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Time To Renew Boat Registrations

January 29, 2025 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– This is a boat registration renewal year. Renewals for boats takes place every three years in Iowa. Dickinson County Recorder Ann Ditsworth says the process is relatively easy…

“They just need to know what vessels they would like to renew and bring a form of payment. We accept cash, check and credit cards and there is a fee with a credit card.”

Nonresidents who register their boat in Iowa need to do that in the county where the boat is primarily used. Ditsworth adds there are some additional things you need to have with you if you’ve purchased a boat from someone privately…

“A bill of sale is needed as well as either the most current registration or if the boat was titled we would need the title signed over from the previous owner.”

She explains how the fees are divied up…

“The large majority of the fee does go back to the state of Iowa, to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and goes to a variety of things that they need for their department. The county does receive some revenue and that goes into our General Fund.”

You can renew your vessels and personal watercraft any time before the April 30th, 2025 deadline. There is a two-month grace period for the $5 penalty. You will not incur the $5 per vessel penalty until July 1st, 2025, HOWEVER, YOU CANNOT USE YOUR VESSEL AFTER APRIL 30th WITHOUT HAVING FIRST RENEWED.

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