Kentucky is launching a new online option for boat registration renewals, allowing Kentucky boat owners to complete the process without visiting a county clerk’s office.
Boat owners can now renew their registration online by using their Kentucky boat number and vessel title number. In order to qualify, boat owners must have active registrations set to expire this year and property taxes must be paid at the time of renewal. In-person renewals will still be available through the county clerk’s office.
“We’re excited to give Kentucky boat owners even more choices this spring to spend less time in an office and more time enjoying the open waters,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said in a news release. “This new boat renewal option expands our existing online vehicle registration service to give Kentuckians a more convenient way to be served.”
Boat registrations expire annually on April 30. All motorboats registered in Kentucky are required to display a valid, unexpired registration tag. Each boat receives a unique registration number issued by the county clerk’s office, which must be displayed on both sides of the vessel. After processing the online renewal request, registration decals will be mailed to the boat owners by their local county clerk offices.
The new service builds on the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System, or KAVIS, launched in January 2024 to modernize the state’s vehicle registration system.
To renew boat registration online and review more eligibility criteria, click here.