Where to Register a Boat, Texas or Florida?

copb8tx

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 26, 2008
2,829
Highland Village, TX/Port Richey, FL
Boat Info
SOLD 2005 420 DA w/T-8.1S Horizons
Engines
2018 Sea Hunt 255se w/Yamaha 300hp
I live in Texas and have a boat and a couple of PWC's here. All are registered and insured here. I recently purchased a runabout here in Texas that we'll move to our condo in Florida where it'll stay 100% of the time.

Registering it in Texas would be the easiest way to go from a hassle perspective as the dealer here would handle everything for us. Sales tax on the boat is extremely close regardless of the state.

Do you see any reasons that I HAVE to register it in Florida? Any problem having TX numbers on it permanently?

I will definitely have the insurance policy covering it for coastal use and location, etc.
 
The problem is that Florida requires that a boat stored and used in Florida be registered here. Given that you will only use it in FL, you have no risk of running afoul of the Texas registration requirements and you really have nothin to gain by paying TX sales taxes.

The challenge may be avoiding the FL sales tax. Since the boat will stay here, you will be subject to FL's sales/use tax and will have to register it in FL. It would be better to just buy the boat and require the dealer use your FL address and refuse to pay the dealer the TX sales tax, then bring your MSO/bill of sale to FL and requester the boat here. The Clerk in FL will collect the sales tax due and issue your FL registration number. I think it is better doing it that way as opposed to hoping the FL registration clerk will apply the right credit on your registration for the taxes you paid in TX. There is a reciprocal sales tax agreement between the states but sometimes it doesn't work out 100% the way you think it should because you aren't give credit for the local portion of the tax you paid at the point of purchase.

I've been doing this for about 30 years. I keep the 450DA in Florida but live most of the time in Tennessee. I also do project boats from time to time and will only register those in Tennessee if th yet stay in Tennessee; the center console get registered in FL, just because it is easier and less hassle.
 
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I've had a RI registered boat in Florida for 6 years now. No hassle at all. I do get stopped for speeding infractions often and the question never comes up. So many vacationers here.
 
My RI registered 300DA was in FLA for 5 years - no problems - My CT registered 250AJ is on its way down......they don't seem to bother with "little boats" - Registering in FLA was not an option for me as i didnt own property there - If boats are documented, I believe you need a "certificate of Decal"
 
What about insurance. Is there a problem insuring it for coastal waters and hurricane damage when it's registered in and inland area like Dallas?
 
Insurance usually asks were the boat is stored / slipped / used to determine the premium. They don't care so much were it's registered.
 
I live in TX, have two boats in FL. Renewals are done on a website, no big deal.
 
Excellent. Texas it is then.

On your insurance to you state that the boat is in Florida?


Reread what I posted, was incomplete. Boats are registered in FL, not Texas.

Yes, insurance requires where the boat is physically kept.
 
I've found doing things the right way saves a lot of (potential) hassles. I don't know what the tax is in FL, but I know it's 6.25% (for boats) in TX. If it's a small boat, I can't imagine any difference between the two would be significant enough to deal with the potential hassles. If the boat is going to live in FL, I'd register it there.

Just my .02
 
Sales tax is almost identical between the states. Certainly not enough to sway a decision.

We closed on the boat yesterday and registered it in Texas and paid the Texas sales tax. Our thinking was that the whole Florida condo experience is a bit of an experiment and if we find we aren't using it over the next year or two we'll sell it. We'd then bring the boat back to Texas and either sell it or use it with our other boat. If it works out then we'll be a lot more knowledgeable and will transfer it to Florida registration if that makes the most sense. Or trade it for an outboard boat.

Thank you everyone for your input.

(A parting non-Sea Ray boat picture of the test drive :) )

Topped out at 55 mph via GPS which is not too shabby for a biggish runabout but I hate to think what the fuel burn was with the 8.1L so won't be cruising at that speed for sure)

20200527_181927.jpg
 
Topped out at 55 mph via GPS which is not too shabby for a biggish runabout but I hate to think what the fuel burn was with the 8.1L so won't be cruising at that speed for sure)

View attachment 85625
I always loved 8.1's in a boat or a 454 in a car - "pass anything but a gas station"
 

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