An undocumented vessel is registered by DMV and does not have a marine certificate issued by the United States (U.S.) Coast Guard. For California this commonly called the “CF Number”. ­

A documented vessel is registered and issued a marine certificate by the U.S. Coast Guard. It does not require DMV registration. Please see the previous note.

You are required to register your undocumented vessel and pay applicable fees before it is placed in California waters.

Current law authorizes the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways to work with the DMV to collect an Invasive mussel infestation prevention fee and issue a set of two stickers to the vessel owner.

The sticker must be purchased every two years to remain current; however, you can still purchase the sticker throughout the year. Vessels used exclusively in marine waters are exempt from this fee.

Funds from the sale of the Mussel Fee Stickers are used to implement infestation prevention programs including planning, mussel monitoring, vessel inspection, and boater education.

Federal law requires the Mussel Fee Stickers be purchased separately from vessel registration. A set of two unique identifying Mussel Fee Stickers will be issued for the vessel as evidence of payment of this fee and must be displayed on each side of the vessel next to the registration stickers.

Additional information regarding invasive infestation mussels is available from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways website.

(California Harbors and Navigation Code Chapter 5, Division 3, Article 1.3 §675 through 676.)

To purchase the Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee Sticker please go to the Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee Sticker Request page.

Wipe down the hull surface and remove any residue or debris before applying the decal.

Do not apply decals to a wet surface.

Use the center slit to grab the upper corner of the decal.

Very slowly peel away the decal, at a sharp angle, from the liner.

If the backer liner starts to rip, stop and start to peel away from the other direction.

You must remove all the liner backing material for the decal to adhere to the vessel correctly.

Apply the decal to the vessel and smooth out any air bubbles.

If you boat in California fresh waters such as the Delta, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and streams, you must purchase and display an Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee sticker next to each registration sticker on the HULL of the vessel. The Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee sticker is issued in a set of two stickers and matches the registration sticker by color and date.

You may purchase the Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee sticker online. The vessel registration/renewal and sticker transactions are separate, per Federal Regulations. Once you receive your Invasive Mussel Infestation Prevention Fee stickers, place them on either side of the registration sticker as shown below.