Apply For or Renew Your TN Vessel Registration Online!
To begin, locate or create your TWRA Customer Profile
(Existing Customers will have a TWRA Number)Current Vessel Registration Holders and TN Fishing / Hunting License Holders Will Have an Existing Customer Account To proceed, enter your date of birth, last name and one form of identification, (TWRA Number, Last 4 of SSN, DL Number) so the system can check for an existing account.
With the Online Vessel Registration system you can:
- View/Manage Your Current Vessel Registration Records and Check the Status of Pending Vessel Applications.
- Renew Existing Registrations in Your Name Online Using a Debit / Credit Card (Visa, MC, or Discover).
- Upload Your Application for Boat Certificate of Number certified by a TN County Court Clerk or TN boat dealer.
- Submit & Pay for Your Application Online (Notification of Approval or request for additional information within 7 Days via Email).
Requirements
- Persons who wish to register any vessel must complete a certified Application for Boat Certificate of Number, acquired through a TN County Clerk's office or from the TN dealer that sold you the boat. This will include a yellow temporary registration for 60 days after date of certification to allow for processing.
- Click Here for Additional Registration Details
TN County Court Clerk Requirements for New or Used Vessels:
- Complete Bill of Sale that includes:
- Date of sale
- Price
- Full description of vessel including- year, make, model, and HIN (unless built prior to 1973).
- Name, address, phone number and signature of both buyer and seller.
- If built after 1972 and the HIN is no longer affixed to the vessel or not in proper Coast Guard format, photos will be required. Please see below for details.
TN County Court Clerk Requirements for Out of State Transfers:
- Documents to prove the vessel was registered to the customer in another state.
- Proof that they paid sales tax in another state in order to receive credit for taxes paid.
- Taxable basis is fair market of the boat as of the date it was moved to TN.
For questions regarding TN County Court Clerk requirements, please contact your local County Court Clerk.
What is a Hull Identification Number (HIN)?
The Hull Identification Number (HIN) is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies a boat and is formatted according to US Coast Guard standards. The HIN is similar to a VIN on a car. Vessels manufactured or imported before 1973 are EXEMPT because they often do not have a HIN. All boats manufactured or imported after 1972, must have a HIN, and this HIN must be identified during the boat registration process. HIN numbers are typically located.
- On sport and fishing boats, they can be found on the back right outside corner.
- On pontoons, they can be found on the right side of the frame above the pontoon, but below the deck.
- On personal watercrafts, they can be found under the seat as well as on the lip of the foot rest.
If you are unable to locate the HIN number in any of these locations, photos of these areas of the vessel will be required.
Download the Go Outdoors Tennessee App
Download the free Go Outdoors TN mobile app to renew, purchase, and store your licenses, on your smartphone or tablet!