Attention Boat Owners: Boat renewal notices reminding Illinois boat owners that their registration decals are due to expire on June 30, 2012 will be mailed in May. You can renew online or by phone at this time. The registration card and decals for any registrations issued after January 1, 2012 will be printed and mailed in May due to a delay in the printing of the forms. Boat owners are asked to carry their temporary permit (valid for 120 days) until they receive the registration decals.
Watercraft owners are able to renew their watercraft registrations by using a touch-tone telephone or the internet. This convenient service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before using this service, you are reminded that you need your Illinois registration number and hull identification number (located on your registration card), and a pen and paper to record your confirmation number. Accepted forms of payment include VISA, Mastercard, Discover, American Express and E-Check.
Upon completion of your transaction you will receive a confirmation number that will authorize you to immediately use your watercraft on Illinois waters. This is especially helpful if your current registration and decals have expired. If you have moved since your last registration, the system will allow you to enter your new address.
The registration card and decals for any registrations issued after January 1, 2012 will be printed and mailed in May due to a delay in the printing of the forms. If a law enforcement officer needs to verify a registration renewal, the system is set up to acknowledge the transaction when the officer enters the registration confirmation number through a special security system accessed through a touch-tone phone.
All information supplied to this service regarding registration and credit card information is guaranteed to be protected for your privacy. A convenience fee will be added to the regular registration fee to offset the cost of the transaction. If you experience problems renewing your registration on-line or by phone please call IDNR's Watercraft Registration/Title Office at 1-800-382-1696 or 217-557-0180.
If your record is not found it may be due to one of the following reasons:
- The registration is not yet expired, it's too early to renew.
- Registration number and hull identification number do not match. You may be entering the registration number and hull id number incorrectly. If your registration consists of 3 numbers and 2 letters instead of 4 numbers and 2 letters then you must enter a zero in front of the number. Example: 0123XZ. The registration number and hull id number are listed on your registration card, watercraft title, renewal application form, or physically inspect your watercraft for the correct numbers.