Oregon Marine Board urges you to check email for motorboat registration renewal notices

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon State Marine Board will email motorboat registration renewal notices to boaters who have an email on file and whose registration expires on December 31. Each notice is specific to the owner and their boat.

Boat owners are encouraged to renew online, and the email includes clear steps for using the Boat Oregon Store. If a boater doesn’t have an email on file, a renewal notice will be mailed and should arrive by mid-November, the agency Marine Board said in a news release Tuesday.

Motorboat Owners

The fastest method to renew your boat registration is online, through the Marine Board’s Boat Oregon Store. When you renew online, you can print a temporary permit after successful payment. Just have the temporary permit on board with you and present it to marine law enforcement when asked. You can also renew more than one motorboat at a time or buy Waterway Access Permits in the same transaction for a $1.50 portal fee. Just review the store help page ahead of time to learn how.

Motorboat registration decals are mailed within two to five business days if renewing online. If you mail your payment to the Marine Board, it takes about seven to 10 business days for processing. After that, expect another two to four weeks for your decals to arrive by mail. These timelines may vary because printing and mailing are handled outside the agency.

Any watercraft with a motor or sailboats 12 feet and longer are required to be titled and registered with the Marine Board. Early bird online sales begin November 2 for decals expiring December 31, 2026. Motorboat registration fees are $5.95 per foot plus $8 surcharge (for aquatic invasive species prevention efforts) issued on a 2-year calendar basis for 2026. Renewing in the fall or early winter months is recommended to avoid long delays during the peak summer season.

Paddlers (Human-Powered Boats)

Non-motorized boaters of kayaks, canoes, rafts, drift, stand up paddleboards, and their inflatable versions can also purchase waterway access permits through the Boat Oregon Store.

A 7-day permit costs $6, an annual permit is $20, and a two-year permit is $35. Annual and two-year permits are also valid for one or two calendar years. Paddlers are encouraged to purchase permits early in the year to get the most use out of them and to explore the bounty of waterways in the state. Because permits can be saved or printed immediately, they make great “stocking stuffers” for the holidays, especially if you plan on gifting someone a boat. Permits are transferable to other paddlecraft, and children under 14 are exempt. 

Visit the Boat Oregon Store help page with videos and written instructions on how to navigate the store to renew your motorboat registrations or purchase Waterway Access Permits.