To register most boats in Illinois, you need a bill of sale, among other documents. Illinois has different rules for buying and registering boats by dealers, retailers, and individuals. The bill of sale describes the boat and includes the hull identification number and price. Illinois separates the boat, motor, and trailer prices—those amounts are entered separately on the bill of sale.

Table of Contents

Illinois Boat Bill of Sale Requirements
Illinois Boat Bill of Sale Template

Illinois Boat Bill of Sale Requirements

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources handles boat registrations. You can register and renew the boat online. All powered boats must be registered with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The Illinois boat bill of sale requires several pieces of information, including:

Year and make of the boat
Title number, if it had a previous title
Hull number, if the boat has a hull number
Registration number if the boat was previously registered
Buyer’s name and mailing address
Seller’s name and mailing address
Motor year, make, and horsepower
Sales price for the boat and motor
Price for the trailer, if the boat includes a trailer
Whether taxes are included in the sale

Registering a Boat

After purchasing a boat, you must register the boat. All classes of boats must be registered, though not all need to be titled in your name; however, we recommend titling a boat regardless.

If you purchased a boat with no hull number, you must go through the extra step of inspecting the boat before you title and register it.

Where to Register Your Boat in Illinois

The easiest way to register your boat is to register online with the Department of Natural Resources. You can also send all the required documentation and a check to:

IDNR – Watercraft
PO Box 19226
Springfield, IL 62794-9226

Documents Needed to Obtain Title and Registration

When registering the boat, you will need the following documents:

Certificate of Documentation, a copy issued in your name. You usually need a title. However, if you are an Illinois resident who purchased the boat from an Illinois resident, you can submit a Power of Attorney instead.
RUT-75, if you purchased the boat from an individual
RUT-25, if you purchased the boat from an out-of-state dealer
ST 556, if you purchased the boat from an Illinois dealer
Two copies of the Illinois boat bill of sale
Tax Fee – Make your check payable to the Illinois Department of Revenue, but send it to the Department of Natural Resources.

Fees

Illinois has several fees for boat registration. The fees are higher for larger boats.

Class 1 Boats (all powered watercraft that are less than 16 feet in length, plus all motorized kayaks, canoes, and paddleboats, regardless of length): $28.00
Class 2 Boats (16 feet to less than 26 feet): $60.00 (USCG New/Transfer/Renewal $50.00)
Class 3 Boats (26 feet to less than 40 feet): $160.00 (USCG New/Transfer/Renewal $150.00)
Class 4 Boats (any boat 40 feet and over): 210.00 (USCG New/Transfer/Renewal $200.00)

Exemptions

All boats that are powered must be registered in Illinois. Even if the boat, kayak, canoe, or another type of vessel has a trolling motor, you must register it. However, if a registered watercraft is under 21 feet, it does not have to be titled. We recommend titling boats of all sizes.