A certificate of title proves ownership. All vessels are required to have a certificate of title. The only exceptions are:
– A non-motorized vessel less than 16 feet in length
– A vessel used exclusively on private lakes and ponds
– Vessels documented with the US Coast Guard
A certificate of registration is valid for 1 year and will expire on the last day of the month prior to the owner’s birth month.
The owner of a registered vessel must notify the County Tax Collector within 30 days if he or she changes address.
The owner of a registered vessel must notify the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles within 30 days if the vessel is sold, stolen, destroyed, abandoned or lost.
Vessels must be registered and numbered within 30 days of purchase.
If your vessel has a current and valid registration or certificate of number from another US state or territory, you may operate it in Florida for 90 days before you are required to register it in Florida.
Larger recreational vessels, owned by US citizens, May (at the option of the owner) be documented by the US Coast Guard. Documented vessels must also obtain a Florida registration and display the validation decal when operating on Florida waters from within 90 days.