Is stroke width (25 mm / 12 mm) required, or is height enough?

Height alone is not enough. Motorboats: at least 150 mm high and 25 mm wide. Yachts fitted for a motor, and tenders showing the parent number: at least 50 mm high and 12 mm wide. PWCs: see the PWC section below.Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

Western Australia Boat Registration Requirements Rules

Q: Do you have some links to check for the boat rego regulations?

Yes see below.Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

Western Australia Boat Registration Requirements set out how your registration numbers must look and where they sit on the hull, including size, colour, outline and the DoT sticker on the port side. This includes all surrounding islands in WA Territorial waters including the Cocos Islands.

WA Registration Requirements for Propelled Boats

Any recreational vessel that is propelled by an inboard or outboard motor must be registered with the WA Department of Transport
with the following prerequisites.

WA Registration Number Compliance Rules for White Boats

Minimum Boat Rego Height: 150mm
Lettering Font Type: Non Serif in capital letters with a lettering thickness of 25mm
Where to Install: Not near the Bow of your boat but at least midships, not under bow flare, top of your rego characters must not be more than 75mm below gunwale.
Boat Regos Vinyl Lettering Colour: Black
Dot Registration Sticker: The sticker must be placed on port side beside the rego numbers

WA White Registration Stickers
WA Dark Hull Outline Boat Registration Numbers
WA Outline Boat Rego Rules
WA Yacht Registration Number Compliance
WA Jetski Rego Compliance Laws
WA Registration Stickers Rules

WA Registration Number Compliance Rules for Dark Coloured Boats

Minimum Boat Rego Height: 150mm
Lettering Font Type: Non Serif in capital letters with a lettering thickness of 25mm.
Where to Install: Not near the Bow of your boat but at least midships, not under bow flare, top of your rego characters must not be more than 75mm below gunwale.
Boat Regos Vinyl Lettering Colour: Black vinyl lettering applied on white surrounding outline + ≥ 7mm.
We offer fully compliant non printed Boat Registration Stickers with an outline effect with a 3M option.
Vinyl letters are supplied on one sheet and the outline on another sheet with easy to install instructions.
Dot Registration Sticker: The sticker must be placed on port side beside the rego numbers

We highly recommend you in using non printed Boat Registration Stickers that stand the test of time rather than using a short term option such as a printed decal.

WA PWC / Jetskis Registration Number Compliance Rules

Minimum Boat Rego Height: 100mm
Lettering Font Type: Non Serif in capital letters with a lettering thickness of 25mm.
Where to Install: Both sides midship not under bow flare.
Boat Regos Vinyl Lettering Colour:
White Coloured Jetskis: – Black vinyl lettering
Black/ Dark Coloured Jetskis – Black vinyl lettering applied on white surrounding outline + ≥ 7mm.
We offer fully compliant non printed Boat Registration Stickers with an outline effect with a 3M option.
Vinyl letters are supplied on one sheet and the outline on another sheet with easy to install instructions.

Registration Number Compliance for Yachts that can carry a Motor

Minimum Boat Rego Height: 50mm
Lettering Font Type: Non Serif in capital letters with a lettering thickness of 12mm.
Where to Install: Both sides immediately forward of the transom.
Boat Regos Vinyl Lettering Colour:
White Coloured Yachts: – Black vinyl lettering
Black/ Dark Coloured Yachts – Black vinyl lettering applied on white surrounding outline + ≥ 7mm.
We offer fully compliant non printed Boat Registration Stickers with an outline effect with a 3M option.
Vinyl letters are supplied on one sheet and the outline on another sheet with easy to install instructions.

A HIN (Hull Identification Number) is a compulsory requirement for all boats registered in WA.

Source: Transport WA under the section How to Display your registration numbers.

Tender Identification

If tender is no more than 3.1 m and motor not bigger than 5 hp, ship-to-shore use only no registration is required.
However the boat rego from your main vessel must be shown. Lifeboat or ship to shore (not fishing).

Tender Boat Rego Height: 50mm
Lettering Font Type: Non Serif in capital letters with a lettering thickness of 12mm.
Where to Install: Both sides, forward of the transom.
Tender Regos Vinyl Lettering Colour:
White Coloured Tenders: – Black vinyl lettering
Black/ Dark Coloured Tenders – Black vinyl lettering applied on white surrounding outline + ≥ 7mm.
We offer fully compliant non printed Boat Registration Stickers with an outline effect with a 3M option.
Vinyl letters are supplied on one sheet and the outline on another sheet with easy to install instructions.

Source: Under the section heading title Tender at Transport WA.

Please Note: The information provided is for informational purposes. Rules do change. Before placing any order for boat registration stickers please confirm the current WA display rules with Transport WA before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes for a normal powered boat. Numbers go midships on both sides, clearly visible whether the boat is moving or not, not under the flare of the bow. The highest part of each digit must start no lower than 75 mm below the gunwale. That means the letters sit high on the topsides, not down near the waterline.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

WA wants black, plain block characters. If the hull (or the background behind each digit) is not white, each character also needs a white surround at least 7 mm wide. Contrast is not a free colour choice; black on white, or black with a 7 mm white outline on a dark or coloured hull.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

If the new finish is not white behind each digit, yes — each character needs that minimum 7 mm white surround again. Numbers and stickers must stay in good condition and easy to read.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

No for the usual “fancy” look. Digits must be plain block, not script, vertical and not slanting, in one readable line on each side. Round/circular layouts, italics, shadows that change the letter shape, or stacked numbers are a poor fit for that rule. Keep a straight, upright, block set.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

The rules do not ban reflective vinyl by name. They do require black, block, vertical, clearly visible characters, plus the white surround on a non-white background. Do not use a reflective patch instead of the 7 mm white surround, and do not use silver/chrome as the letter colour.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

PWC numbers go on both sides, clearly visible, not under the flare of the bow. A runabout also uses both sides, midships, not under bow flare, and the 75 mm-from-gunwale height rule. Put the expiry sticker on the port side, beside the numbers, same as a boat.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

The regulation and DoT PDF: at least 100 mm high × 25 mm wide, black block, not slanting, with a 7 mm white surround if the background is not white.
The current Transport WA webpage also says 150 mm × 25 mm for PWCs, which looks like a copy error next to the PDF and the regulation. Use 100 mm as the legal PWC minimum, and tell people to check DTMI if a ranger or the website says otherwise.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

Only if they are your allotted WA number, in black plain block, vertical, the right size, on both sides, with the white surround where needed, and not hidden under the bow. Stock brand graphics, model names, or factory “racing” numbers do not replace registration.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

Yes see below.

Info is a guide and not legal advice. For further clarification pls visit Transport WA.

WA Registration Requirements for Propelled Boats

WA Registration Number Compliance Rules for White Boats

WA Registration Number Compliance Rules for Dark Coloured Boats

WA PWC / Jetskis Registration Number Compliance Rules

Registration Number Compliance for Yachts that can carry a Motor

Tender Identification

Frequently Asked Questions

Is stroke width (25 mm / 12 mm) required, or is height enough? +

Must characters sit no more than 75 mm below the gunwale, and not under bow flare? −

Must letters be black on a white hull, or is any high-contrast colour OK? −

If I wrap or repaint the hull, do I need a new 7 mm white surround? −

Are slanted, script, stacked, or round numbers legal in WA? −

Is reflective vinyl allowed? −

Exact PWC placement vs a runabout? −

What size do jet ski letters need to be? −

Do Sea-Doo / WaveRunner factory graphics count as the registration number? −

Do you have some links to check for the boat rego regulations? −

Australian Boat Registration Authorities

Marine Decal SpecialistJoseph FrancisPh: 0418 563 000v2 LD280923

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Marine Decal Specialist
Joseph Francis
Ph: 0418 563 000
v2 LD280923

Products
Sitemap
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Product Reviews
Terms of Service