Quick Registration Near Me

[Nichele Seibel]

DISCLAIMERDue to unique situations, the information above may not be all inclusive. If your situation is not specifically discussed, please call the Boat Information Hotline at 800-262-8755.

Cash, checks and money orders are accepted at all locations. Credit and debit cards are not accepted at TPWD locations for boat related transactions. Acceptance of credit and debit cards at County Tax Assessor-Collector locations is up to the discretion of each individual tax office location.

Note: TPWD does not have the authority to waive or exempt tax, penalty or interest due. Tax law and policy is under the sole authority of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. A Taxpayer may submit Form 57-200, Texas Claim for Refund of Boat and Boat Motor Tax (PDF) to the Comptroller of Public Accounts to request a refund of penalty or interest paid.

New Resident Tax - $15.00. New Resident tax is assessed (not sales or use tax) for new Texas residents who are bringing their previously titled or registered boat and/or outboard motor from their previous state into Texas.

A Texas resident bringing a boat or outboard motor previously titled or registered in their name out of state, must pay use tax, and are not eligible for new resident tax. To receive credit for any tax previously paid, proof of that tax payment must be provided.

Tax Code states:Sec. 160.022. USE TAX.

(a) A use tax is imposed on a taxable boat or motor purchased at retail outside this state and used in this state or brought into this state for use by a Texas resident or other person who is domiciled or doing business in this state. The tax is an obligation of and shall be paid by the person who uses the boat or motor in this state or brings the boat or motor into this state.

The owner on TPWD record may renew registration by one of the following methods:Renew Registration Online through the TPWD or Texas Online website. Prior to delivery of the decals, the owner may legally operate the vessel for a period not to exceed 45 days from the date stated on the receipt. The owner must print and carry the receipt during the time period prior to receiving the registration decals. (United States Coast Guard (USCG) documented vessels are not eligible for online registration renewal due to the requirement for a copy of the current USCG documentation as stated under the Texas Administrative Code 31, Section 53.91. Submit a copy of the vessel owner's current USCG documentation using one of the methods listed below); orMail the required fee in the form of a check or money order with the renewal notice in the envelope provided; orMail the required fee in the form of a check or money order with the renewal notice, or completed Vessel/Boat Records Maintenance form PWD 143M (PDF 206.8 KB), or signed written request to TPWD, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744; orRenew in person by presenting either the renewal notice or a complete PWD 143M (PDF 206.8 KB) at a TPWD Law Enforcement field office or a participating County Tax Assessor-Collector office in your area. Only the owner of record can renew the registration. The owner of record may authorize someone to renew their registration for them by completing a Letter of Authorization form PWD 581 (PDF 314.1 KB). Valid government issued photo identification must be presented at the office by the person submitting the renewal request. Credit and debit cards are not accepted at TPWD locations. Acceptance of credit and debit cards at County Tax Assessor-Collector locations is up to the discretion of each individual tax office location.

This occurs when TPWD has not been notified that your lien has been satisfied. To notify and remove the lien information, the owner of record must apply for a replacement title with the lien released by submitting the Request to Release a Lien form PWD 403 (PDF 84.6 KB), and one of the following:Title with the lien release section signed by the lien holder; orSection N - Release a Lien on the form PWD 403 (PDF 84.6 KB) completed by the lien holder and notarized; orSeparate notarized Release of Lien provided by the lien holder.

Submit with required fees to TPWD Headquarters in Austin, a TPWD Law Enforcement field office or a participating County Tax Assessor-Collector office. TPWD will mail a title to you that does not show a lien.

Standard replacement titles print 21 days after being processed and are mailed from TPWD Headquarters. For an additional fee, you can expedite the printing of a replacement title. Quick titles print one day after being processed and are mailed from TPWD Headquarters. All titles are mailed via USPS First-Class Mail. Fee Chart (PDF 430.2 KB)

The owner of record must apply if there is no lien. If there is a lien on our record and the lien has not been paid, the lien holder must apply. If there is a lien on our record and the lien has been paid, the owner of record may apply for a replacement title with the lien released by submitting form PWD 403 (PDF 84.6 KB), and one of the following:Section N - Release a Lien on the form PWD 403 (PDF 84.6 KB) completed by the lien holder and notarized; orSeparate notarized Release of Lien provided by the lien holder.

If you are the owner of record, your registration is current and you have lost or destroyed your ID Card, OR if you would like additional ID Card(s) you may Replace or Request Additional ID Card(s) Online through the TPWD or Texas Online website.

Use tax is due and payable upon arrival in Texas. In lieu of paying use tax, a temporary use tax permit may be obtained by submitting form PWD 1434 (0 B)to TPWD Headquarters in Austin, a TPWD Law Enforcement field office or a participating County Tax Assessor-Collector office.

The permit is valid for 90 days and is non-renewable, non-transferable, and non-refundable. Only two temporary tax permits may be issued for the same taxable vessel or taxable outboard motor within a calendar year. The second permit in a calendar year may not be issued before the 30th day after the date the first permit expires. The boat or motor must be removed by the time the permit expires or tax is due.

If you currently have your vessel registered and/or titled in your name in another state you can transfer the registration/title to Texas. You must transfer your registration and title within 90 days and pay use tax or new resident tax, as applicable, within 45 working days.

In a private sale, whenever possible, both the buyer and seller should go to the nearest participating office to transfer the vessel/boat title and registration and outboard motor title into the name of the purchaser.

Note: If a hand written bill of sale is provided instead of on the title or signed tax affidavit portion on the PWD 143 and/or PWD 144, list the price of the trailer separately from the price of the vessel/boat and outboard motor. A valid bill of sale must contain the date of sale, sales price (excluding trailer), description of the vessel/boat and outboard motor (make, year, and TX or serial number), purchaser(s) name(s) and seller(s) signature(s).

Parks and Wildlife Code states:Sec. 31.037. CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP INTEREST; NOTICE TO DEPARTMENT.

(a) The recorded owner of a vessel numbered in this state shall notify the department not later than the 20th day after the date:of the transfer by sale, donation, gift, or other means of all or any part of the owner's interest in the vessel, other than the creation of a security interest in the vessel;of the destruction or disposal of the vessel; orof the permanent removal of the vessel from this state to another state or country.

Vessel/boat and outboard motor ownership information is, by law, public information and TPWD retains historical documentation for vessels/boats and outboard motors for a period of 10 years. To obtain the History, which provides a copy of all documents submitted for transactions on file for a vessel/boat and/or outboard motor, submit:Form PWD 763 (PDF 263.5 KB) and required fees to TPWD Headquarters in Austin, a TPWD Law Enforcement field office or a participating County Tax Assessor-Collector office.All history requests will be fulfilled by TPWD Austin Headquarters within 10 days of processing.

To become a licensed dealer, you must be in the business of buying, selling, selling on consignment, displaying for sale, and exchanging vessels or outboard motors at an established or permanent place of business in the state of Texas. Each location must have a sign conspicuously displayed showing the name of the dealership so that it may be clearly seen by the public and have sufficient space to maintain an office, service area, and display of products.

To become a licensed distributor or manufacturer, you must be engaged in the business of manufacturing new and unused vessels and outboard motors for the purpose of sale or trade or offer for sale, sell, or process for distribution new vessels or outboard motors to dealers in the state of Texas.

To transfer your license to a new owner, complete in full the marine license application form PWD 310 (PDF 142 KB) and submit it along with the $500.00 fee, and, if applicable, verification of all assumed names, toTPWD Headquarters in Austin.

To transfer your license to a new location, complete the marine license application form PWD 310 (PDF 142 KB) and submit it along with the $11.00 fee, and, if applicable, verification of all assumed names, to TPWD Headquarters in Austin.

3a8082e126