Tag Office Guide
How to title and register a boat
Hull numbers, trailers as separate vehicles, out-of-state boats, and where boat titling is handled in each state.
Boats are titled and registered much like cars, and in Oklahoma the same tag agency handles both. Kansas splits the job: registration runs through the wildlife and parks agency, while the trailer is handled by the county treasurer.
Remember the trailer. It is a separate titled vehicle with its own registration. Buying a boat on a trailer means two transactions, and the trailer is the one people forget until they are pulled over.
What to bring
- Title signed by the seller, or the manufacturer's statement of origin for a new boat
- Bill of sale with price, date and hull identification number
- Hull identification number (HIN) — the 12-character number on the transom, right side
- Photo ID
- Trailer title, handled as its own transaction
- Payment for title, registration and excise or sales tax
Registration numbers and decals
Once registered you receive a number that must be displayed on both sides of the bow in block letters of a minimum height, contrasting with the hull, along with validation decals. The specifics on placement and size are enforced on the water.
Out-of-state boats
Same idea as a car. Bring the out-of-state title and registration, and expect the HIN to be verified. Boats that have been out of the water for years and boats with homemade modifications draw more scrutiny and may need inspection.
Boats that do not need registration
Rules vary, but generally non-motorized craft — canoes, kayaks, paddleboards — are exempt in both states. Attach any motor, including a small electric trolling motor, and registration is usually required.
Where to go
In Oklahoma, any Licensed Operator handles boat and outboard motor titling alongside vehicles. In Kansas, boat registration goes through Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks; take only the trailer to the county treasurer.