Resources for boat buyers

Public information worth knowing before and after you buy: registration, boater education, inspections and safety, with links to the official sources.

Boat helm and steering wheel facing open water

Our checklist

Before buying a repossessed or pre-owned boat

Repossessed and liquidated boats can be good value. These checks help you buy with your eyes open.

Match the hull identification number (HIN) on the transom to the paperwork.
Ask what documents come with it: title, registration or bill of sale.
Read the condition note, and ask about anything it doesn't cover.
Book an independent marine survey or engine check where available.
Check the Coast Guard recall list for the make and model.
Plan pickup or shipping, and the trailer if one isn't included.
Line up registration and boater education for your state.

Florida

Boater education ID card

Florida requires a Boating Safety Education ID card for anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more.

Earned by passing an approved boating safety course; the card is valid for life.
New owners have a 90-day exemption if the bill of sale is kept aboard.

FWC boater education FWC education FAQs

New York

Boating safety certificate

Under Brianna's Law, every operator of a motorized vessel in New York, including personal watercraft, needs a boating safety certificate. Full implementation took effect January 1, 2025.

Earned through a state-approved course, offered in person or online.
Applies regardless of age or experience.

NY State Parks boating education

Florida

Title and registration

Motorized vessels used on Florida's public waters must be titled and registered. Buyers have 30 days from purchase to do it, and proof of the purchase date should stay aboard until then.

Apply at a county tax collector or license plate agent office.
Bring the transferred title or other proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale.

FLHSMV vessel titling and registration

New York

Registration and title

Every motorboat used in New York must be registered, whatever its size. Boats from model year 1987 or newer and at least 14 feet long are also titled.

Apply with form MV-82B at a DMV office.
Boats registered in another state can stay up to 90 consecutive days without a NY registration.

NY DMV: register a boat

Before you buy

Independent marine surveys

A marine surveyor inspects a boat's hull, systems and engines and reports on its condition. It's the most useful step before buying any used boat, and many insurers and lenders ask for one.

SAMS surveyor directory NAMS surveyor directory

Before you buy

Recalls and federal requirements

The U.S. Coast Guard keeps a searchable list of recalls on recreational boats and marine products, along with the federal safety equipment requirements for recreational boats.

USCG recall database USCG Boating Safety

Larger boats

Federal documentation

Vessels of at least five net tons can be documented with the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center instead of being titled by a state. A documented boat may still need state registration where it's kept.

National Vessel Documentation Center

On the water

Charts and marine weather

Free official nautical charts and marine forecasts for the waters off Florida, New York and the rest of the U.S. coast.

NOAA nautical charts NWS marine forecasts

Rules change. This page summarizes public information from the official sources linked on each card, checked October 2026. Confirm current requirements with the agency before you act. Other states have their own rules.

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