Renew Your Documentation Any Time Before the Deadline
At the Vessel Registrar Center, we often hear this question. While you can renew very early, that may not be the best time to do so.
The instinctive answer might be “as soon as possible,” to avoid the inconvenience of expired documentation. However, renewing too early can create unintended challenges, including unnecessary costs and altered renewal schedules.
For instance, if your documentation expires in August and you renew in May, that new date becomes your renewal deadline for future years. While it’s technically permissible to renew early, it can lead to wasted time and money. Over time, this could result in a cycle where you pay for coverage you don’t yet need, effectively shortening the value of your original documentation period.
To avoid this, it’s best to renew during your designated renewal month. You don’t have to wait until the last minute, but renewing within the correct month ensures your timeline remains consistent year over year. If your documentation expires on August 30th, for example, submitting your renewal on or after August 1st aligns perfectly with best practices.
For those seeking even greater convenience, there’s another option: multi-year renewals. Historically, vessel owners could only renew documentation annually, which often left even the most organized individuals at risk of missing deadlines.
To address this, the Vessel Registrar Center offers flexibility, allowing you to extend your documentation for up to five years in a single transaction.
This feature not only reduces the hassle of annual renewals but also ensures that your documentation remains current with relevant authorities well into the future. Whether you prefer to renew yearly or take advantage of multi-year options, our portal is here to simplify the process and keep you on course.
Use this link for boat registration renewal.
Boat Registration Renewal Assistance and More
Vessel owners like you can trust the Vessel Registrar Center to handle their Coast Guard documentation efficiently. Whether registering a vessel, renewing a certificate, or managing other documentation needs, we provide reliable solutions tailored to your requirements.
Our services extend to prospective buyers, offering tools like vessel documentation searches to uncover key details about a vessel’s history. Abstracts of Title and Certified Copies of Documentation are also available to provide clarity before purchase.
For current owners, we assist with applications such as the Preferred Ship’s Mortgage and the Notice of Claim of Lien, helping to keep your documentation in order at all times.
Below are important legal considerations of Coast Guard documentation that may be important to you:
- 67.163 Renewal of endorsement.
(a) Requirement for renewal of endorsement. Endorsements on Certificates of Documentation are valid for 1 year, except for Recreational Endorsements on Certificates of Documentation, which are valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years. However, a Certificate of Documentation with a Recreational Endorsement and a Commercial Endorsement will only be valid for 1 year. Prior to the expiration of an endorsement, the owner of a vessel, which is not exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9, must apply for renewal of the endorsement(s) by complying with paragraph (b) of this section. The owner of a vessel exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9 must either:
(1) Apply for renewal of the endorsement by complying with paragraph (b) of this section; or
(2) Place the Certificate of Documentation on deposit in accordance with § 67.165.
(b) Renewal application. The owner of a vessel must apply for renewal of each endorsement by executing a Vessel Renewal Notification, Application for Renewal (CG-1280) certifying that the information contained in the Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remains accurate, and that the Certificate has not been lost, mutilated, or wrongfully withheld. The completed CG-1280 must be sent to the Director, National Vessel Documentation Center.
(c) Requirement for renewal of recreational endorsements. A Certificate of Documentation for a recreational vessel and the renewal of such a certificate will be effective for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years for such a Certificate of Documentation for such vessel or the renewal thereof.
Note:
Renewal of endorsements on a Certificate of Documentation may be denied if the vessel owner is the subject of an outstanding civil penalty assessed by the Coast Guard.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017; USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021; USCG-2023-0305, 88 FR 77901, Nov. 14, 2023]
- 67.165 Deposit of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) Option for deposit in lieu of renewal of endorsement. In lieu of renewing the endorsement(s) in accordance with § 67.163, the owner of a vessel which is exempt from the requirement for documentation under paragraph (c) of § 67.9 may deposit the vessel’s outstanding Certificate of Documentation with the National Vessel Documentation Center.
(b) Reporting requirement. The owner of a vessel whose Certificate is on deposit in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section must make a written report to the National Vessel Documentation Center when:
(1) Exchange of the Certificate is required upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in § 67.167 (b), (c), or (d); or
(2) The vessel is subject to deletion from the roll of actively documented vessels upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in § 67.171(a)(1) through (8).
(c) Validity of document on deposit. A Certificate of Documentation placed on deposit in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section is valid for the purposes of:
(1) 46 U.S.C. chapter 125;
(2) 46 U.S.C. chapter 313;
(3) 46 U.S.C. 56101, 56102 and 57109; and
(4) 46 U.S.C. 56301.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
- 67.167 Requirement for exchange of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) When application for exchange of the Certificate of Documentation is required upon the occurrence of one or more of the events described in paragraphs (b), (c), or (d) of this section, or the owner of the vessel chooses to apply for exchange of the Certificate pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section, the owner must send or deliver the Certificate to the National Vessel Documentation Center, and apply for an exchange of the Certificate in accordance with subpart K of this part.
(b) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161, when:
(1) The ownership of the vessel changes in whole or in part;
(2) The general partners of a partnership change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(3) The State of incorporation of any corporate owner of the vessel changes;
(4) The name of the vessel changes;
(5) The hailing port of the vessel changes; or
(6) The vessel is placed under the command of a person who is not a citizen of the United States.
(c) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon becomes invalid immediately, except as provided in § 67.161 and in paragraph (f) of this section, if the vessel is not at sea, or upon the vessel’s next arrival in port anywhere in the world if the vessel is at sea, when:
(1) The gross or net tonnages or dimensions of the vessel change;
(2) Any beneficiary with an enforceable interest in a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition or substitution;
(3) The trustee of a trust arrangement owning a vessel changes by addition, substitution, or deletion;
(4) A tenant by the entirety owning any part of the vessel dies;
(5) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by addition or substitution;
(6) The legal name of any owner of the vessel changes;
(7) A self-propelled vessel becomes non-self-propelled or a non-self-propelled vessel becomes self-propelled;
(8) The endorsements for the vessel change by addition, deletion, or substitution;
(9) A substantive or clerical error made by the issuing documentation officer is discovered; and
(10) For a vessel with a coastwise endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 12119, one of the events in § 68.80 or § 68.111 of this chapter occurs.
(d) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner of a documented vessel must apply for exchange of the Certificate upon an election to designate a new managing owner of the vessel in accordance with § 67.113.
(e) Although a Certificate of Documentation and any endorsement(s) thereon remain valid, the owner may apply for exchange of the Certificate if:
(1) The restrictions imposed on the vessel change by deletion; or
(2) The vessel attains a special entitlement under subpart J of this part.
(f) A Certificate of Documentation which becomes invalid pursuant to paragraph (c) of this section remains valid for the purposes of filing a new mortgage or amendment, assignment, assumption, or subordination agreement for 30 days after the date it would otherwise have become invalid.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31604, June 15, 1995; USCG-2001-8825, 69 FR 5401, Feb. 4, 2004; USCG-2005-20258, 71 FR 61418, Oct. 18, 2006; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
- 67.169 Requirement for replacement of Certificate of Documentation.
(a) The owner of a documented vessel must make application in accordance with subpart K of this part for replacement of a Certificate of Documentation which is:
(1) Lost;
(2) Mutilated; or
(3) Wrongfully withheld from the vessel owner.
(b) When application for replacement of a Certificate of Documentation is required because the Certificate has been mutilated, the existing Certificate must be physically given up to the National Vessel Documentation Center.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995]
- 67.171 Deletion; requirement and procedure.
(a) A Certificate of Documentation together with any endorsement(s) thereon is invalid, except as provided in § 67.161, and the vessel is subject to deletion from the roll of actively documented vessels when:
(1) The vessel is placed under foreign flag;
(2) The vessel is sold or transferred in whole or in part to a person who is not a citizen of the United States within the meaning of subpart C of this part;
(3) Any owner of the vessel ceases to be a citizen of the United States within the meaning of subpart C of this part;
(4) The owner no longer elects to document the vessel;
(5) The vessel no longer measures at least five net tons;
(6) The vessel ceases to be capable of transportation by water;
(7) The owner fails to exchange the Certificate as required by § 67.167;
(8) The owner fails to maintain the markings required by subpart I of this part;
(9) The endorsements on the Certificate are revoked because the vessel owner is the subject of an outstanding civil penalty assessed by the Coast Guard; or
(10) The owner fails to:
(i) Renew the endorsement(s) as required by § 67.163; or
(ii) Comply with the provisions of § 67.165.
(b) Where a cause for deletion arises for any reason under paragraphs (a) (1) through (6) of this section, the owner must send or deliver the original Certificate of Documentation to the National Vessel Documentation Center together with a statement setting forth the reason(s) deletion is required.
- 67.515 Application for renewal of endorsements.
An application fee is charged for renewal of endorsements on Certificates of Documentation in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014, as amended by USCG-2020-0215, 86 FR 5031, Jan. 19, 2021]
- 67.517 Application for late renewal.
In addition to any other fees required by this subpart, including a renewal fee, a fee is charged for a late renewal in accordance with subpart L of this part.
[USCG-2010-0990, 79 FR 47023, Aug. 12, 2014]
- 67.519 Application for waivers.
An application fee is charged for waiver of original build evidence in accordance with subpart F of this part, or for waiver of bill of sale eligible for filing and recording in accordance with subpart E of this part. In cases where more than one waiver is required, each waiver application is subject to this fee.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52191, Sept. 30, 1998]
- 67.521 Application for new vessel determination.
An application fee is charged for a new vessel determination in accordance with subpart M of this part.
- 67.523 Application for wrecked vessel determination.
An application fee is charged for a determination of whether a vessel is entitled to coastwise and fisheries privileges as a result of having been wrecked in waters adjacent to the United States and repaired in accordance with subpart J of this part. This fee is in addition to the cost associated with the vessel appraisals.
[CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993, as amended by USCG-2009-0702, 74 FR 49230, Sept. 25, 2009]
- 67.525 Application for determination of rebuild.
An application fee is charged for a determination of whether a vessel has been rebuilt in accordance with subpart M of this part. This fee will be assessed for each request for either a preliminary or final determination submitted in writing by the vessel owner or the vessel owner’s representative.
- 67.527 Application for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale.
An application fee is charged for filing and recording bills of sale and instruments in the nature of a bill of sale in accordance with subpart P of this part.
- 67.529 Application for filing and recording mortgages and related instruments.
An application fee is charged for filing and recording mortgages and related instruments in accordance with subpart Q of this part.
- 67.531 Application for filing and recording notices of claim of lien.
An application fee is charged for filing and recording notices of claim of lien in accordance with subpart R of this part.
- 67.533 Application for Certificate of Compliance.
An application fee is charged for a Certificate of Compliance to be issued in accordance with regulations set forth in 46 CFR part 68.
- 67.535 Issuance of Abstract of Title.
An issuance fee is charged for a General Index or Abstract of Title in accordance with subpart T of this part.
- 67.537 Issuance of Certificate of Ownership.
An issuance fee is charged for a Certificate of Ownership in accordance with subpart T of this part. A supplemental issuance fee is charged for a Certificate of Ownership attachment for each additional vessel with the same ownership and encumbrance information.
- 67.539 Copies of instruments and documents.
The fee charged for furnishing a copy of any instrument or document is calculated in the same manner as described in 49 CFR 7.95.
[CGD 94-008, 59 FR 49847, Sept. 30, 1994]