All recreational boats fitted with an engine are classed as motor boats and have to be registered while underway in South Australian waters. This includes sailing boats fitted with an auxiliary engine.

Registration involves paying a Recreational Boating Registration Fee and a Recreational Boating Facilities Levy.

The vessel's length must be provided when registering a vessel. Correctly recording the length of your vessel is important in helping to identify your vessel - and the length is used to determine the Registration Fee and the Facilities Levy that is payable when registering recreational vessels.  For information on how to measure the length of your vessel correctly have a look at the Fact Sheet Determining Your Recreational Vessel's Length.(PDF)

The biggest marine safety upgrade in over thirty years is being funded through fairer structures for fees and charges to help keep fatalities on our waters amongst the lowest in the nation.

Fees and Levy from 1 July 2008

For more information about the fairer structure for the fee and the levy have a look at the Frequently Asked Questions.

For more information about the marine safety upgrade have a look at the Minister’s media release.

If you are registering a recreational vessel in your name for the first time, you will need to provide Proof of Vessel Ownership (PVO)

A telephone information and registration service for motor boats is available on

• 13 10 84 (South Australia only)

or you can email us for more information.

• Motor Vessel Registration and Licence fees and Recreational Boating Facilities Levy
• How to apply for a motor boat registration
• Registration process
• BoatCode
• BoatCode agents
• Display of motor boat registration label and numbers
• Buying or selling a motor boat
• Australian Builder Plate (ABP)
• Buying a motor boat from interstate
• Cancellation of motor boat registration
• Club registration numbers
• Renewal of motor boat registration
• Replacement of lost registration label, certificate or BoatCode certificate
• Trade Plates