Official fees
Wisconsin boat registration fee chart
Under 16 ft (motorized)
$22
3-year registration
16 ft to under 26 ft
$32
3-year registration
26 ft to under 40 ft
$60
3-year registration
40 ft and over
$100
3-year registration
Non-motorized sailboat, over 12 ft
$17
3-year registration
Boat title
$5
mandatory at 16 ft and longer
Boat sales tax
5%–7.9%
based on where the boat is customarily kept
Figures verified July 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with the Wisconsin DMV (WisDOT) - counties can add small local fees.
Step by step
How to register a boat in Wisconsin
- 1
Get the signed-over title (or bill of sale for a boat under 16 feet that isn't titled).
- 2
Complete the Boat Registration and Titling Application (Form 9400-193).
- 3
Submit to the DNR with the length-based registration fee, the $5 title fee if required, and sales tax based on where you'll keep the boat.
- 4
Display your Wisconsin registration numbers and current validation decal on both sides of the bow.
- 5
Mark your calendar for March 31 three years out - that's when the registration expires, regardless of when you registered.
- Registration term
- 3 years (Apr 1–Mar 31)
- Fee range
- $17–$100
- Title fee
- $5, required at 16 ft+
- Sales tax
- 5%–7.9%, same as vehicles
- Exempt
- Non-motorized ≤ 12 ft
Overview
Titling is mandatory for any boat 16 feet or longer, motorized or not - a $5 fee either way. Sales tax follows the same rules as vehicles: 5% state plus whatever county and city tax applies where the boat is customarily kept, so a boat kept in the city of Milwaukee owes the same 7.9% combined rate as a car there. Small craft are exempt entirely: non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and sailboats 12 feet or under don't need to register at all.
Same state, other costs
More Wisconsin vehicle costs
Common questions
Wisconsin boat registration FAQ
- How much does it cost to register a boat in Wisconsin?
- For three years: $22 under 16 feet, $32 for 16 to under 26 feet, $60 for 26 to under 40 feet, $100 at 40 feet and over. First-time owners add a $5 title fee (mandatory at 16 feet or longer) plus 5%–7.9% sales tax on the purchase.
- Do kayaks and canoes need to be registered in Wisconsin?
- No - non-motorized canoes, kayaks, and sailboats 12 feet or under are exempt entirely. Add a motor (even a small trolling motor) or go over 12 feet with a sailboat, and registration becomes mandatory.
- Why does my boat need a title but my neighbor's doesn't?
- Wisconsin requires titling for any boat 16 feet or longer, motorized or not, regardless of value. Shorter boats generally register without a separate title - just the registration decals.
- Is boat sales tax the same as vehicle sales tax in Wisconsin?
- Yes, same structure: 5% state plus your local county/city rate, based on wherever the boat is customarily kept rather than where you bought it. A boat kept in the city of Milwaukee owes the same 7.9% combined rate as a car there.
- How long does my boat registration actually last?
- Three years on a fixed statewide clock - every registration period runs from April 1 through March 31 three years later, so your renewal date isn't tied to when you first registered.
- Does my boat trailer register with the DNR too?
- No - the trailer is a vehicle and registers through WisDOT like any trailer, completely separate from the boat's DNR paperwork and fees.
Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.
