Register a boat

Get a registration quote for your boat

All boats—including personal watercraft (PWC)—with an engine of 3kW or more must be registered when they are on the water in Queensland.

If your boat is not used entirely for private recreation or is not owned by a school, a surf lifesaving club or other community group, you will need to get commercial registration.

Special rules apply for tender registration and boats with interstate or overseas registration.

How to register your boat or PWC

Register your boat at a transport and motoring customer service centre or, if you live in a rural area, you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides registration services.

To register your boat, you must have the following:

• a completed Queensland regulated ship registration application (F3525)
• evidence of the boat’s origin (such as a purchase receipt)
• evidence of your identity (such as a current driver licence)
• payment for registration costs (if applicable)—you may qualify for a registration concession. Third party insurance is not included in the registration cost—you will need to take this cover out with an insurer.

Boats 15m or more in length

If your boat is 15m or more in length (PDF, 55KB)—applications for new registration, transfer of ownership or change of boat details must be endorsed by Maritime Safety Queensland before the registration can be processed by Transport and Main Roads. Email your completed Queensland regulated ship registration application (F3525) to Maritime_Standards@tmr.qld.gov.au for endorsement, or take the application to a transport and motoring customer service centre or, if you live in a rural area, a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides registration services.

Registration numbers

Once registered, you will get registration numbers allocated to your boat.

You must display registration numbers so they can be read from 30m away and in a contrasting colour to the hull of the boat. The size of the registration numbers depends on the type of boat:

• Boats capable of planing—at least 150mm high on both sides.
• Boats not capable of planing—at least 75mm high on both sides or the stern.
• PWCs— must be at least 100mm high and on both sides.

Changes to registration labels

You no longer receive a registration label when you register your boat.

You will not be fined if you leave an expired registration label on your boat.

Registration certificate

In most cases you will no longer be posted a registration certificate.

You can get your registration certificate online.

You will be posted a registration certificate when:

• a boat’s registration is varied at renewal (due to over or under payment)

If you are an organisation and don't have an ACN recorded with TMR, you will be posted a registration certificate when:

• a boat is registered for the first time
• a boat's registration is transferred
• a boat's registration period is varied at renewal (due to over or under payment)
• changes to your registration or boat details are made.

Check your registration status

Check your boat's registration online or via the QLD Rego Check mobile app which can be downloaded using iTunes or Google Play. This service can be used to check if the boat you will be operating is registered.

You can also check your registration by calling the Department of Transport and Main Roads on 13 23 80, or checking the due date by looking on your registration documentation for when you paid last time.

Renew your registration

You will receive a renewal notice about 4 weeks before your registration expires. Make sure you renew your registration before the due date or you cannot operate the boat or PWC.

Find out ways to pay your registration.

When registration has expired

Your registration expires if you don’t pay the registration fee by the expiry date.

If your registration has expired, your boat or PWC is unregistered—and possibly uninsured—until the fee is paid. If you operate an unregistered boat you can be fined.

You have 3 months to renew your registration after the expiry date. After this date, you will need to apply for a new registration.

Should you renew your registration during the 3 month grace period, your registration will be backdated to the anniversary date of the expired registration. A late renewal fee will apply. If you don't want this to happen, you may apply for a new registration.

Change or transfer your registration details

You can change your boat registration details at a Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centre or, if you live in a rural area, you can visit a QGAP office, Magistrates Court or local police station that provides registration services. Take with you a completed change of Queensland regulated ship particulars notification form (F3527).

If you have sold your boat, you may be eligible to transfer the registration online as the seller.

If you have bought a recreational boat, you need to change the ownership details into your name within 14 days of the purchase. Take with you:

• a completed Queensland regulated ship registration transfer (F3521)
• evidence of the boat’s origin (such as a purchase receipt)
• evidence of your identity (such as a current driver licence).

Alternatively you may be eligible to transfer the registration online as the buyer. Note: The seller needs to complete their part of transfer online or in person before you can transfer the registration into your name online.

If you have bought or sold a boat with a registered trailer, you also need to transfer the trailer registration.

Tender registration

If your boat or PWC is a tender to a registered ship, it is exempt from registration if all of the following apply:

• it is only used within 2 nautical miles of the parent ship
• it is being used to transport people or provisions between the ship and the shore—this does not include fishing or sightseeing activities
• it is smaller than the parent ship
• it is 6m in length or smaller.

The tender must be marked on the exterior with the word 'tender' and the parent ship’s registration numbers, in characters at least 75mm high. If this is not possible, markings should be on the inside of the boat in the largest characters possible. If the tender is used for more than 1 ship, it may be marked with the owner's name.

Read more about safety equipment and registration requirements for tenders to Queensland regulated ships (PDF, 283 KB).

Interstate and overseas registration

Recreational boats with valid interstate or overseas registration can operate in Queensland:

• for up to 1 year if the boat has current registration from a foreign country.

Please note: This does not apply if the ship is owned by an individual whose principal place of residence is in Queensland, or a person whose principal place of business (or principal place for managing the ship’s operations) is in Queensland.

• while on interstate voyages if the boat has current registration from another state or territory.

If you move to Queensland from another state or territory, or your interstate or foreign registration expires, you must get Queensland registration.