Boating, Paddling & Water Safety
Titles, registration & the boater card
The plain answer: a motorboat — or a sailboat over 12 feet — gets a title and a registration from the Department of Revenue. A canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or rowboat needs neither. And if you were born after January 1, 1984 and you'll run a motorized boat on a lake, you also need a boater card.
Start with your craft
What does your craft need?
Find what you're putting on the water in the left column. A motorboat carries the most paperwork; a paddle craft almost none — but everyone needs a life jacket.
| Your craft | Title & register? | Boater card? | Must carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorboat | Yes — title and register with DOR. | Yes, if born after Jan. 1, 1984 and operating on a lake. | A wearable PFD per person, a fire extinguisher (per the USCG rules), a sound device, nav lights after dark, and your registration. |
| PWC / jet ski | Yes — title and register. | Yes, if born after Jan. 1, 1984. | A worn PFD for everyone aboard, the engine cutoff lanyard, a marine extinguisher, and your registration. |
| Sailboat over 12 ft | Yes — title and register. | Only if it's motorized and you were born after Jan. 1, 1984; sail-only has no card trigger. | A wearable PFD per person, a sound device, and nav lights after dark. |
| Canoe, kayak or paddleboard (paddle-only) | No — exempt at any length. | No. | One wearable PFD per person, a white light after dark, and sealed nonglass containers. |
| Rowboat (oar-only) | No — exempt. | No. | One wearable PFD per person and a white light after dark. |
| Rental motorboat / PWC | The livery's boat is already registered. | The card, or a temporary rental permit plus a safety briefing. | PFDs and the gear the livery provides — check it before you leave the dock. |
What you must title and register
You must title and register all motorized vessels (including jet skis) and sailboats longer than 12 feet, plus all outboard motors except trolling/electric ones.
No paperwork needed
What's exempt from registration
- Craft propelled only by paddle or oars — a canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or rowboat — regardless of length.
- Sailboats and sailboards 12 feet or less.
- Out-of-state boats in Missouri fewer than 60 consecutive days.
- U.S.-government boats and a ship's lifeboat.
- USCG-documented vessels aren't titled, but they must still be registered.
Title deadline
Title within 60 days. The penalty is $10 on the 61st day, plus $10 every 30 days after, up to a $30 maximum.
What it costs
Title & registration fees
Registration fees go up with the length of your boat. These come straight from the Department of Revenue — confirm the current amounts before you pay.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Boat/vessel title fee | $7.50 |
| Registration (decal) — under 16 ft | $25 |
| Registration — 16 to under 26 ft | $55 |
| Registration — 26 to under 40 ft | $100 |
| Registration — 40 ft and over | $150 |
| Processing fee | $9 |
Plus state sales tax of 4.225% and local tax on the purchase price. (An outboard motor is $5 to title and $2 to register.)
The registration cycle
Registration runs for THREE years and expires June 30 of the year on the decal. There's no late-renewal penalty — but don't operate with expired decals.
Your MO numbers
Your MO numbers go on both sides of the bow in 3-inch contrasting block letters, reading left to right.
Coast Guard-documented vessels
A USCG-documented vessel isn't titled in Missouri, but it must be registered.
The boater card
Born after January 1, 1984? You need one for a motorized boat on a lake.
A Boating Safety Identification Card is required for anyone born after January 1, 1984 who operates a motorized vessel on the lakes of the state (RSMo 306.127).
The course: Take a NASBLA-approved course — free in person through marine troopers, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the Power Squadron, or a paid course online — and pass the test.
The fee: The card costs about $15.
What it covers: It applies to jet skis (PWC) and to out-of-state boaters (who can show a NASBLA card from their home state).
Driver's-license option: Missouri residents can add a boater indicator to a driver's license or nondriver ID instead of carrying the separate card.
Renters: Renters need the card or a temporary rental permit plus a safety briefing.
Who's exempt: Born on or before January 1, 1984? You're exempt — though a course is still a smart idea.
Before you launch
Missouri Porch explains; the Highway Patrol, the DOR, and the agency that runs your water decide.
Last checked: 2026-06-18. Boating law, fees, and local lake and river rules change — and the water itself changes with the weather and the season. Confirm before you launch, and wear your life jacket.
This is a plain-English summary, not the law or a substitute for a boating course. Boating rules and fees change — confirm with the Highway Patrol, the Department of Revenue, and the agency that runs your water. In an emergency, call 911.
Heads up: A paddle craft never needs a title or registration, and there's no late-renewal penalty on the three-year cycle — but don't run with expired decals, and confirm every fee with the DOR before you pay.
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