North Carolina Boat Registration & Title Transfer

North Carolina Overview

NC Wildlife Resources Commission handles registration while NC DMV handles titling. Instead of traditional sales tax, North Carolina charges a 3% Highway Use Tax (HUT) on vessel purchases — typically lower than neighboring states' sales taxes.

NC Registration Fees (Annual)

NC has some of the lowest registration fees in the Southeast.

NC Title Transfer

1. Seller signs the back of the NC Certificate of Title or completes the assignment section.
2. Buyer completes Form MVR-1 (Title Application — same form used for boats and vehicles).
3. Submit to any NC DMV office: signed title, MVR-1, bill of sale, photo ID, payment ($15 title + 3% HUT + registration).
4. Processing: 4–6 weeks for new title by mail.

NC No-Title Boats

Bonded title at 1.5× appraised value, 3-year bond term. Processed through NC DMV Titling Unit in Raleigh. For pre-1972 boats, a notarized bill of sale may be accepted — contact NC Wildlife at (919) 707-0360 first to confirm. NC Wildlife: (919) 707-0360 | ncwildlife.org