A certificate of title is a legal document that proves ownership. Boat titling is different from boat registration because a certificate of registration does not prove ownership. A certificate of title requires all owners of a boat to sign off on their interests when selling, and would provide the purchaser with proper documentation for titling and registering a boat. Application forms are the same ones used for boat registration and are available at county treasurer’s offices, certain boat dealerships, on the Commission's web site, at the Commission’s headquarters in Harrisburg and at all regional law enforcement offices.

Boat titling is required for all inboard motorboats with a model year of 1997 or newer (all personal watercraft) AND all outboard motorboats 14 feet or more in length with a model year of 1997 or newer. All inboard-powered boats, including all 1997 or newer personal watercraft, are subject to the titling requirement, regardless of length. At the request of the owner, the Commission will issue titles to any boat, regardless of the length, power source, or year the boat was manufactured. However, once a title is issued that boat must remain titled by future owners. Also, anyone with a boat currently titled in another state must obtain a Pennsylvania title when Pennsylvania becomes the state of principal use, regardless of the age, size, or length of the boat.

The fee for titling a boat is $15. There is an additional encumbrance fee of $5 if there is a lien against the boat. The fee for a duplicate title is also $5.

Boat titling assures the buyer of a boat that the seller has clear ownership of a boat offered for sale. Some lenders won’t finance a boat without a title, so securing a loan to purchase a boat may be easier if the boat is titled. Titling is also a deterrent to boat theft. Boat dealers and other purchasers are more certain that someone offering a boat for sale has the legal right to do so.