft (Class 1)
$53
2-year registration
26 ft to under 40 ft (Class 2)
$110
2-year registration
40 ft and over (Class 3)
$150
2-year registration
Boat title
$27
Outboard motor title
$27
titled separately in Texas
Boat sales tax
6.25%
capped at first $350,000 of price
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your county tax assessor-collector's office (TxDMV) - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in Texas
- 1
Buy with a signed-over boat title AND a separate motor title if there's an outboard.
- 2
Complete TPWD Form PWD-143 (boat) and PWD-144 (outboard motor).
- 3
Submit at a TPWD office, participating county tax office, or by mail within 45 working days.
- 4
Pay registration by length class, $27 per title, and 6.25% sales tax on the purchase.
- 5
Display the TX numbers and validation decal on both sides of the bow.
- Register at
- TPWD, not DMV
- Term
- 2 years
- Registration
- $32–$150
- Title (boat or motor)
- $27 each
- Sales tax
- 6.25%
Overview
Sales tax on boats is also its own system: 6.25% like vehicles, but administered by TPWD with a cap - Texas limits boat sales tax to the first $350,000 of the price. All motorized boats and any sailboat 14 feet or longer must register; kayaks and paddleboards are exempt. The calculator below totals registration, titles, and tax for your purchase.
Same state, other costs
More Texas vehicle costs
Common questions
Texas boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in Texas?
- For two years: $32 under 16 ft, $53 for 16–25'11", $110 for 26–39'11", $150 for 40 ft+. First-time buyers add $27 per title (boat and outboard motor are separate titles) and 6.25% sales tax on the purchase price.
- Do kayaks or jon boats need registration in Texas?
- Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards with no motor: no registration, any length. Add even a trolling motor and registration becomes mandatory. Sailboats register at 14 feet and longer, or any length if motorized.
- Why did I pay two title fees when I bought a used boat?
- Texas titles outboard motors separately from the boat itself - $27 for the hull title, $27 for the motor title. Inboard motors are part of the boat; it's specifically outboards that carry their own title.
- Is there sales tax on a used boat bought from a private seller?
- Yes, 6.25% paid to TPWD at registration, based on the sale price (TPWD can question suspiciously low declarations). Texas caps taxable value at $350,000, so the maximum boat sales tax is $21,875 no matter the price.
- What's the deadline to transfer a boat title in Texas?
- 45 working days from the sale - more generous than the 30 calendar days for vehicles. Late transfers owe tax penalties similar to vehicles: 5% after the deadline, 10% if it drags past 60 days.
- Does my boat trailer register with TPWD too?
- No - the trailer is a vehicle. It registers with your county tax office through TxDMV like any trailer ($45/year under 6,000 lbs), completely separate from the boat's TPWD paperwork.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
