Boat Registration for two states?

[reidkersey]

I am a new boat owner, and I want to register my boat (and use it) in both tennessee and georgia. From what I could find online both states say that you can only have their numbers on the side of the boat and no other numbers. How would I go about going from state to state with the boat, or getting a registration for two states?

Note, I will transport the boat from state to state by car, it will never cross state lines in the water.

Thank you,
Reid

 

[Stachi]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Welcome to iBoats forums. You can only register a boat,trailer, car or anything else in ONE state.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Tennessee law requires that all mechanically powered vessels (including federally documented recreational vessels) and all sailboats which are principally used in Tennessee must be registered. (Boats are not titled in Tennessee.) Mechanical propulsion includes electric trolling motors but does not include boats powered only by oars or paddles. Boats which require registration must be properly registered before using them upon any public water of Tennessee.
Currently registered boats from other states may use Tennessee waters unless Tennessee has become their state of principal use. Exception: Sailboats brought into Tennessee by persons from states that do not require numbering of sailboats are exempt from registration provided that Tennessee is not the state of principal use. State of principal use means the state on whose waters a vessel is used or to be used most, whether moored or underway, during a calender year.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

I believe you may need to prove residency as well, to register something in either state. But you will still be registering it in only one state.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

As long as its registered you can take it anywhere in continental US. Fishing licences are a different matter.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Hey Reid:

There are a couple of places here in TN where this can be a little fuzzy - for instance, if you're near Chattanooga and you typically launch on the GA side of the border and run in the TN side (this happens a lot up on Dale Hollow Lake) - you probably don't need TN numbers on your boat. If you drive into TN to launch and run in TN - and it's half of your time on the water, I would suggest you contact the TWRA and get their advice.

My guess is that if you estimate you'll be boating mostly in GA but significantly in TN, the TWRA won't require TN numbers on your boat. But I'd love to hear the answer they give you.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

A lot of states require you register if you boat X number of months out of the year. If I read what you are trying to say, you live in one of the states and want to boat there and in the neighboring state. Unless you are going to live in the neighbor state, then just drive across the state line and launch. At the end of the day or week or month, you will be leaving so no harm. As far as boating from one state to another, it's no problem in any neighboring states in the Union. If it was, the Mississippi River would have a double yellow line down the center.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

You want to license your boat where the boat is usually garaged. For instance, if you're keeping the boat in a Chattanooga marina but you live a few miles south in Georgia, license it in Tennessee. It happens all the time.

The other reason to license your boat in Tennessee is that there are no ad valorem taxes on boats (or cars) licensed in Tennessee. If you license it in Georgia, they'll hit you up for higher license fees and personal property taxes based on the boat's value every year. The same goes for automobiles and travel trailers/RV's.

I live in Alabama, but my travel trailer is garaged in Georgia all year. I have to license my RV in Georgia and pay personal property taxes there.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Always much easier to register it in the state you live in, unless you store the boat in another state.

There is no one that is going to follow you around 24/365 and log the hours of use in each state.

No one in GA will know how many hours or days you used the boat in TN.


Also, hours of use in each state will change from week to week or year to year.


Last year, I used my one boat 4 days in MI, and 2 days in MN, and not at all in WI where I live.

My other boat was used 8 times in WI.

I did not see anyone following me and keeping track.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Ga has no Ad Valorem tax on boats, only on DMV licenced vehicles/trailers. My boat trailer cost $12/year so if there is AV tax it would be like $.50. It's also old which reduces the tax.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

I live in IN. I have one boat registered in TN and one in OH MUCH cheaper than here.... you don't have to prove ANYTHING but you DO need to state an address within that state where you say it will be kept (101 main street) and the only way you'll ever have trouble is if you have the boat slipped (long term), or parked every day in plain view of a cop that wants to mess with you in a state it isn't registered in. The time limit to register it in a given state is in consecutive days.... here it is 60 days... as long as it leaves the state once every 60 days I'm legal.

If it is registered in your home state and you make day or weekend trips you are golden and the other state won't bother you.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

As long as its registered you can take it anywhere in continental US. Fishing licences are a different matter.

Not that simple. Boats are to be registered in the state of primary use. If you always trailer your boat and use it is one state for 14 days and the other for 16 it is much easier to register it in your home state. However if you have a lease in a marina and your boat is docked there for most of the boating season that is the state of primary use. I had one of my boats registered in MD even though I live in PA because it was kept at our private dock at our MD lake house. They do check, my BIL was cited for leaving one of his boats docked there over the summer with a PA registration. State laws may vary but they do spell out what the requirements are to be considered “primary use.”

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

I live in IN. I have one boat registered in TN and one in OH MUCH cheaper than here.... you don't have to prove ANYTHING but you DO need to state an address within that state where you say it will be kept (101 main street) and the only way you'll ever have trouble is if you have the boat slipped (long term), or parked every day in plain view of a cop that wants to mess with you in a state it isn't registered in. The time limit to register it in a given state is in consecutive days.... here it is 60 days... as long as it leaves the state once every 60 days I'm legal.

If it is registered in your home state and you make day or weekend trips you are golden and the other state won't bother you.

Smoke and I were posting an answer to this at the same time and his explanation may be easier to understand than mine. However it is wise to check with your insurance carrier and be certain to let them know that the boat is not registered at your home address. It may save some problems later on.

 

[shrew]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Welcome to iBoats forums. You can only register a boat,trailer, car or anything else in ONE state.

I believe you may need to prove residency as well, to register something in either state. But you will still be registering it in only one state.

Sorry guys, wrong and wrong. First note that the specific requirements are based on each individual state, however as stated earlier, most states require that you register if you boat in that states waters for a specific amount or length of time. some states say x number of consecutive days. some states say a total of X days per year. (some are calendar year, some are within a 12 month period).

You can (As I have) legally registered a boat in multiple states simultaneously and you do not need resident status. Any state with such requirements has an "Out of State" registration much like an ORV, snowmobile, fishing and hunting licenses.

Typically you post the numbers of the primary registration. I use multiple reg stickers, with the primary first. They particularly don't when yo u'hand' them the reg sticker. It can be assumed that a reg sticker is being passed from vehicle to vehicle, and prefer it adhered to the boat.

 

[reidkersey]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Thank you all for your replys. I am going to register the boat in TN my primary place of use.

Thanks again for all of your help!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Thanks people! I love this topic.

Where I live is within 10 minutes of the Illinios and Wisconsin border. There are many cottages and summer homes in this area and I see it all the time on our local lakes were there are boats permanently moored here year around yet they have Illinois registration numbers on them. Some never leave the state yet the DNR does nothing. So to me all of these owners are taking away money that should be going to Wisconsin for registrations. I feel if you are going to use these waters then you should help in the cost to maintain them.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

bonz_d is correct.

The WI dnr is very lax, easy on enforcement, on these issues.

The MAN in IL is just the opposite. Be careful on how far you push the IL authorities.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Here in indiana my 20+ year old boat is over $400/year to register and in ohio it's $68/3 years... that's $1200 difference in 3 years.... I boat on the ohio river so my water comes here from ohio anyway LOL

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Typically you post the numbers of the primary registration. I use multiple reg stickers, with the primary first. They particularly don't when yo u'hand' them the reg sticker. It can be assumed that a reg sticker is being passed from vehicle to vehicle, and prefer it adhered to the boat.

The only problem is that by itself violates the registration details of many states. They generally want their own numbers, and often start out the registration numbers with a state identifier. Most states also specify that their number/tag is the only item on that area of the hull.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Boat Registration for two states?

Just register the boat were you live it will be eaiser to switch stuff over and to get it registerd because it will be closer to you like said if it's registerd you all set to go anywere with it.