Boat, Personal Watercraft and Motorized Pontoon Registration and Fees
Permanent registration – Under 61-3-321(10)(a)(i) of the Montana Code Annotated, all boats, personal watercraft and motorized pontoons must be permanently registered.
| Fee | Receipt Code | Length | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | 40-BTFLAT | Under 16 feet | $65.50 |
| 16 feet or longer but under 19 feet | $125.50 | ||
| 19 feet or longer | $295.50 |
Required Decals
Beginning January 1, 2006, to comply with both state and federal laws, Montana boaters need to display:
- a permanent registration decal issued by their local county treasurer's office – the
permanent decal for boats is gold and includes the abbreviation "PERM." The decal must
be placed on the left side of the forward half of the boat, three inches behind the identifying numbers.
AND - two boat validation decals – the decals are free and expire every three years.
If your boat, sailboat or personal watercraft is already permanently registered, contact your local Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office for information on how to get the required validation decals, or go online to fwp.mt.gov and select "Boat Validation Decals" under "For Anglers." Additional information is available on FWP's Register Boats page.
If you are purchasing a new or used boat, sailboat or personal watercraft, your local county treasurer's office can issue all of the required validation decals.
