Boats for Sale in North Dakota

Registration without titles

North Dakota is a registration state. It does not issue titles for boats, motors or trailers. Any watercraft propelled by a motor and used mainly in North Dakota must be registered with the Game and Fish Department. That includes kayaks, canoes and pedal boats once a motor is added, plus eFoils and similar craft. The certificate of number is proof of ownership in North Dakota and must be available on the boat when it's running.

If the boat came from another state, it may carry that state's title. New boats from a dealer come with a Certificate of Origin. Game and Fish advises keeping those papers, because you'll need them if you sell or if the boat goes back to a titling state.

Buying and transferring

Registering a new boat or transferring ownership is done online through your Game and Fish account. Submit within 15 days. For a private sale, you need a completed title or registration plus a signed, detailed bill of sale. You can attach the bill of sale or proof of taxes online, and a 10-day temporary permit lets you use the boat while registration and decals are processed.

Fees for 2026 to 2028

The current three-year cycle runs January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028, and fees are prorated:

• Motorboats under 16 feet, and motorized canoes of any length: $30
• Motorboats 16 feet to under 20 feet: $45
• Motorboats 20 feet or longer: $60
• Aquatic nuisance species (ANS) fee: $15 per motorized boat for the cycle

Boats not licensed in North Dakota pay a $15 ANS fee each calendar year and display an ANS sticker, bought online.

Who can drive

There's no adult education requirement, but youth rules apply to motorboats and PWCs with more than 10 hp:

• Under 12: only with someone 18 or older aboard.
• Ages 12 through 15: with someone 18 or older aboard, or after passing a Game and Fish approved course.

The Boat North Dakota home-study course is free on paper, and paid online versions are available. Kids can start at 11 and a half, but the card isn't issued until age 12.

Where to boat

Lake Sakakawea on the Missouri River is the anchor of North Dakota boating, with ramps around Garrison, Pick City and New Town. Lake Oahe reaches up from South Dakota near Bismarck, and Devils Lake in the northeast is a fishing destination. Smaller lakes dot the prairie pothole region. Strong winds can build big waves on open water, and the season is short, from ice-out in spring to fall.

Popular boats

Deep-V aluminum and fiberglass walleye boats with tillers or consoles, plus pontoons and ski boats for summer.

Buying tips for North Dakota

Because there's no North Dakota title, get the seller's current registration card and a detailed bill of sale with the HIN, price and both signatures. If the boat has a title from another state, collect that too. Check for lien paperwork, and plan your online transfer within 15 days.

North Dakota doesn't title boats, so the paper trail is the old registration plus a signed, detailed bill of sale. Make sure the bill of sale lists the hull number and price. Register within 15 days, and use the 10-day temporary permit if you want to fish Sakakawea or Devils Lake right away. Check for ice damage on hulls stored outdoors through the winter.