Anyone who wishes to register a boat in Tennessee must apply for registration in the county clerk’s office unless the boat is purchased from a dealer.
New Purchases
When purchasing a boat in Tennessee from a dealership, make sure that you are provided with a completed application for Boat Certificate of Number. Furthermore, if they process the paperwork, make sure you receive the yellow copy of the application because it is your temporary registration. Should the dealership give you both the white and the yellow copy, mail the white copy with the appropriate fee to:
Boat Registration
PO Box 41729
Nashville, TN 37204-1729.
When purchasing a boat from an individual, you should receive the registration card to the watercraft and a bill of sale. Once you have obtained the required documentation you must come into a county clerk’s office to make an application for your boat registration. You will be required at that time to remit taxes on the purchase price and a fee of $7.00. At that time, you will be given a receipt for sales tax paid and an application for Boat Certificate of Number. The white copy of this application and a copy of the receipt should be mailed with the appropriate fees to the address provided or uploaded to TWRA and the yellow copy retained as a temporary registration.
Renewals
You may renew your Tennessee boat registration wherever you purchase hunting & fishing licenses, or online.
New Residents
New residents to Tennessee who wish to register their watercraft in Tennessee must provide proof of ownership (current registration card or title) and proof that taxes were collected (bill of sale). You may be required when registering to pay additional sales tax on the watercraft. Otherwise, the process is the same for new residents as for new purchases.
