California

State Seal of California

Registration & Titling Requirements for California

Agency: California Department of Motor Vehicles
Web / Email: denise.burroughs@dmv.ca.gov | Phone: (916) 549-9414
Address: 2415 First Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95818

Vessel Titling & Registration

Titling Vessels
Yes
Vessels Requiring Titling
Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 9850, the following must be titled/registered: • Undocumented motor boats. • Undocumented sailboats over 8 feet in length or with a motor. • Amphibious vehicle/vessels. • Houseboats. Exception: A floating, stationary residential dwelling (floating home) not designed to have power of its own, dependent for utilities from a source on shore, and which has a permanent sewage hookup on shore (VC §9840). • Inflatable vessels with motors. • Personal watercraft ski-type vessels (for example, jet ski or wet bike). • Shuttle craft. A shuttle craft is a full-size, open bow, jet boat similar to a barge. It is powered and steered by a personal watercraft.
Exempt Vessels
Information not provided.
Issue Brands for Vessels
No

Associated Equipment & Propulsion

Outboard Motors Titled
No
Vessel Trailers Titled
Yes

State Artifacts

State Registration Card
California State Registration Card
State Watercraft Decal
California State Watercraft Decal