FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 1, 2026) – Team Kentucky is making it easier for boat owners to stay current on their vessel registrations with the launch of a new online renewal option beginning April 1. Boat owners can now skip a trip to their local County Clerk’s office and renew their registration online to save valuable time.
“We’re excited to give Kentucky boat owners even more choices this spring to spend less time in an office and more time enjoying the open waters,” said Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray. “This new boat renewal option expands our existing online vehicle registration service to give Kentuckians a more convenient way to be served.”
To renew online, boat owners will need their Kentucky boat (KY) number and the vessel's title number. The boat registration must be active and expire this year to be eligible for online renewal. Boat property taxes must be paid at the same time as the renewal. Boat owners who prefer in-person service may still renew at their local County Clerk’s office. To renew boat registration online and review more eligibility criteria, visit https://drive.ky.gov/Pages/Online-Registration-Renewal.aspx
Boat registrations expire on April 30 each year, so Kentuckians are encouraged to renew in April to avoid any late fees on property taxes. Every motorboat registered in Kentucky must display a valid, unexpired registration tag. A boat’s unique registration number is issued through the County Clerk’s office and must be displayed on each side of the vessel. Registration decals will be mailed to boat owners after their local County Clerk offices process the online renewal request.
The online renewal service is another benefit of Kentucky’s January 2024 launch of the Kentucky Automated Vehicle Information System (KAVIS), which replaced the state’s nearly 40-year-old mainframe vehicle registration system.