If you were over there, scrolling through the internet, looking for how much does it cost to renew boat documentation, congratulations! You have come to the right place. The Maritime Documentation Center will explain to you in this article not only the price of the renewal but also the definition of the documentation, what to do when it expires and how to properly obtain it. Read on if you want to find out!
What is a Certificate of Documentation?
Renewing your United States Coast Guard documentation can be a tedious and expensive procedure and, if you do not know what you are doing, a time-consuming activity as well. Luckily for you, we do know what we are doing, and agencies have emerged to make your life easier. The Maritime Documentation Center, for instance, is one of them.
If you were searching how much it cost to renew boat documentation, it is because you already have a Certificate of Documentation, am I right? As you are probably aware, a Certificate of Documentation is a document issued by the United States Coast Guard that works at a federal level. Vessels equipped with propulsion machinery and operating on U.S. waters must have on board a valid (current/not expired) Certificate of Number (CON), unless the vessel qualifies for an exception. Some states accept a Certificate of Documentation instead.
Different Types of Renewals And Their Costs
The Certificate of Documentation is valid for one year, although recreational vessels can choose to extend the document for up to 5 years. On some occasions, it may happen that you do not renew your certificate on time. It can happen, we are busy people. The amount you have to pay for the document will then depend on when you extend your certificate.
If you renew your Certificate of Documentation on time you will pay $75 and will extend it for one year. You can increase it for up to five years, therefore paying $375. Keep in mind that recreational vessels are compelled to extend for 5 years from 2022.
If you miss your expiry date from 1 to 30 days, you may incur a late fee, therefore having to pay extra. If you miss your expiry date for more than 30 days, you will need to submit a reinstatement certificate instead with a cost of $450.
The Maritime Documentation Center Has Got Your Back!
We‘ve got some good news: you do not have to take care of any of this. Our friendly staff is experts when it comes to USCG vessel documentation. Certificates of documentation, renewals, reinstatements… regardless of the paperwork you need to complete everything can be done at the Maritime Documentation Center. You only need to complete the form of the document you are looking for on our SSL-encrypted platform and let us do the rest!