There is a fine of $250 if you are found to be operating a vessel without a valid licence. However, if you decided to register your vessel instead of licensing it, there is no fine.
Vessel Registration FAQs
WHAT IS A JOINT OWNER?How Do I Establish Canadian Citizenship? CAN I LAMINATE MY CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY?WHAT VESSELS CAN BE DOCUMENTED?WHAT IS FIRST TIME REGISTRY?How Can I Learn the History of a Vessel?HOW DO I CLOSE THE REGISTRY OF MY VESSEL?WHAT IS A PLEASURE CRAFT LICENCE?SHOULD I RETURN THE CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION WITH THE RENEWAL NOTICE?What Vessels May Be Registered? WHAT IS VESSEL TONNAGE?ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DOCUMENTATION?WHAT ARE THE VESSEL NAME AND HAILING PORT MARKING REQUIREMENTS?WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE?HOW DO I OBTAIN TITLE INFORMATION FOR A DOCUMENTED VESSEL?How Can I Learn More About a Vessel From Before 1904?What Makes a Boat a “Pleasure Craft?”HOW LONG IS THE CERTIFICATE OF DOCUMENTATION VALIDMUST MY VESSEL BE DOCUMENTED?IS THERE A FINE IF I DO NOT HAVE A PLEASURE CRAFT LICENCE?