Attention boat owners: The state Department of Licensing is discontinuing the yearly paper reminders it mails out about renewing vessel registrations.
This year only, anyone with a boat or a personal watercraft should expect to receive a generic postcard about the change.
In 2011, in place of paper notices, the state plans to send out e-mail renewal reminders with a direct link to the department’s online renewal system.
“It’s a huge change for our boat owners,” Snohomish County Auditor Carolyn Weikel said. “Historically, they’ve always received a renewal notice in the mail.”
Unlike motor vehicles, boat renewals are due on the same day every year: June 30.
There are approximately 30,000 boat renewals per year in Snohomish County, the Auditor’s Office reported. Renewals for boats under 16 feet cost $20.25 per year. Any boat 16 feet and over is assessed at 0.5 percent of the taxable value plus $20.25.
The Department of Licensing sets the fees.
The notices that started arriving in mailboxes last week contain no specific information. Anybody renewing in person should write down registration numbers before heading to a county auditor’s office or subagent.
The switch is expected to save the state $150,000 per year.
Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465, nhaglund@heraldnet.com.
More information
To sign up for e-mail reminders, go to www.dol.wa.gov. For questions, call 360-902-3770 or e-mail titles@dol.wa.gov.
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