Boating in California
Registration, titles, boater education and taxes, from California Department of Motor Vehicles (registration); Division of Boating and Waterways (education) and other official sources.
| Registering agency | California Department of Motor Vehicles (registration); Division of Boating and Waterways (education) |
| Registration fees | renewal $20 per 2 years; $10 late penalty |
| Renewal | 2 years (expires Dec 31 of odd-numbered years) |
| Title | yes (California Certificate of Ownership issued with registration) |
| Boater education | State law allows courts to order any boat operator that is convicted of a moving violation. Violators must take and successfully complete course [per USCG-hosted NASBLA state survey; survey date not shown, may be outdated]; all ages (since Jan 1, 2025) for any engine-propelled vessel; California Boater Card |
| Sales/use tax | 7.25% statewide base rate + district taxes 0.10%-2.00% -- use tax collected by DMV at registration (applies to boats brought in within 12 months of purchase); rate depends on location |
| Property tax | yes |
| Forms | Official forms |
Sources
Checked 2026-10-24. Rules change; confirm with the agency.
Places in California
Top boating cities in California
San Leandro (#98) · Oakland (#106) · Alameda (#114) · Berkeley (#127) · South San Francisco (#133) · San Bruno (#137) · Daly City (#143) · Walnut Creek (#147) · Danville (#149) · Hayward (#152) · Richmond (#153) · San Mateo (#159) · Vallejo (#164) · San Ramon (#168) · San Rafael (#171) · Concord (#183) · Union City (#194) · Redwood City (#201) · Norwalk (#233) · Lakewood (#234) · Bellflower (#235) · Dublin (#236) · Novato (#238) · Cerritos (#239) · Monterey Park (#243) · Paramount (#244) · Montebello (#246) · Whittier (#247) · Huntington Park (#248) · South Gate (#250) · All 250 boating cities
Registration, titling and documentation guide · Boater education by state
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