Registration labels and identification marks

The owner of a registered recreational vessel, other than personal watercraft, must ensure that the identification mark (assigned by VicRoads) is painted or displayed:

• on each side of the hull of the vessel
• forward of the beam
• so that the highest part of each digit commences at a point no more than 75 mm below the gunwale
• in characters that are:
  • no less than 150 mm high
  • in proportionate breadth
  • coloured in contrast to the surface on which they are displayed.

See our personal watercraft page for details of PWC registration label requirements.

Recreational tenders

A recreational tender is required to display the name of its mother ship or the registration number of that vessel and the letter ‘T’.

A recreational tender is a vessel that: does not exceed 4.8 m in length; and is used as a means of transport within 300 m of its mother vessel to the shore or another vessel.

The owner of a registered personal watercraft must ensure that the assigned identification mark is painted or displayed:

• on each side of the hull of the vessel
• forward of the beam
• so that the highest part of each digit commences at a point no more than 25 millimetres below the gunwale
• in characters that are:
  • no less than 100 mm high - in proportionate breadth
  • coloured in contrast to the surface on which they are displayed.

Hull identification number

A hull identification number (HIN) is permanently affixed to a boat’s hull.

It includes a unique national serial number along with information regarding the country of origin, and either manufacturer, model and year of production details for new boats, or an authorised agent code and the year it was affixed.

A HIN is not required for vessels to be registered in Victoria. However, if your vessel has a HIN affixed you must provide the number during the registration process.

Attaching a HIN to a vessel

Visit the Boating Industry Association website for advice on the use, or acquisition, of a HIN.