MN state park pass and boat tags are still the best deal on anything in the state.
Do you guys typically keep your pitchforks right next to the keyboard or do you have to run out to the barn every time you get riled up? And if it’s the latter aren’t you exhausted yet?
No we just started.
The State of Minnesota requires sales tax to be collected by businesses selling boats. Minnesota Sales tax rate on boats is 8.125%. Boat Trailers are taxed at 6.875%.
So your $50,000 boat cost you $4125 in tax for your boat and $350 for the trailer. You would think we should get a lifetime license for the boat for that price.
I just feel we are not getting our moneys worth for what we are paying in to the state.
All watercraft reg for the state are the same fees. They increased in 2024. It is based on the length and type of watercraft. The only real difference in watercraft is jet ski or kayak/canoe, or boat. Sail boats are different too when they are a certain size. The sales tax is 6.875% for the state but they have to add local taxes on as well in my town there is a city and a county tax added. You don’t pay sales tax on privately purchased used boats though just dealership.
So your $50,000 boat cost you $4125 in tax for your boat and $350 for the trailer. You would think we should get a lifetime license for the boat for that price.
I’m not familiar with other states but do other neighboring states have a lifetime watercraft registration when you buy one or do they require a renewal?
Also, with the trailer. Depending on the size/weight, some of them require renewal. My parents have a tandem axle and they have to renew it. Mine is a single axle with a lifetime registration.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>James Almquist wrote:</div>
So your $50,000 boat cost you $4125 in tax for your boat and $350 for the trailer. You would think we should get a lifetime license for the boat for that price.I’m not familiar with other states but do other neighboring states have a lifetime watercraft registration when you buy one or do they require a renewal?
Also, with the trailer. Depending on the size/weight, some of them require renewal. My parents have a tandem axle and they have to renew it. Mine is a single axle with a lifetime registration.
Based on this logic we should get lifetime registration on vehicles, too. Don’t get me wrong…that would be great but it ain’t gonna happen.
I get what your saying Matt but my grip is what are getting for our boat license vs what we get for our fishing license. Too much tax and nothing to show for it.
I dont know where you live but theres a 1048 lakes in my county so its not an opportunity problem to get your moneys worth.
Update: I went online and my postcard for the tritoon registration that was mailed out had the “old” amount. The amount online I had to pay was substantially more 
I’ll pay my fair share and then some happily IF I saw COs, stocking operations, and maybe some launch improvements in my area. The local CO here is a great guy, but if I run into him once a year I’d be shocked.
Come on guys, we have it good in Minnesota.
I have no problem with the cost of boat registration fees. The cost is insignificant when you consider the cost of boating and like someone complained, the fees certainly don’t go into the DNR black hole.
The registration fees are put towards repairs and upgrades to public boat ramps, upgrades to boating facilities, efforts to clean up waterways, projects that help keep waterways safe and programs that help keep boating safe.
Many seem to take the boating related infrastructure and clean waterways that we enjoy in Minnesota for granted but since boat owners are the primary users of boating and waterway related improvements, it’s up to us to pay for them.
There are always those that complain when it comes to payng their part and expect everyone else to pay for them.
Update: I went online and my postcard for the tritoon registration that was mailed out had the “old” amount. The amount online I had to pay was substantially more
I thought you were planning to get a new one anyways?
Also, you could simply pay the amount on the post card through the mail. I’ll bet they would send you the stickers based on the amount listed on that card. If they communicated a specific amount to you, you should pay that amount. Not another amount you discovered which was incorrect on their behalf.
keep in mind MN has many more lakes than just about every other state. That means more accesses to maintain, more lakes to patrol, and more lakes to survey. More lakes = more expensive to manage.
There is an access on clambshell lake that is owned by the army corps of engineers that I use on occasion. It used to be free then 2yrs ago they completely redid the whole access. New ramp, dock parking lot and made it really nice but now it’s $5 a day or a season pass to launch. I would rather pay a little more in boat registration if it helps maintain and improve lake access’s and keep them free.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>buckybadger wrote:</div>
Update: I went online and my postcard for the tritoon registration that was mailed out had the “old” amount. The amount online I had to pay was substantially moreI thought you were planning to get a new one anyways?
Also, you could simply pay the amount on the post card through the mail. I’ll bet they would send you the stickers based on the amount listed on that card. If they communicated a specific amount to you, you should pay that amount. Not another amount you discovered which was incorrect on their behalf.
Hopefully not. With any luck the wife will not find what she wants.
That is what I should have probably just done (mailed it in). I wonder if other people saw the same thing with the old same rate printed on the paper card, but the new increased rate online?
Haha.
I cross checked the amount on my post card compared to online and it was the same.
Honestly Bucky I think you found your old renewal card. I know they misprinted the OHV prices on the cards with prices for the Off Highway Motorcycle on there instead of Off Highway Vehicle prices but those are 20$ cheaper so most people don’t care. All the current cards I’ve seen have had the new prices.
I get what your saying Matt but my grip is what are getting for our boat license vs what we get for our fishing license. Too much tax and nothing to show for it.
If it makes you feel any better the DNR was lobbying for increased fishing license fees as well, but the (DFL-controlled) legislature and governor said no. Listen, you are going to pay for the privilege to have concrete launches, stocking and hatcheries, etc. Boat registration seems like an appropriate way to make sure this cost is passed on to those users who benefit most.
I always find the “I never see a CO and my boat ramp hasn’t been improved in years” crowd to be a little silly. Most folks fish the same lake or stretch of river and use the same couple ramps like 80% of the time. CO’s cover a wiiiiiide geographical area in some parts of the state. There are 24 hours in a day. The chances of you running into a CO during the exact hours you’re fishing on your exact lake are not very high, statistically.
Money well spent on the boat ramp by my house. Like 3 or 4 years ago the DNR hauled in stacks of new concrete slabs to replace the old broken up ramp and to this day are just sitting in a pile now half way or more buried in sand after last summers big flood. Consecutive summers/falls with super low water levels and they just sat there untouched.
I have no problem with the fees for the pontoon and fishing boat, but always shake my head when I have to pay for kayaks (longer than 12 ft). So dumb.
I have no problem with the fees for the pontoon and fishing boat, but always shake my head when I have to pay for kayaks (longer than 12 ft). So dumb.
Actually I think its 10 feet, not 12. Minor detail.
i dont have issues with the fees for boat tabs. i fish about 15 different lakes with my 16 ft lund during soft water season. And some of them not very busy and off the beaten path, and then landings are pretty well taken care of for where there at.
i also fish some less then ideal landings never taken care of…but use a small light aluminum boat..and like the fact there not taken care of. less fishing pressure!!! 
as far as seeing a CO…….meh……i’ll stop by his house and say HI!!!!!
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