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Illinois boat and trailer move

Move a Boat and Trailer to Illinois

Register the watercraft through Illinois DNR and its highway trailer through the Secretary of State without combining their titles, identifiers, or deadlines.

Use this order

Prepare the boat and trailer before the office visit

The government instructions are free. We show a private provider only when it is authorized for this vehicle and task.

  1. 1. Check when the application becomes due

    A current out-of-state vessel number remains valid on Illinois waters for up to 60 consecutive days. Complete the Illinois watercraft transaction before that period ends, while the highway trailer follows the separate 30-day new-resident vehicle deadline.

  2. 2. Prepare the correct ownership record

    For a previously registered out-of-state boat, provide the original out-of-state title when the prior state titles it or the registration card from a non-title state. Illinois requires a title for registered watercraft over 21 feet; titling is optional below 22 feet.

  3. 3. Complete identification and inspection

    A homemade boat or a boat without a valid hull identification number needs a DNR inspection before registration. The highway trailer separately follows the Illinois title, weight, brake, and breakaway rules.

  4. 4. Register the correct vehicle class

    Register watercraft powered by machinery, including a trolling motor. Non-powered watercraft are exempt, and a sail-only vessel should be checked against DNR's current application instructions rather than treated as a motor vehicle.

Vehicle classification

Check the exact vehicle class

A person born on or after January 1, 1998 needs an Illinois-accepted boating safety certificate to operate a motorboat over 10 horsepower, subject to the separate supervision rules for operators under 18.

Open the primary Illinois source before completing a form or paying a fee. The official agency decides which forms and checks apply to the specific vehicle.

Open the primary official source
No verified provider is listed for this exact transaction yet

Use the official state instructions. We do not show a near-match, unverified business, or provider with an expired authorization.

Open the official state guide
Separate state records

Other vehicles moving to Illinois

Open only the guide for the vehicle you are registering.

  • motorcycle
    Move a Motorcycle to Illinois

    Title and register an out-of-state motorcycle while keeping its road eligibility, insurance, emissions exemption, and rider classification separate.

  • rv
    Move an RV or Motorhome to Illinois

    Move a personal motorhome through Illinois title, registration, insurance, emissions, and noncommercial license rules without combining its towed records.

  • trailer
    Move a Trailer to Illinois

    Use the trailer's ownership record, gross weight, brakes, and recreational or utility use to prepare its separate Illinois transaction.

Reviewed 2026-08-24

Official Illinois sources

These are the state pages and forms used to prepare this guide.