Boating in Massachusetts

Registration, titles, boater education and taxes, from Massachusetts Environmental Police (Office of Law Enforcement) and other official sources.

Registering agency	Massachusetts Environmental Police (Office of Law Enforcement)
Registration fees	<16 ft $44; 16-25 $66; 26-39 $88; 40+ $110; title $27.50
Renewal	2 years
Title	yes for boats 14 ft or longer that use or are designed for a motor
Boater education	Any person of at least 12 years of age and less than 16 yoa, operating a motorboat without adult supervision. PWC users 16 and 17 years of age. (PWC's cannot be operated by youth less than 16 yoa). [per USCG-hosted NASBLA state survey; survey date not shown, may be outdated]; ages 12-15 operating a motorboat without adult supervision; 16-17 for PWC [per USCG-hosted NASBLA survey; may be outdated]
Sales/use tax	6.25% of total purchase price, due 20th of following month
Property tax	boat excise instead
Forms	Official forms

Sources

Checked 2026-10-24. Rules change; confirm with the agency.

New Bedford (#16) · Lynn (#29) · Fall River (#30) · Malden (#31) · Salem (#32) · Peabody (#36) · Everett (#37) · Brockton (#39) · Somerville (#45) · Woburn (#48) · Cambridge (#50) · Medford (#51) · Beverly (#52) · Chelsea (#54) · Lawrence (#57) · Revere (#62) · Quincy (#70) · Newton (#73) · Weymouth Town (#76) · Waltham (#81) · Boston (#89) · Taunton (#101) · Lowell (#104) · Barnstable Town (#129) · Framingham (#144) · Haverhill (#146) · Methuen (#151) · Attleboro (#179) · All 250 boating cities