Not if it’s documented with the Coast Guard.
A documented vessel is registered with the U.S. Coast Guard and carries a valid Certificate of Documentation. These vessels are not required to also register with the California DMV.
On the other hand, an undocumented vessel must be registered with the DMV, since it does not have Coast Guard documentation.
If you purchase a brand-new boat, it will automatically be considered undocumented. That means you’ll need to complete DMV registration before taking it out on California waters.
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Compliant and Stylish USCG Plaques for Your Vessel
At Vessel Placards, we provide high-quality solutions for both Coast Guard–documented vessels and state-registered boats. Our USCG-compliant documentation plaques are designed to meet all Coast Guard requirements seamlessly while giving your vessel a polished, professional look.
For state-registered vessels, we also offer durable vinyl registration number decals—easy to apply, long-lasting, and built to handle the toughest marine conditions.
And we’re not just limited to the U.S.—we also supply Canadian registration numbers to help you stay compliant north of the border.
Besides plaques and decals, the company has also developed a line of nautical-themed products, including clothing and drinkware. These products not only add one more charming element to your maritime lifestyle but also are functional whether you are on the water or at home.
Compliance Matters: What You Should Know
If your vessel is Coast Guard documented, certain instruments are eligible for filing and recording under federal regulations (46 CFR Subpart O). These include:
- Bills of sale and instruments in the nature of bills of sale
- Deeds of gift
- Mortgages and related instruments, including assignments, amendments, and releases
- Preferred mortgages and related instruments
- Interlender agreements affecting mortgages and related instruments
- Notices of claim of lien, along with assignments, amendments, and satisfactions
By displaying your USCG number properly with a compliant plaque and keeping documentation up to date, you’ll avoid fines, protect your investment, and enjoy peace of mind on the water.
67.203 Restrictions on Filing and Recording
When it comes to filing and recording vessel instruments with the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), there are strict conditions:
- Valid Documentation Required
- An instrument will only be accepted if the vessel has:
- A valid Certificate of Documentation, or
- An application on file (initial documentation, exchange, return, or deletion) that meets regulatory standards.
- An instrument will only be accepted if the vessel has:
- No Material Alterations
- Documents that have been altered in any material way will not be accepted.
- S. Citizenship Requirement
- Instruments (such as bills of sale or deeds of gift) cannot be filed if the transferee (buyer) is not a U.S. citizen, as defined in the Shipping Act of 1916, unless the Maritime Administration has granted approval.
- Exceptions
- This restriction does not apply if the vessel was:
- Never documented under these regulations, or
- Falls under the specific cases outlined in § 67.11(b).
- This restriction does not apply if the vessel was:
Authority Notes:
- [CGD 89-007, CGD 89-007a, 58 FR 60266, Nov. 15, 1993; 58 FR 65131, Dec. 13, 1993, as amended by CGD 95-014, 60 FR 31605, June 15, 1995; USCG-2016-0531, 82 FR 43864, Sept. 20, 2017]
67.205 Requirement for Vessel Identification
When filing or recording instruments with the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC), your paperwork must clearly identify the vessel in question.
(a) General Rule
- Every instrument submitted must contain enough details to unmistakably identify the vessel(s) it applies to.
(b) For Documented Vessels
- The instrument must include:
- The vessel’s name and
- Its official number, or another unique identifier.
(c) For Undocumented Vessels (never documented before)
- Identification must be provided by one of the following:
- Hull Identification Number (HIN): Assigned under 33 CFR 181.25.
- Other Descriptive Information: Clearly describing the vessel. This can include:
- Length, breadth, and depth
- Year of build
- Manufacturer’s name
- State-assigned numbers under 33 CFR part 173
67.207 Requirement for Date and Acknowledgment
When you submit an instrument for filing and recording with the National Vessel Documentation Center, there are two key requirements:
(a) Mandatory Elements
- Execution Date – The document must show the exact date it was signed.
- Acknowledgment – The document must include a proper acknowledgment (usually a notarization or similar formal recognition of the signature).
(b) Who Can Take Acknowledgments?
- Coast Guard officers and employees are not authorized to take acknowledgments.
- The only exception is if the document is being executed on behalf of the Federal Government of the United States.
67.209 – No Original Instrument Requirement
- You don’t need to submit the original signed instrument.
- A copy of the signed and acknowledged instrument is acceptable.
- Acceptable formats for submission include:
- Paper copy delivered to the NVDC (National Vessel Documentation Center)
- Fax
- PDF (submitted according to rules in §§ 67.218 and 67.219)
- Signatures may be manual or digital.
? What this means for you: Don’t stress about mailing in originals—secure, legible copies (including digital ones) are fully acceptable for Coast Guard filing.
67.211 – Requirement for Citizenship Declaration
For certain vessel ownership transfers, proof of U.S. citizenship is required.
(a) Applies to these transactions:
- Bills of sale
- Deeds of gift
- Mortgages
- Assignments of mortgages
These documents cannot be filed unless accompanied by a declaration of citizenship, unless exempt under sections (c) or (d).
(b) Citizenship Form
- Must use the official form from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) under 46 CFR part 221.
- Forms are available from the NVDC and MARAD.
(c) Exceptions (when no citizenship declaration is needed):
- Certain vessels described under 46 CFR 221.11(b)(1) (i)–(iv).
- Transfers to someone applying for documentation.
- Transfers to the U.S. Government, a State, or political subdivision, or to a corporate entity that is an agency of such government.
(d) Waivers:
- No citizenship declaration is required if:
- The transfer is pre-approved by MARAD in 46 CFR part 221.
- Written approval has been obtained from the Maritime Administrator.
(e) Evidence of MARAD Approval
- If approval is required, it must be submitted along with the instrument transferring the vessel interest.
Note: If the new vessel owner does not apply for documentation, a declaration of citizenship may still be required to preserve coastwise privileges (like Jones Act trading rights).
67.213 – Place of Filing and Recording
- All documents (bills of sale, mortgages, liens, etc.) must be filed with the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).
- The NVDC is also the only office where these documents are officially recorded.
? What this means for you:
Don’t send your paperwork to a local Coast Guard office or DMV—everything goes through the NVDC.
67.215 – Date and Time of Filing
(a) Normal Rule:
- Your document is considered “filed” at the exact date and time the NVDC receives it.
- If you send extra materials later to supplement your filing, they are attached to the original filing and treated as if they were submitted at the same time.
(b) Replacement/Substitute Filings:
- Sometimes a filing may be rejected or terminated under § 67.217 (for example, if it’s incomplete).
- If you file a new, corrected, or substitute instrument, the original filing is terminated.
- The substitute document is treated as a new filing, with the filing date and time set to when the NVDC actually receives the corrected version.
? What this means for you:
- Timing matters: if you want your lien, mortgage, or transfer recorded quickly, make sure your documents are accurate the first time.
- If you mess up and need to refile, you’ll lose your original filing date and get a new, later filing date—which could impact priority in legal disputes.
When a Filing Can Be Terminated (§67.217(a))
Your filing with the NVDC can be canceled (terminated) if:
- Non-compliance: The document doesn’t meet Coast Guard regulations.
- Filed in the wrong place: The filing wasn’t done according to the NVDC rules in §67.213.
- Bad application: The CG-1258 form (used for initial, exchange, or replacement documentation) isn’t completed properly.
- Owner withdrawal: The vessel owner submits a withdrawal request (CG-4593), with mortgagee consent if required.
- Satisfaction or release: Another document gets filed that shows the lien, mortgage, or claim has been satisfied or released.
Notice Before Termination (§67.217(b))
- If the problem falls under items (1), (2), or (3) above, the NVDC won’t terminate your filing immediately.
- They’ll send written notice 90 days in advance, explaining why your filing is at risk.
- This notice goes to the relevant party (depending on what kind of instrument it is):
- Buyer (for bills of sale/deeds of gift)
- Mortgagee (for mortgages/assignments)
- Claimant (for notices of lien)
- Lead lender (for interlender agreements)
What Happens After 90 Days (§67.217(c))
- If you don’t fix the problem within 90 days after the notice, OR if you voluntarily withdraw, OR if the lien/mortgage has been satisfied, the NVDC will return the instrument.
- The return goes back to the appropriate party (buyer, mortgagee, claimant, or lender), or their authorized agent (if the agent has proper written authorization).
What You Can File by Email (§67.218(a))
- Any document listed as eligible under §67.200 (bills of sale, liens, mortgages, deeds of gift, etc.) can be emailed to the NVDC as a PDF attachment.
- If the vessel is not currently documented, then one of the following must already be on file or included with your email in PDF form:
- CG-1258 application (Initial Issue, Exchange, Replacement, or Return to Documentation), OR
- A letter application for deletion from documentation.
Format Rules for PDF Filings (§67.218(b))
- Must be legible.
- Must come from a standard 8.5” x 11” page.
- Font must be at least 10-point size.
- Sent as an email attachment (no fancy file types—just PDF).
What Your Email Must Include (§67.218(c))
In the body of your email, you should list:
- Your contact info: name, address, phone number, and email.
- Page count: how many pages are being filed.
- Vessel details: name, official/documentation number or HIN (Hull Identification Number), and owner name(s).
When Your Filing Will Be Rejected (§67.218(d))
If your filing falls under any of the termination reasons in §67.217(a) (like incomplete, inaccurate, or non-compliant paperwork), your filing will be terminated and the PDF will just be sent back to you.