The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission offers various services to vessel owners to promote safety, establish ownership, and ultimately support the public's enjoyment of water sports and recreation. This site provides information about vessel registration and titling requirements, fees and frequently asked questions.
To obtain a duplicate title please submit the following. All title only transactions must be completed by mail or in person at our WRC Headquarters in Raleigh.
To sell a titled vessel when the title has been lost you must give the purchaser the following:
If you are selling your vessel out of state you will need to obtain a duplicate title as no other state will recognize our Seller’s Statement of Lost Title Form.
To properly register and title a vessel in North Carolina that is registered and titled in your name in another state you will need to submit the following:
To properly register and title a vessel that is registered but not titled in your name in another state you will need to submit the following:
Vessels can be registered for a period of 1 or 3 years and any vessel 14ft in length or greater or a personal watercraft (i.e. jet ski) is required to be titled. You may register and title your vessel online at GoOutdoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail, or in person at at a local Wildlife Service Agent.
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) documented vessels that have been in North Carolina for more than 90 consecutive days, must be registered in the state. However, federal law restricts states from issuing titles for documented vessels since the USCG issues a Certificate of Documentation (COD) to owners of documented vessels which supersede a state title. To register your documented vessel you will need to submit the following:
USCG Documented vessels can be registered for a period of 1 or 3 years but should only be titled if USCG Documentation is canceled. You may register your vessel online at GoOutDoorsNorthCarolina.com, by mail or in person at a local Wildlife Service Agent.
If you have purchased a U.S. Coast Guard documented vessel, please follow the link listed below for additional instructions.
A vessel Documented with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is required to be registered in North Carolina to operate on public waters. However, federal law restricts states from issuing titles for documented vessels since the USCG issues a Certificate of Documentation (COD) to owners of documented vessels which supersede a state title. If you have purchased a USCG documented vessel you will need to submit the following:
If you choose not to document the vessel with the US Coast Guard
If you choose to Document your vessel with the US Coast Guard
The seller of a vessel must provide the purchaser with a "proof of ownership" document at the time of sale. The purchaser cannot get a vessel registered in his/her name without submitting the proper "proof of ownership" documentation. New Vessel
Previously Owned Vessel
To properly add a lien to your vessel record you will need to submit the following. These transactions can only be processed by mail or in person at the WRC Headquarters in Raleigh.
Adding a lien to a titled vessel
Adding a lien to a non-titled vessel
If you have changed your name and need to update your vessel record, submit the following. These transactions can only be processed by mail or in person at the WRC Headquarters in Raleigh.
Updating a titled vessel
Updating a non-titled vessel
If you have any questions regarding required proof of ownership, including taking ownership of an abandoned vessel or purchasing a vessel that has been sold to satisfy a service and storage lien, please contact our customer service call center at (833) 950-0575.
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies a vessel and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. The HIN is similar to a VIN on a car. Vessels manufactured or imported before 1973 are EXEMPT because they often do not have a HIN. All vessels manufactured or imported after 1972, must have a HIN, and this HIN must be identified during the vessel registration process. HIN numbers are typically located:
Anyone who purchases or transfers a motorized vessel or sailboat 14 feet or longer or who owns a personal watercraft (jet ski), will be required to title the vessel effective Jan.1, 2007. In most cases, lenders require a title as a condition for granting a loan on a vessel.