U.S. Coast Guard Forms for Documentation

U.S. Coast Guard Forms

These forms are used when documenting vessels nationally instead of state titling.

Form CG 1258:

CG-1258 Application For Initial Issue, Exchange, Or Replacement Of Certificate Of Documentation; Redocumentation

Form CG 1258 APPLICATION FOR INITIAL, EXCHANGE (transfer ownership), OR REPLACEMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION; REDOCUMENTATION

• Additional Vessels
• Additional Owners
• Additional Limited Liability Company (LLC) Member
• Additional Partnership
• Additional Joint Venture or Association
• Additional Trust Arrangement

CG-1261 Builders Certificate

CG-5397 Application For Simplified Measurement

CG-1340 Bill of Sale

CG-5542 Optional Application For Filing (Mortgage)

CG-4593 Application, Consent, And Approval For Withdrawal Of Application For Documentation Or Exchange Of Certificate Of Documentation (included application for deletion)

CG-1356 Bill Of Sale By Government Entity Pursuant To Court Order Or Administrative Decree Of Forfeiture

CG-1280 Renewal of Certificate of Documentation

CG-7042 Credit Card Form

CG-7043 Abstract of Title or Certified Copy of COD Request Form

United States Coast Guard Registration and Title FAQs – download documents and forms

Link to NVDC for United States Coast Guard: National Vessel Documentation Center

What is USCG vessel Documentation?

US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation is a national form of titling a boat.

What are the benefits of documenting your boat with the Coast Guard?

The benefits of documenting a boat include conclusive evidence of nationality for international boating purposes, unhindered commerce between states, allows access to certain restricted trades, and provides for preferred ships mortgages on documented boats.

What are the types of boats that can be documented?

Vessels over 5 net tons (typically 26ft in length or larger) can be documented with the US Coast Guard and get an USCG official number issued to them. If a boat is used in fishing activities on navigable waters of the US or used in Coastwise trade, the boat must be documented.

Are there different types of USCG Documentation?

Depending on what the vessel will be used for the endorsements can be different: The different types of endorsements include fishery, coastwise, registry, and recreational.

What are the requirements for US Coast Guard Documentation?

This was covered in another article here: Learn about Coast Guard Vessel Documentation

What forms do I need to document my boat with the Coast Guard?

In order to document your boat with the US Coast Guard, you will need the following forms:

• CG-1258 Application for Initial, Exchange or Replacement of Certificate of Documentation; Redocumentation: Completed by new owner(s); submit an original OR a copy of form CG1258.
• CG-1261 Builder’s Certification and First Transfer of Title (for initial documentation only): Must be completed by the builder of the vessel. If more than one builder, each builder must complete a form. Evidence of U.S. build is required for all vessels seeking a fishery or coastwise endorsement.
• CG-5397 Application for Simplified Measurement: Completed by owner, to establish tonnage calculations, when CG-1261 Builder’s Certification is not provided.
• CG-1340 Bill of Sale: This form may not be necessary if the Builder’s Certification and First Transfer of Title form is submitted and shows the applicant as “Party for Whom Built” in Block V, or as the transferee in the First Sale or Transfer in Block VII. Otherwise, submit one original OR one copy of the notarized bill of sale, signed by or on behalf of all persons transferring an interest in the vessel.
• Simplified Method. Ownership may be established from state title or state or foreign registration. A copy of the title or registration must be provided with the bill(s) of sale from the registered owner to applicant. If the foreign registry is similar to U.S. documentation, provide a copy of the registry and evidence of removal from foreign registry in addition to the bill of sale.

How much does it cost to document a vessel? USCG documentation fees:

The following fees apply when documenting a vessel with the US Coast Guard:

• Initial Application for Documentation Recreational/Commercial (1 year expiration): $133.00
• Bill of Sale: $8.00
• Mortgage: $4.00
• To add a Commercial Endorsement you will pay these added fees:
  • Coastwise: $29.00
  • Fishery: $12.00
  • Registry: NO FEE

Table Explaining which states require registration and/or documentation

State	Requires Non-powered Vessels be Registered	Requires Non-powered Vessels be Titled	Requires USCG Documented Vessels be Registered	Requires Vessels be Titled	Requires Outboard Motors be Reg/Titled	Requires Trailers be Reg/Titled
Alabama – AL	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO
Alaska – AK	NO	NO	YES	YES > 24FT	NO	Reg Only
Arizona – AZ	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES
Arkansas – AR	NO	NO	NO	YES -boats manf. on or after Jan 2020	NO	YES
California – CF	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES
Colorado – CL	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES
Connecticut – CT	NO	NO	YES	YES – 2017 and newer	NO	YES > 3000lbs
Delaware – DL	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES
District of Columbia – DC	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES
Florida – FL	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	Yes > 2000lbs
Georgia – GA	NO	NO	YES	YES beginning July 2020	YES as part of the bh boat reg/title	Reg only
Hawaii – HA	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	Reg only
Idaho – ID	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	Yes > 2000lbs
illinois – IL	NO	NO	YES	YES (optional under 22ft)	NO	YES
Indiana – IN	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
Iowa – IA	YES if > 12ft	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 2000lbs
Kansas – KA	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO	YES > 2000lbs
Kentucky – KY	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES
Louisiana – LA	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Maine – ME	NO	NO	NO	NO	NO	YES > 3000lbs
Maryland – MD	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
Massachusetts – MS	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES > 3000lbs
Michigan – MC	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 2500lbs
Minnesota – MN	YES > 10ft	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES > 4000lbs
Mississippi – MI	NO	Optional	NO	Optional	Optional	YES > 5000lbs
Missouri – MO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
Montana – MT	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES
Nebraska – NB	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	Reg only
Nevada – NV	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
New Hampshire – NH	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO	YES > 3000lbs
New Jersey – NJ	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 2500lbs
New Mexico – NM	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES
New York – NY	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 1000lbs
North Carolina – NC	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
North Dakota – ND	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO
Ohio, OH	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES > 9hp	YES > 4000lbs
Oklahoma – OK	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES > 10hp	NO
Oregon – OR	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 1800lbs boat/trailer combined
Pennsylvania – PA	NO unless used in state parks bh	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
Rhode Island – RI	YES > 12ft	YES > 14ft	YES	YES	Reg only	YES > 3000lbs
South Carolina – SC	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES > 4hp	No
South Dakota – SD	NO if < 18ft	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
Tennessee – TN	NO	NO	YES	NO	NO	NO
Texas – TX	YES > 14ft	YES > 14ft	YES	YES	YES	YES > 4000lbs
Utah – UT	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES > 25hp	YES > 750lbs
Vermont – VT	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES > 1500lbs
Virginia, VA	NO	NO	Optional	YES	YES > 25hp on reg/title app	YES
Washington – WA	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES
West Virginia – WS	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO	YES
Wisconsin – WS	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES > 3000lbs
Wyoming – WY	NO	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES

*Non-powered refers to canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, bh.