Renew your boat registration
Slow down and give Southern Resident orcas space
Recent legislation changed the approach distances and speeds around Southern Resident orcas. Before heading out on the water, visit Be Whale Wise. Learn about the latest regulations and guidelines in the US and Canada. These changes aim to reduce the noise and disturbance the orcas experience around boats, allowing them to better:
- Hunt for salmon.
- Care for their young.
- Communicate with one another.
How to renew
There are several ways to renew your boat registration:
- Log in or join to renew online with License eXpress.
Securely renew and manage your vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, driver license and their addresses all in one place! Need to renew your boat? You can do that through License eXpress too!- Pay with a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express debit or credit card (no gift cards).
- Learn more about License eXpress.
- Renew online without setting up an account.
- Pay with a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express debit or credit card (no gift cards).
- Renew at a vehicle/boat licensing office
- Pay with cash, check, or money order. Some debit/credit cards are accepted at most offices.
- Be sure to bring:
- The boat registration or registration number (WN#)
- Proof that you're the registered owner. For a list of exceptions, contact a vehicle/boat licensing office.
- Renew by mail
- If you get email renewal reminders, you may print the reminder email and mail it to any vehicle/boat licensing office. (For boats, email reminders are the only option. We don't mail paper reminders anymore.)
- Pay with a check or money order.
You may also want to:
- Calculate your boat registration fees.
- See what kind of requirements you need to meet before or when you renew.
- Update your email renewal reminders.
Changes to hull identification number (HIN) standards effective January 1, 2017
All state titled vessels must have a 12-character HIN that meets federal standards as required by the Coast Guard. See Hull Identification Number (HIN) Display Instructions for the details.
When to renew
You can renew 6 months before your decals expire. All boat decal/registrations expire June 30th.
Change of name or address
If you need to update the name or address for your boat, you must visit an office. For more information, see:
Related information
- Change your name or address
- Fuel tax refunds for marine use
- Resources for boaters (Discover Pass, fishing license, launch locations, and more)
- Pay outstanding balance
