Beginning January 1, 2006, to comply with both state and federal laws, Montana boaters need to display
Beginning January 1, 2006, to comply with both state and federal laws, Montana boaters need to display:
- a permanent registration decal issued by their local county treasurer’s office – the permanent decal for boats is white and includes the abbreviation “PERM.” The decal must be placed on the left side of the forward half of the boat, three inches behind the identifying numbers.
AND - two boat validation decals – the decals are free and expire every three years.
If your boat, sailboat or personal watercraft is already permanently registered, contact your local Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office for information on how to get the required validation decals, or go online to fwp.mt.gov and select “Boat Validation Decals” under “For Anglers.” Additional information is available on FWP’s Register Boats page.
If you are purchasing a new or used boat, sailboat or personal watercraft, your local county treasurer’s office can issue all of the required validation decals.