All vessels with an engine must be registered to travel in South Australian waters. This includes vessels such as sailing and row boats fitted with an auxiliary engine. Vessels without an engine cannot be registered.
On this page:
Tips to ensure that your boat complies with the law Register your boat Visitors to South Australia Tips to ensure that your boat complies with the law
- When you buy a motorboat, you must register it in your name within 14 days.
- Boat Code is compulsory for all recreational boats that are registered for the first time or when they change ownership.
- Most recreational boats are also required to have an Australian Builders Plate fitted by the manufacturer.
- Registration numbers must be displayed correctly.
- The registration label must be affixed correctly.
- Navigation lights must be fitted if you operate your boat at night. If you have lights fitted, they must meet the legal requirements whether you use them or not.
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Register your boat
Follow the steps below to register a motorboat for the first time or as its new owner. If you need to renew a boat registration, go to Renewing boat registration.
Step 1:
Measure the length of your boat – you'll need this for your application.
Measure the hull from the point of the bow to the transom (excluding bowsprits, outboard motors and other appendages). Any part of the vessel that contributes to the buoyancy of the vessel should be included in the vessel length, eg pontoons on inflatable vessels or houseboats.
Download the fact sheet determining your vessel's length (PDF 97KB) for more information.
Step 2:
Estimate the registration fee and facilities levy.The length of your boat or vessel determines the registration fee and facilities levy that you need to pay.
If your motorboat was not previously registered for recreational use in South Australia go to
new motorboat registration fees.
If you are changing registration ownership for a motorboat previously registered for recreational use in South Australia go to
new owner motorboat re-registration fees.
If you are renewing registration for a motorboat previously registered for recreational use in South Australia go to
renewal fees for motorboat registration.
These fees and levies fund marine safety initiatives and infrastructure.
Houseboats and traditional riverboats permanently moored along the River Murray or Murray Lakes may be eligible for a reduced recreational boat registration fee/levy during a drought.
Step 3:
Prepare proof of vessel ownership.
The following is acceptable:
- a completed application for transfer of registration on the current South Australian certificate of registration, signed by the current and the new registered owner
- a bill of sale, receipt or purchase contract signed by and showing the names of the current and new owners and including a description of the vessel and its registration number (if applicable)
- an interstate Australian register of ships certificate of recreational registration, in the name of the proposed new owner
- a certificate of commercial vessel registration in any Australian State, in the name of the proposed new registered owner
- a statutory declaration of ownership of the recreational vessel, signed and witnessed by a Justice of Peace (only acceptable if none of the other proof of ownership documents are available).
Step 4:
Prepare evidence of identity.See our Evidence of identity page.
Step 5:
Complete an application form.- Application for initial registration (PDF 93KB) - to register a motorboat not previously registered for recreational use in South Australia.
- Application for new owner re-registration (PDF 80KB) - to change registration ownership and renew registration for a motorboat previously registered for recreational use in South Australia.
Return the completed form to a Service SA customer service centre, with the following:
If your boat has already been Boat Coded and:
- the Hull Identification Number (HIN) and certificate number are already recorded in South Australia
- you can produce the Boat Code certificate
you'll be issued with a registration label and certificate at the Service SA customer service centre. See steps six and nine for information regarding displaying your registration number and label.
If your vessel has a HIN but the certificate number has not been recorded in South Australia and you cannot provide the Boat Code certificate, you'll need to have the HIN validated by a Boat Code agent.
If your vessel needs to be Boat Coded (or your HIN needs to be validated), you'll receive a temporary registration certificate which is valid for 21 days. This allows you to use your boat while you arrange to have HIN plates fitted. Once your temporary registration certificate has expired, you cannot use your boat until you have affixed the registration label, so it is advisable to have your vessel Boat Coded as soon as possible.
Step 6:
Display your registration number on your boat.
The registration number must be:
- painted on or displayed using stick-on numbers (available from most boat dealerships)
- in a contrasting colour to the surface, in figures at least 10cm high for boats less than three metres long, or at least 15cm high for boats three metres or longer
- displayed on both sides of the bow
- clearly readable from a distance of 50 metres (in clear weather) while the vessel is underway.
It can be difficult to display registration numbers clearly on boats with excessively flared bows. In this case, you can apply to display the numbers further back along the hull or on each side of the cabin by:
Step 7:
Hull Identification Number (HIN) plates must be fitted.
Make an appointment with a
Boat Code agent to fit HIN plates to your boat. Most agents will ask you to bring the boat to them. If, however, your vessel is moored, you can organise for a mobile agent to meet you at your vessel. Fees for Boat Coding are set by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, but travel costs must be negotiated with the Boat Code agent.
You'll need to take the following to the appointment:
The Boat Code agent will give you a copy of a temporary Boat Code certificate and forward a copy to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
Go to Boat Code system for more information.
Step 8:
The following registration documents will arrive in the mail:- a full boat registration certificate
- a boat registration label
- a permanent Boat Code certificate.
Step 9:
Affix the registration label securely to the boat.
The registration label should be securely affixed to the boat next to the steering position and clearly visible to anyone inspecting the boat from aboard.
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Visitors to South Australia
If you're visiting from interstate and your vessel is registered in another State or Territory, your interstate registration will be recognised for a period of 90 days, after which you'll need to apply for South Australian registration.
Listing on the
Australian Register of Ships does not satisfy the registration requirement (this registration is for vessels travelling overseas).
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More information
For more information, or to receive any documents on this page in an alternative format to PDF - phone 13 10 84 or go to a Service SA customer service centre.