Now that you are close to purchasing your first pleasure vessel, you want to make sure that you are aware of the paperwork and processes you need to go through so you can use your boat as soon as possible. When you reside in an area of Canada, such as British Columbia (BC), the law requires that you obtain a licence for your pleasure craft before you can put it in the water. Without a licence, your boat would be in the water illegally, making you subject to high fines if you are stopped. Knowing the steps you need to take so you can go about licensing a boat in BC can help ensure that you have just what you need quickly, so you do not have to wait to enjoy your time on your boat.
The First Step in Licensing
The first step you want to perform with licensing happens before you even put pen to paper or go to your keyboard. You want to make sure you have all the essential information and documents that you need, so you have everything in front of you. You will need your ownership information and address and information that pertains to the vessel itself. Make sure you have proof that you own the boat, such as a bill of sale, because you will need to provide a copy of this to complete your application. You will also need a copy of your government-issued identification so that you can prove your Canadian citizenship. Finally, you will need a current color photograph that shows the side view of the boat.
The Licensing Form
When you are licensing a boat in BC, you need the information discussed above, but you will also need to fill out the licensing form. Turning to Transport Canada for this information may not be the best option for you because you need to mail the information directly to them. You may worry about the security of your form, data, and copy of your identification as it goes through the mail. You also must contend with the typically long wait required when the forms go through standard mail. At the National Vessel Registry Center Corp., we have a more efficient, more secure way for you to do everything you need to get your license.
Licensing Done the Easy Way
To go about licensing a boat in BC the easy way, make sure you use our services here at the National Vessel Registry Center Corp. We are a third-party service that handles vessel licensing and registration processing to Transport Canada, and we have a state-of-the-art, secure website that you can use to access all the forms you may need for the licensing process. Come to our website, fill out your application online, upload your documents, and that is all you need to do. Our office takes care of everything else for you, checking your application for accuracy before we send it to Transport Canada for approval so you can get your license.