Recreational Boat registration and change of address transactions processed via the Internet are very similar to those for motor vehicles. However if you have not made registration or licensing transactions online before, below are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you.

Click on any of the questions below for more information.

Vehicles Securities Register

Can I notify a change of address online?

Yes, you can notify us of your new address by selecting the Change of Address - Boat Registration & Licence transaction from the Recreational Boating Menu on the home page.

You can change your residential and/or postal address for recreational boats registered in your name and for your boat operator’s licence. One change will automatically change your address for all records held on the Recreational Boating System (RBS) database.

Please note:

• Currently there is no facility to record a garaging address and/or registration postal address for a specific recreational boat.
• All recreational boating correspondence is sent to the postal address of the Principal Registered Owner of a recreational boat. This is the first-listed person on a registration certificate for a boat; if your name appears second on a boat’s registration certificate you can still change your address, but this will not affect the postal address for the boat’s renewal notice or other notification.
• If your boat is registered in joint names and you wish to change your residential and/or postal address, each member of the joint ownership needs to complete a separate change of address form.

Are there any concessions are available for me?

A concession is a reduction in the fee for registering a recreational boat.

Pension concessions

No pension concessions apply for recreational boat registration or licensing.

What do I need to renew my recreational boat registration online?

• The 7-digit ‘Payment Number’ as shown on the ‘Invitation to Renew Boat Registration’.

• Boat Registration Number (eg. XX999S);
• Hull Type (From a Drop-down Menu, and as shown on the boat registration certificate); and
• Registered owner’s surname (Principal OR Joint registered owner).

Please note:

• All of this information can be found on any previous Invitation to Renew Motor Boat Registration Notice or Certificate of Motor Boat Registration for this boat that is in your name.

What boat registrations cannot be renewed online?

Registrations that have requirements which must be satisfied in person at a Service SA Customer Service Centre cannot be renewed online.

Vessels that are substantially used:

• for lifesaving; or
• as a rescue craft in connection with organised racing or aquatic sports; or
• in organised search and rescue,

Can I register a new boat online?

No. When a boat is being registered in your name for the first time (whether it’s a new boat, a new owner re-registration, or transfer of ownership), you must provide Proof of Vessel Ownership and Evidence of your Identity. These documents must be sighted by the Service SA Customer Service Centre, so these applications must be done in person or by post only.

What if my boat registration has expired?

IT IS AN OFFENCE TO OPERATE AN UNREGISTERED RECREATIONAL MOTOR BOAT.

It is also an offence to drive a recreational motor boat that does not display a current registration label.

Registration expired

If your boat registration has expired:

• No penalties apply; you just need to pay the renewal fee that applies on the date you make payment.
• Your registration will be renewed for twelve months from the date of payment.
• Your registration label will be forwarded to you by mail as soon as possible.
• There are no late fees applied.

If the registration has expired and you will not be using your boat for a period of time you do not need to renew your registration. Whether registration has expired for one day or several years, you just pay the registration renewal fee for your boat at the time that you apply for registration renewal. Your registration number will also remain with your boat whether currently registered or not.

How do I get my registration label and certificate if I register online?

Once you have completed your registration renewal transaction the registration label and certificate is posted to the registered owner as soon as possible (usually within 10 working days). The boat cannot be operated without displaying a current registration label.

When you renew online a printable receipt will be displayed, which you may wish to carry with you as proof of registration renewal.

Can I find out if a recreational boat is recorded as stolen or wrecked?

Currently there is no record of these boats available to the public.

When a recreational boat is stolen and the theft is reported to Police, DIT will record the theft on the Recreational Boating System (RBS) database and any attempt to re-register the boat will not be permitted.

If I buy or sell a boat, who do I need to tell?

On the sale of a recreational motor boat, the new registered owner must - within 14 days of sale - apply to transfer the registration.

If the boat does not have a Hull Identification Number (HIN) recorded or the registration has expired, a New Owner Re-registration will be necessary.

It is not compulsory to notify the department of the sale of your boat, however, if you wish to do so you can contact the department’s Recreational Boating Unit, either by mail to PO Box 1 Walkerville SA 5081, or by telephone on (08) 8343 2774.

How much will it cost to renew my recreational boat registration?

You can find out the registration renewal fees for your boat by going to the fees page on the DIT website. Boat registration fees generally are dependent on the boat length; however a set fee applies to certain types of boats. To find the cost of renewing your boat registration, go to the fees table on the department’s website at: www.transport.sa.gov.au/fees/motor_reg_licence_2.asp

How much will it cost to transfer the registration of a recreational boat into my name?

Transfer of registration for a recreational boat is only possible if:

• The boat has a valid Hull Identification number (HIN) recorded. AND
• The ‘Application for Transfer of Registration’ is made on the current Certificate of Motor Boat Registration; AND
• That Certificate shows the boat’s HIN; AND
• The application is signed by the current registered owner.

If any existing registration cannot be transferred to the new registered owner a New Owner Re-registration will be necessary instead - this fee comprises the renewal fee plus the transfer fee.
To find the cost of transferring registration or of a New Owner Re-registration, go to the fees table on the department’s website at: www.transport.sa.gov.au/fees/motor_reg_licence_2.asp

I am the member of a boat club; how do I apply for a Club Registration Number for my boat?

Though Personalised Registration Numbers are not currently available for Recreational boats, a number of boat clubs and organisations have been granted permission to assign specific ‘Club’ Registration Numbers to their members when they purchase a new or second-hand boat. These numbers are in the same format as other registration numbers, with the two-letter prefix signifying the club or organisation (eg ‘SL’ at the beginning of a registration usually signifies that boat as belonging to a Surf Lifesaving Club), followed by a two- or three-digit number and ending in ‘S’.

To obtain a ‘Club’ registration number you must obtain an ‘Application to Change Registration Number’ form, either by downloading from the department’s website or from a Service SA Customer Service Centre or your Club or Association Secretary. The Club or Association Secretary must sign this form assigning you the registration number and then the form needs to be lodged through any Service SA Customer Service Centre.

A fee applies for a change of registration number, however where the application is lodged at the time of Initial Registration of a Recreational Boat, the club number can be assigned at no additional cost.
Please Note:

• If a boat - registered to you - has a Club Registration Number and you wish to retain that number after you dispose of the boat, you will need to apply for a change to a General Registration Number and affix that number to the sides of the boat before you dispose of the boat.
• Clubs cannot reclaim a Registration Number once the boat has been sold or transferred without:

• The express permission of the current registered owner of the boat, and
• The current owner’s agreement and understanding that costs will incur both in the change of number on the database and in the requirement to change the number on the side of the boat.

• Failure to apply for a Change of Registration Number from a ‘Club’ Number to a ‘General’ Number means the registration number remains with that boat and is no longer available to the Club.

What is the Vehicles Securities Register?

The Vehicles Securities Register (VSR) was established in 1987 as a means of identifying motor vehicles, motor cycles, trailers and caravans that are the subject of a financial interest as defined under the Goods Securities Act, 1986. Please note that financial interests in boats were not recorded on the VSR.

The VSR closed in 2012 and was replaced by a new national Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) which provides for the recording of financial interests over most types of personal property including vehicles and boats.

If you intend to purchase a vehicle or boat, it is strongly recommended that you undertake a search of the Personal Property Securities Register to ascertain if the property is subject to a financial interest before buying the property.

How can I find out if a boat has a financial interest recorded?

You can find out if boat has a financial interest recorded by searching against the Personal Property Securities Register. The PPSR is a national register of financial interests against most types of personal property. The PPSR is administered by the Commonwealth government’s Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia.

You will need to have the hull identification number (HIN) for a boat search.

The PPSR search will identify any financial interests recorded against the property and also provides a facility to print a certificate of encumbrance status.