Off-Road Vehicles - New Registrations

The first registration or validation of a motorboat/personal watercraft/shuttlecraft (boat) in Vermont is subject to the sales tax unless :

1. A purchase invoice is presented showing a sales tax of 6% or more paid to a dealer in any one of the 45 state jurisdictions imposing a sales tax. Alaska, Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire, and Oregon do not have a Sales and Use tax.
2. The applicant is a nonresident of Vermont and purchased the boat in a state other than Vermont while a nonresident.
3. The applicant is a nonresident of Vermont and purchased the boat in Vermont, however, received title or possession or both in another state.
4. The applicant is a nonresident of Vermont and submits a copy of a valid registration from his home state.
5. The boat is a acquired through a transfer to an individual (relative or not) for no consideration.

The following documentation is required for a first-time Vermont Motorboat Registration:

Titleable Boat

Boat is new (not previously registered anywhere):

• Original Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin
  (If assignment made by other than Dealer, title of one signing must be indicated or Power of Attorney Appointment submitted.)
• Bill of Sale (for sales tax purposes)
• Additional Bill of Sale
  (all Bills of Sale must include the make, year, Hull Identification Number, purchase price, date and signature of Seller)

Boat is used (has been titled previously):

• The original (previous) Certificate of Title
  Must be signed by all parties listed as owners on the face of the title
  All liens must be released
  Death Certificates &/or probate letters when owner(s) is/are deceased
• Bill of Sale
  (all Bills of Sale must include the make, year, Hull Identification Number, purchase price, date and signature of Seller)

Boat is used (not previously titled):

• Original or certified copy of last Registration Certificate and all Bills of Sale thereafter

Non-Titleable Boat

• A Bill of Sale (from Seller to you describing the boat by Hull Identification Number, make, year, date of sale, purchase price and Seller's signature, or
• Seller's signature(in Section 5B of the Vermont Motorboat Registration Application (VD-037), or
• Copy of out-of-state Registration Certificate in your name

Most questions you may have regarding motorboat transactions may be answered by reading the instructions  portion of the Vermont Motorboat Registration Application(VD-037i). If you don't find answers to your questions in that document (or elsewhere on this web site) please contact us.

Vessel Validation

A vessel, as defined in 23 V.S.A. 3302(11), that has been registered in another state, or that has a valid document issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Bureau of Customs or any other federal agency, and that is used in the waters of Vermont for at least 30 days in any calendar year is required to obtain a “Vessel Validation”.

NOTE: Vessel validations expire annually, at midnight the last day of December. In addition to documents listed below, your registration application must be accompanied by:

• A copy of a current (valid) out-of-state registration, or
• A current/valid document issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, or the U.S. Bureau of Customs.

Taxable snowmobile transactions must be accompanied by tax form SU-452 unless this is a VT Dealer transaction and the appropriate section of the Vermont Snowmobile Registration Application (VD-038) has been completed by the Dealer (Note: Form SU-452 Vermont Use Tax Return is available from the Vermont Department of Taxes and the Vermont DMV)

Titleable Snowmobile

Snowmobiles model year 2004 or newer require a title.

New (not previously registered anywhere)

• Original Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (If assignment made by other than Dealer, title of one signing must be indicated or Power of Attorney Appointment submitted.)
• Bill of Sale (for Sales Tax purposes)
• Additional Bill of Sale (all Bills of Sale must include Make, Year, Identification Number, Purchase Price, Date and Signature of Seller)

Used (previously titled)

• The Original previous Certificate of Title (or duplicate, if applicable)
  ⇒Title must be signed by all parties listed as owners on face of the title
  ⇒All liens must be released
  ⇒Death Certificates and/or probate letters are required when owner(s) is/are deceased
• Bill of Sale (all Bills of Sale must include Make, Year, Identification Number, Purchase Price, Date and Signature of Seller)

Used (NOT previously titled)

• Original or certified copy of last Registration Certificate and all Bills of Sale thereafter.

Non-Titleable Snowmobile (Snowmobiles with model year prior to 2004)

• A Bill of Sale from seller to you describing the snowmobile by Make, Year, Identification Number, Date of Sale, Purchase Price and Seller's Signature or
• Seller's Signature in Section 5 of the application form VD-038 or
• Copy of out-of-state Registration Certificate in your name.

Antique Snowmobiles

Title 23, Chapter 29, §3204a governs registration of an antique snowmobile.

Non-Resident Snowmobile & ATV Registration Reciprocity

Non-Vermont Residents

Vermont allows legally registered ATVs & snowmobiles to operate in the state of Vermont with a valid out-of-state registration.

• If operating on private land, you must carry written permission from the landowner.

• If operating on Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association (VASA) or Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) trails, you must obtain permits, see information on obtaining permits on the VASA or VAST websites.

Vermont Residents wishing to operate outside of Vermont

• Contact the other State or Province to see if they are reciprocal and determine if additional permits are required for out of state residents.