Sticker issue, New York State

Ok I need some help. I am bringing a boat from New York State back to Canada on the Erie Canal and the owner said he has removed his "Sticker". What does that mean and what are the ramifications? Will a Bill of Sale keep me out of trouble if I get stopped being it is leaving the USA?

The "sticker" could be any of a number of things. Maybe a NY State registration sticker? Maybe a US Customs "decal"? Maybe some Canadian sticker?


I think the more important question is whether it's a US registered boat, and you are importing it into Canada? Or are you just running the boat and bringing it in as a visitor on behalf of someone else?


If you are operating someone else's boat you typically need a letter from the owner authorizing you to operate, import, export the boat. This is commonplace with captained boats.

twistedtree said:

The "sticker" could be any of a number of things. Maybe a NY State registration sticker? Maybe a US Customs "decal"? Maybe some Canadian sticker?


I think the more important question is whether it's a US registered boat, and you are importing it into Canada? Or are you just running the boat and bringing it in as a visitor on behalf of someone else?


If you are operating someone else's boat you typically need a letter from the owner authorizing you to operate, import, export the boat. This is commonplace with captained boats.

Click to expand...

It is a US documented vessel being imported into Canada with a Bill of Sale. The owner has to turn in the Title Document to have it undocumented being it is being sold outside of the USA. The sticker is definitely something to do with New York State.

The sticker is likely a tax sticker of some sort. I would suggest that you contact whatever New York state office registers boats and ask them what you should do. Paying for a New York registration will likely be less cost and trouble than getting a ticket. It is also possible that your bill of sale plus your Canadian ID will be all you need.

Sounds like the registration sticker. Documented vessels with a NY State home port still have to have a registration sticker, but no reg. numbers on the bow like non-documented vessels do.

It could also have been a sticker for the NY canal system.

kchace said:

It could also have been a sticker for the NY canal system.

Click to expand...

This was my first thought as well. if this is the case, it's easy to get a new one. There are several levels, two day, week, and seasonal pass. They're all pretty cheap, really. You get them at the first lock you come to. EDIT: I just checked the website, and found this: In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the New York State Canal System, there are no tolls or fees for recreational vessels traveling on the system in 2018



If he's talking NY State registration sticker, then you'll have to deal with the NYS DMV.
Pricing goes by length, with a maximum of $93.75, so also not too bad. I'm not sure why he would have removed this, unless it was expired. Most boats in NY have a stack of registration stickers on the bow a quarter of an inch thick.

I will also vote that it is probably the NYS registration sticker. Documented boats in NYS still have to be registered with the DMV here. Just another “fee” to be paid. The stickers are supposed to be removed or rendered “unusable” when you sell the boat. This is the language written on the back of the sticker backing. I just replaced mine the other day. I would think that having all of the sale paperwork would be enough for transit till you register her in her final destination but some agency somewhere probably disagrees because of more “fees” that have to be paid. Perhaps a company that specializes in boat registering can help or provide some insight. Best of luck.

LaBomba said:

It is a US documented vessel being imported into Canada with a Bill of Sale. The owner has to turn in the Title Document to have it undocumented being it is being sold outside of the USA. The sticker is definitely something to do with New York State.

Click to expand...

The owner just needs to be sure they're aware of current tariffs and taxes. I know Canada just put a tariff on boats, but not sure which ones it applies to, if only new or includes used.

The sticker is a NYSDMV sticker. It goes on the forward part of the hull on either side of the bow. No biggy. Long as you have your running papers or title, it's kool.

I can't imagine why Canada would care if you have a NY sticker on your boat when importing it to Canada. But there will be some hefty taxes dues, I expect.

BandB said:

The owner just needs to be sure they're aware of current tariffs and taxes. I know Canada just put a tariff on boats, but not sure which ones it applies to, if only new or includes used.

Click to expand...

The new tariff 10%, is on all boats. The owner now tells me it is a NY registration sticker he removed. I will call the DMV in the morning and see what they say. Might cost me $95.

When I bought my boat in the US I removed the vessel from US documentation and obtained a Canadian licence prior to launching. The boat had Canadian numbers on it when I got underway and when I arrived back in Canada I paid the HST on entry to Canada as the last step in the process. There didn't seem to be any dependencies between licencing and importing, unlike a motor vehicle where you have to import before you can get a licence. The whole process was surprisingly painless.

Jeff F said:

When I bought my boat in the US I removed the vessel from US documentation and obtained a Canadian licence prior to launching. The boat had Canadian numbers on it when I got underway and when I arrived back in Canada I paid the HST on entry to Canada as the last step in the process. There didn't seem to be any dependencies between licencing and importing, unlike a motor vehicle where you have to import before you can get a licence. The whole process was surprisingly painless.

Click to expand...

Exactly as Jeff says, I've done it dozens of times delivering boats.

boatpoker said:

Exactly as Jeff says, I've done it dozens of times delivering boats.

Click to expand...

Have you taken any into Canada since the tariff was implemented?

BandB said:

Have you taken any into Canada since the tariff was implemented?

Click to expand...

No.
There are no changes in collections. All taxes, duties (whatever they happen to be at the time) are due immediately upon arrival.

La Bomba, what boat did you buy? Sorry if I missed it in another thread. Where in NY?

Agree with this:

Molly said:

The sticker is a NYSDMV sticker. It goes on the forward part of the hull on either side of the bow. No biggy. Long as you have your running papers or title, it's kool.

Click to expand...

Same deal here. I got a temporary Registration from Transport Canada, took my contract to The customs office at Oshawa Airport where they put it in the computer under my name.
I changed the name and flag in Atlantic City before heading north and called in to Canada Customs on arrival. They calculated the HST based on that day's rate, gave me the amount and told me to take the money to Oshawa Airport within 72 hours. It was really easy. No one even bothered to come look at the boat.
Within 6 months you take your paperwork and tax receipts to Transport Canada and the registration is made permanent. Provincial licensing may be easier or harder, I don't know.

Don't sweat canal sticker as NY canals are free this yr.

LaBomba said:

It is a US documented vessel being imported into Canada with a Bill of Sale. The owner has to turn in the Title Document to have it undocumented being it is being sold outside of the USA. The sticker is definitely something to do with New York State.

Click to expand...

The vessel is either documented by the USCG or it has a state issued title. Can't have both, so I assume the former owner had the USCG remove the documentation and returned or destroyed the documentation certificate?
Documented vessels in NYS owned by NYS residents also need to display the NYS registrations sticker on the forward part of the hull (my marina even asks for a copy of the NYS registration and checks the sticker).