Wow, went down to the DMV with boat in tow and it was way more painful than anticipated. They wouldn’t come out and look at it, they wouldn’t accept the serial number as a VIN, they offered to have the police come inspect it, there was talk of it taking 30-90 days to assign a VIN, and on it went. I’m not usually the guy who has a problem at the DMV, but in this case I had to politely walk out. Did you guys have to present a bill of sale or receipt, by the way? I haven’t hung on to that stuff unfortunately.
Titles and registrations are two different processes; this is similar to your car title and registration. In Utah for a raft and motor your size you can register it without paying for a title. You will be following the regs of both Utah State Parks and the Utah DMV, and you will also have to pay the county's fee.
To register:
1. Go to
https://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-661.pdf. Print and complete the form. Call your local police department non-emergency phone number and ask if an officer can verify the VIN (which is really an HIN) on a raft. The officer will normally come to the raft's location. If it is a hot day you may consider, having at the ready, a cool unopened bottle of water to offer the officer...the office may not accept it but will appreciate the offer and may be less annoyed that he has to verify the number. Have the raft unrolled, inflated if needed, when the officer arrives so the officer can easily see the HIN. The officer will verify the HIN and sign the form. It is easier to take the form rather than the raft to the DMV.
2.
https://tax.utah.gov/forms/current/tc-843. Print and complete this form. Remember to register or title your raft you will pay sales tax on the purchase price, and the DMV will use the bill of sale to determine the sales tax If you received the raft as a gift there will be no sales tax, but you may have to substantiate that it was really gifted to you. Call the DMV to see what/if they want require to verify a gift.
3, Schedule an appointment at the DMV and bring your paperwork (above forms) and payment method.
4. Be prepared to pay Utah Parks fee, DMV fee, county fee, sales tax:
Boating Fees | Utah State Parks
1. State Taxes ($43.50)
The State Tax Portion has you covered by the Utah State Parks Boating Program.
Here is the Program’s State Tax Fees Breakdown:
- $30 – Registration Fee
- $10 – Aquatic Invasive Species Fee
- $0.50 – Search and Rescue Fee
- $3 – Electronic Payment Fee.
- Total: 43.50
*The remainder of the boat registration fees you pay are allocated to your Local County.
| Uniform Statewide Age-based Fee |
|---|
| Vessels less than 15 feet in length |
|---|
$10 regardless of age |
| Uniform Statewide Age-based Fee |
|---|
| Canoe, Jon Boat or Utility Boat |
|---|
$10 regardless of vessel’s age or length |
| Length of Vessel | Uniform Statewide
Age-based Fee |
|---|
| Collapsible Inflatable Vessel, Pontoon or Sailboat, regardless of age | |
|---|
| 15 feet or more in length but less than 19 feet in length | $15 |
| 19 feet or more in length but less than 23 feet in length | $25 |
| 23 feet or more in length but less than 27 feet in length | $40 |
| 27 feet or more in length but less than 31 feet in length | $75 |
5. Prior to launching you will need the required numbers on the side of your raft. I printed mine in the required size (see the Utah Park website for the size/placement and equipment requirement) and stuck them on two boards with clear package tape or contact paper. I tied the boards (port and starboard) to the raft frame, had red and green flash lights for the light requirement, had the Utah Watercraft registration paper and PFDs sitting on the raft, and the ranger gave us the OK to launch. The registration is a State issue so usually the Feds don't care, but I show everything to whoever is there...I paid for it so I may as well show it. Once we are on the river the registration number boards, lights, and anything not need goes in the dry box.
Good luck, and I hope your trip to the DMV and down the river is enjoyable.
