When do MN boat registrations change to the next year?

Scenario example – If I buy a WI boat today, should I wait to register it in MN so I get the full 3 years worth? Do the license years change on January 1st or earlier?

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Scenario example – If I buy a WI boat today, should I wait to register it in MN so I get the full 3 years worth? Do the license years change on January 1st or earlier?

Can’t answer your question but have one for you.
If you do not transfer registration/ownership when you buy it, how are you going to be able to purchase insurance on this boat?

I bought a boat at this time last year. Took till October (after it was in storage) to get an appt at the DMV. My registration expires 2022.

Huntindave wrote:

If you do not transfer registration/ownership when you buy it, how are you going to be able to purchase insurance on this boat?

It wasn’t an issue for me. Insured the day I bought, but I literally could not get the registration transferred for 6 weeks due to backups at the DMV.

I did have a bill of sale from the buyer, but I am 99% certain my insurance agent didn’t ask for it.

Boats expire in December. I would assume if you were to purchase one now it would not renew until December of 2024.

CaptainMusky wrote:

Boats expire in December. I would assume if you were to purchase one now it would not renew until December of 2024.

Correct, boat registrations expire December 31st along with ATV/UTV’s.

However, if you buy the boat and register it now, you will have a registration only good until 2023. You still have a few months of fishing this year to use the boat and you’d only be “saving” $15 if you waited.

Just purchased a duck hunting boat yesterday. I had it transferred into my name and decided to wait to renew the registration till next year since the rest of this year all I will be using it for is duck hunting and you do not need registration for that. Next year I can get new registration and will get the full 3 years out of it if I decide to use it for something other than duck hunting.

thx guys, answered my question

My wife worked at a Registrars office for about 10 years. Two things they had angry customers come in and try and straighten out on rare occasions were someone had sold a boat and it was involved in some sort of accident but the new owner hadn’t transfered the title, and some lawyer had contacted them about possibly being liable for damage because they were the legal owner of the boat or trailer. The other thing was someone damaged a boat that they hadn’t transfered the title or registration on. So their insurance company was holding up their payment because they didn’t “own” the boat. COVID has everything messed up but you’re supposed to transfer a boat title or registration within 20 days of purchasing it just like a car.

Reply from MN DNR

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