Vessels-Boats

All Washington state boat registrations expire on June 30th.  The Dept. of Licensing no longer mails paper renewal notices for boats.

What needs to be licensed?
  1. All powerboats, such as, Ski Boats, Jet Boats, Jet Skis and Sea-doos  
  2. Other types of personal water crafts such as, Sailboats over 16 feet and small boats over 16 feet, or boats with a motor of 10 horsepower of more.
  3. Don't forget your Boat trailer: In addition to your personal watercraft, you’ll need to license the trailer that hauls your boat.
Purchasing Decals and Stickers in Person
What you’ll need
  • Current address, if you’ve moved, we can change your address
  • Boat registration, decal or hull identification number
  • Registered owner’s drivers license number
  • Note: If someone other than the registered owner purchases the decal, then one of the following requirements must be met:
    • Person must have the same last name or same owner address, or
    • A signed & dated permission note from the owner identifying the person and include a description of the vehicle; year, make and VIN
  • The cost for decals or stickers depends on where you live and the size of your vessel.
 Payment options are:
  • Cash or check
  • Credit or debit card, VISA, MasterCard and American Express 
Service you can expect:
  • Our friendly staff is ready to help with your renewal and other vessel transactions
  • We are open 6 days a week. Monday-Friday 9 to 5 and Saturday 10 to 3
  • We are located in the Safeway parking lot
Other items that can be Completed at our office.
  • Change of address
  • Issue replacement decals or stickers
  • Issuance of replacement registrations
  • Title transfers for any type of watercraft

To renew your decals or stickers online, click here

All changes & transactions are completed on the Department of Licensing website

Instructions to renew on-line:
What you’ll need
  • Current address, if you’ve moved, change your address before you renew
  • Decal or hull identification number
  • Each registered owner’s drivers license number
  • MasterCard, Visa or American Express
How will you get your new decals or stickers?
  • By mail – they will be mailed out within 24 hours, excluding weekends & holidays. We can mail decals to any city in Washington State
  • Pick them up – they will be ready when you get to our office. Go right up to our internet pickup window, you don’t have to wait in line!
  • Make sure to bring your ID
  • If someone other than the registered owner picks up the decals, then one of the following requirements must be met:
    • Person must have the same last name or same owner address, or
    • A signed & dated permission note from the owner identifying the person and include a description of the vehicle; year, make and VIN
Select an office to get your decals from
  • Select a Licensing office based on your home or work address
  • You will be provided a list of offices within the radius of the selected address
  • Select Whitfield’s Auto Licensing for express pick-up or mailing to any city.
Select your choice of payment, you need to provide:
  • Credit card number
  • Expiration date
  • Name on card 
Additional Water craft licensing services we offer
  1. Vessel title transfers
  2. New plates for your boat trailer
  3. Lost or stolen tabs, decals or registrations