Hull Identification Number (HIN) information & FAQ
The Australian Hull Identification Number (HIN) system was enacted from February 2001 in Western Australia.
From that date forward, all new recreational vessels built or imported into WA are required to have a HIN affixed to the boat and the HIN recorded on the vessels registration certificate.
The HIN affixed to recreational vessels stays with the vessel during its full life and can not be removed, deleted or transferred to another vessel. The HIN system was brought in to enable a nationwide tracking system for recreational boats to reduce theft and assist in recovering stolen vessels. It also enables finance companies to better track vessels that are encumbered and helps purchasers to check if a vessel they are buying is encumbered (has money owing on it)
Before February 2001, it wasn't compulsory to have a HIN affixed to a recreational vessel in WA, but after February 2001 it became compulsory to have a HIN affixed to a vessel that was built without one before the vessel registration can be registered or the registration transferred if the boat is sold.
The HIN has two main parts, the HIN plate, which is affixed to the vessel and the HIN certificate (the pink slip) which is required by the Department of Transport to either add to your vessel registration or to register a new or imported vessel.
There are two types of HIN's in WA. Department of Transport issued HIN numbers, affixed by a BoatCode provider, or a manufacturers HIN, affixed or stamped on the vessel by the vessel manufacturer. The Department of Transport HIN is 14 digits and always starts with AU-TWA (referred to as a TWA HIN) and the manufacturers HIN also has 14 digits and will start with AU- and then have their manufacturers code (example: Quintrex boats start with AU-TRX)
The HIN system is administered in WA by the Department of Transport – Marine Safety Section. The DOT uses a network of independent contractors, known as HIN providers, to issue new HIN’s and verify existing HIN’s for the purpose of recreational boat registration. The HIN providers do the physical application and checking of recreational boats out in the community and issue HIN certificates that are then presented to the Department of Transport licencing services to enable boat registrations and transfer of boat registrations.
When does a recreational boat need to have a HIN?
If a boat was manufactured after February 1st, 2001, it is legally required to have a HIN before it can be registered in WA. This applies to commercially made boats or self built boats.
If a boat was made and registered before February 1st, 2001, it isn’t legally required to have a HIN unless the boat is sold and the registration is transferred to a new owner or it needs to be re-registered after a period of being unregistered. You may also be requested by your insurance company to have a HIN fitted for insurance purposes if you have a boat that doesn’t have a HIN fitted.
There are two different services the HIN provider performs, issuing new HIN’s and verifying existing HIN’s. The reason for each of these services is below:
When do I need to get a new HIN fitted to my boat?
- If you own a boat that is registered in your name but doesn’t have a HIN that you are intending to sell or gift to another person and transfer the registration to the buyer or recipient.
- If you own a boat that is unregistered and doesn’t have a HIN that you are intending to sell or gift to another person who plan to register the boat in their name.
- If you own a boat that is unregistered and it doesn’t have a HIN that you intend to get registered in your name.
- If you have purchased a boat that is registered, but does not have a HIN, that you wish to transfer the registration into your name.
- If you have purchased a boat that is unregistered, that does not have a HIN that you wish to register in your name.
- If you have built a boat yourself, or had a boat built, that doesn’t have a HIN fitted by the manufacturer that you wish to register in your name or sell to another person who wants to register it in their name.
- If you have imported a boat from overseas that doesn’t have a HIN or a suitable Australian accepted format HIN that you wish to register in your name.
- If you wish to register a canoe, kayak or similar that you are intending to power with a motor or outboard motor.
- If you are selling a boat from a deceased estate that doesn’t have a HIN fitted.
When do I need to get an existing HIN on my boat verified?
- If you have a registered boat that was made & sold prior to February 1st 2001 that has a HIN fitted, but was never registered with the HIN listed (the HIN section on the WA boat registration certificate is blank) and you wish to sell or gift the boat to a new owner and transfer the registration to them.
- If you have a unregistered boat that was made & sold prior to February 1st 2001 that has a HIN fitted, but was never registered before with the HIN listed (the HIN section on the WA boat registration certificate is blank) that you wish to sell or gift to a new owner that they want to register in their name.
- If you have bought a registered boat that was made & sold prior to February 1st 2001 that has a HIN fitted, but was never registered with the HIN listed (the HIN section on the WA boat registration certificate is blank) and you wish to transfer the registration into your name.
- If you have bought an unregistered boat that has a HIN fitted, that you wish to register in your name.
- If you have bought a boat from interstate that is registered interstate and has a HIN fitted, that you wish to register in WA in your name.
- If you have brought into WA a boat that you own and is registered in your name interstate that has a HIN fitted, that you wish to register in WA in your name.
- If you have had a boat built, or bought a boat that has been built that is unregistered but has a HIN number on it, but where the original HIN certificate hasn’t been issued by the builder or has been misplaced or lost, that you wish to register in your name.
- If you have bought or imported a boat from overseas that has a HIN on it that you wish to get registered in WA in your name.
What do I need to do to get a new HIN fitted to my boat, or get an existing HIN verified?
To get a new HIN or verify an existing HIN, first you will need to contact a HIN provider, such as Boat Check WA to book your HIN inspection.
The inspection is limited to checking the boat for an existing HIN, measuring the boat length, colour, brand, model and type. The engine brand, size and serial number is also recorded. There is no seaworthiness or condition check. Any boat in any condition can have a HIN fitted or confirmed as long as the person applying for the HIN has suitable ID and proof of ownership or acquisition.
At your inspection, you will need to produce suitable personal identification and proof of ownership or acquisition.
Provide proof of ownership or aquisition
There are 5 ways to prove you own the boat:
1: Receipt from the seller. If you have just purchased the boat, a receipt from the seller is acceptable. If its a private sale, then it needs to have the sellers name, address & phone number, boat make, model, size and rego number (if it has one), your name and is signed and dated by the seller.
2: Commercial receipt from the boat builder or boat dealer. This is the same as above, but with the builder or dealers business name, ABN, address and contact details, boat make, model, size and rego number (if it has one), your name, address and contact details and payment in full listed.
3: A previous registration certificate in your name. If the boat is unregistered, but you have had it registered before, then a previous, expired registration certificate that is in your name is acceptable.
4: A completed and signed (by both the seller and yourself) boat registration transfer form. If the boat has been previously registered in WA and has a rego number on the boat, the completed transfer form can be used as proof of ownership, even if the boat is unregistered. An completed interstate boat registration transfer form is also acceptable.
5: Boat Ownership Statutory Declaration. This is to be used if none of the forms of proof of ownership above can be produced. It needs to be completed in full, with a reason given for other proof of ownership not being available, with it signed by the declarant and the signature witnessed by a suitable person (pharmacist at the chemist is the quickest and easiest suitable person normally). There is a list of suitable witnesses on the back of the form.
Boat check WA will need a copy of any of these forms of proof of ownership. The original is kept by the person applying for the HIN and needs to be taken to the DOT licencing branch when the boat is registered or transferred.
Provide suitable identification
The person whose name the boat is being registered into and who is applying for the HIN needs to produce suitable ID. A WA drivers licence is the best form of ID, but a passport will also suffice. Boat Check WA will need to take a copy of the ID. Contact us if you have neither of these forms of ID.
Complete a HIN application form
This ideally will be completed by the person who is registering or transferring the boat into their name. If that person is unable to attend on the day the boat is inspected by Boat Check WA, they can complete and sign the form in advance and supply ID, then nominate an agent who will act on their behalf on the day of the inspection. Both the applicant and the agent must put their details on the HIN application form and sign it. If the applicant cant produce ID, then we can use the ID of the agent who is nominated on and has signed the form. Boat Check WA will need the original completed copy of this form, so its best to bring it with you on the day. If you are applying for the HIN yourself, Boat Check WA can fill out and complete a HIN application for for you to sign on the day.
Complete a new boat registration form
Once the paperwork above has been completed and copies taken by boat check WA, the boat is measured and a HIN certificate is issued. If it's for a new HIN, Boat Check WA will issue and affix 2 HIN plates. If it’s a verification of an existing HIN, just the HIN certificate is provided. If the boat is unregistered, take the HIN certificate, along with the completed new boat registration form and your ID to your local DOT licencing branch where they will register the boat in your name and issue a registration certificate upon payment of the prescribed fees. They will also issue a boat registration number which is fitted to each side of the boat (minimum height 150mm/6" contrasting colour stickers). This form isn't necessary when the boat registration is being transferred from a seller to you. In that case, you will need to present a completed boat registration transfer form, the HIN certificate and your ID and pay the prescribed transfer fees. If you are verifying a HIN on a boat you already own, you just need to present the HIN certificate at a DOT Licencing centre along with your ID to update the boat registration certificate. Boat Check WA doesn't need a copy of this form.
Frequently asked questions about HIN's
• What type of vessel needs a HIN?
Any powered vessel that needs to be registered that is built after February 1st 2001 needs a HIN. Any boat built prior to February 1st 2001 needs a HIN when it is sold and the registration needs to be transferred to the new owner or has to be re-registered by the owner after a period of being unregistered.
• Is getting a HIN free?
If your vessel needs to have a HIN issued and fitted, or if you boat has a HIN that needs to be verified, then a fee is payable to the HIN provider who issues or verifies the HIN. The fees are capped by the WA State Government, but HIN Providers can charge a call out/travel fee for on site inspections. HIN providers pay a fee to the State Government to be able to provide HIN services to the public and they must be accredited and regularly audited. Boat Check WA has a simple booking system that allows you to check the price before you book on our website.
• My boat has a HIN, what do I need to do?
If your boat has a HIN and it’s recorded on your registration certificate - you don't need to do anything!
• My boat doesn't have a HIN, what do I need to do?
If your boat is registered to you and you aren't planning on selling it - you don't need to do anything! If you are planning on selling or giving away your boat in the future, it will need to have a HIN affixed before you can transfer the registration to the buyer or recipient.
• My boat has a HIN, but it’s not listed on my rego certificate, what do I need to do?
If your boat is registered in your name, but has a HIN that isn't recorded on your registration certificate – you don’t need to do anything unless you plan to sell or give the boat away. If you plan to sell or give away the boat, you will need to have a HIN provider come have a look at the boat, verify the HIN, check that you own it and issue a new HIN Certificate. Once this is completed, you can present the HIN Certificate to the DOT, who will record it and add the HIN to your boat registration.
• I just bought a boat and it doesn't have a HIN, what do I do?
If you just bought a boat and it doesn't have a HIN, you wont be able to transfer it into your name. Either you or the person who sold it to you will need to have a HIN provider inspect the boat and affix a HIN plate and provide a HIN Certificate before you can complete the transfer. Once the verification has been completed, you can complete the transfer from the seller to yourself using the DOT vessel registration transfer form.
• I just bought a boat from interstate and want to get it registered in WA, what do I do?
If you just bought a boat from interstate and it has a HIN and interstate registration, you won’t be able to transfer it straight into your name. WA doesn’t have a system for simple interstate rego transfers, so you will need to have the HIN on the boat verified and a new HIN certificate issued. You will need to provide proof of ownership and suitable ID to a HIN provider who will inspect the boat, verify the HIN and provide a HIN certificate, which you can submit along with a new boat registration form to the DOT to register the boat in your name in WA.
• I am selling my boat and it doesn't have a HIN, what do I do?
If you're selling a boat and it doesn't have a HIN, you can’t transfer it into the purchasers name. Either you or the person who is buying it will need to have a HIN provider inspect the boat and affix a HIN plate and provide a HIN Certificate before you can complete the transfer. Once the HIN has been issued and fitted, you can lodge the HIN certificate with the DOT, then complete the transfer from yourself to the purchaser using the DOT vessel registration transfer form.
• Who pays for and organises a HIN when a vessel without a HIN or rego listed HIN is sold or bought?
Current legislation makes no provision for who has to organise a new HIN number or verify an existing HIN when a registered vessel that doesn't have a either is sold. Generally, it should be the seller, as its a simpler process for the seller to have the HIN supplied and affixed or verified. But in case where the boat has been purchased and the buyer is organising the HIN, that is also OK, but the buyer must have proof of purchase, such as a detailed receipt/invoice or completed application for the transfer of vessel registration form. Payment for either of these scenarios should be discussed and agreed upon by the buyer and seller prior to submitting the application for the HIN, as the application can’t be processed until the HIN providers fee is paid in full.
• I'm building a boat myself, will it need a HIN?
If you plan to get your self built, powered vessel registered, you will need to get a HIN issued for the boat and get a HIN certificate before you can register the boat.
• I'm getting a boat professionally built, will it need a HIN?
If you are paying someone to build you a boat, then they would normally need to be registered as a manufacturer and will be able to affix a builders plate and/or HIN to the boat and issue a HIN certificate so it can be registered. If they aren’t registered to do this, you will need to get a new HIN issued and fitted by a HIN provider.
• I'm importing a boat from overseas, will it need a HIN?
If you are importing a used boat, A HIN provider will need to verify if the boat has a suitable existing HIN, or in the case of a non conforming HIN or absence of a HIN, issue a new HIN. The vessel will need a HIN and pink HIN certificate to be able to be registered in WA. Non conforming HIN's are usually on vessels from European countries. Boats from the USA generally have a 12 digit ABYC HIN that is acceptable in WA. If the boat is brand new, the same applies but if you are purchasing the boat from the importer, they will normally supply a pink HIN certificate with the boat for registration purposes. Ask the importer if they have a HIN certificate for the boat. If not, the HIN on the boat will need to be verified or a new HIN issued and fitted and a new HIN Certificate fitted.
• I'm putting a pod on my boat and fitting an outboard, will I need to change my registration details?
If your pod or hull extension is permanently welded or fibre glassed to the boat (best way to describe this is can you unbolt or unscrew the pod from the hull?) then you will need to have the HIN certificate re-issued with the updated length of the boat listed. This process is the same as a HIN verification. If the pod or extension isn't permanently attached to the hull (bolted or screwed on), then there is no need to update the HIN details.
• I refinished (painted) my boat and lost the HIN plates, what do I do?
If you have lost your HIN plates by way of theft or if you have removed and lost them when painting or repairing the boat, you will need to complete an application for replacement HIN plate form, get a HIN provider to inspect the vessel and verify the HIN, pay the prescribed fee to the HIN provider and have the provider fit the replacement HIN plates. The replacement HIN plates are supplied to the HIN provider, not the vessel owner.
• I have a HIN on my boat but I cant read it anymore, what do I do?
If you have a TWA issued HIN plate that is damaged and unreadable, you will need to complete an application for replacement HIN plate form, get a HIN provider to inspect the vessel and verify the HIN, pay the prescribed fee to the HIN provider and have the provider fit the replacement HIN plates. The replacement HIN plates are supplied to the HIN provider, not the vessel owner, who will contact you to arrange fitment. If you have a damaged and unreadable boat manufacturer’s plate or stamped HIN (example: weld repair through HIN stamping), then you will need to have a new TWA HIN plate installed and a new pink HIN certificate issued.
• Does the last 2 digits of my HIN tell me the boat's age?
If you have a AU-TWAXXXXXXXXX HIN, then no, the last two digits are the year the HIN was affixed to the vessel by a HIN provider, not the year of when the boat was built. If you have a manufacturers HIN on your vessel, then the 3rd last digit is the year the boat was built and the last two digits are the model year of the boat. A boat built in September 2023 would normally have the last three digits listed as 3 (built 2023) and then 24 (model year 2024).
An example of a TWA HIN would be AU-TWA070215AB4, which from the number portion would indicate it was fitted by a HIN provider in 2024.
An example of a Manufacturers HIN would be AU-TRX01512A525, which shows that the boat was built by Quintrex in January 2025 (A for January, B for February etc), for the 2025 model year.
• If I call a HIN provider, can they tell me my boat's age over the phone from the registration number or HIN?
If you have a manufacturers HIN, see above to determine age. If you have a TWA HIN or WA boat rego number, then you would need to contact the Department of Transport to get that info. A HIN provider isn’t able to provide that info.
• Can I remove the existing HIN and get a new one?
No, the existing HIN stays with the boat for life. In fact, its an offence to remove and replace a HIN.
• Does the HIN provider check to see if the boat is seaworthy or in good condition when affixing or verifying a HIN?
No, The HIN provider only has to record the length, colour, brand, model and type of the boat and the brand, size and serial number of the motor to verify a HIN or for a new HIN. The boat can be in any condition.
• Can I get a HIN verified or supplied over the phone or on the internet?
No, you need to contact a HIN provider to issue a HIN. The HIN Provider will need to physically inspect the vessel, check your ID and copy your proof of ownership details.
• Does my boat need to have a motor on it to be able to get a HIN?
No, but you will be required to notify the Department of Transport and supply the motor details and serial number once the motor is fitted.
• Can I get a HIN for a boat that isn’t built yet?
No, The HIN provider only has to record the length, colour, brand, model and type of the boat to be able to issue a new HIN. A commercial boat builder that is registered for Australian Builders Plate and HIN issue for their own boats can issue a HIN before its built.
• Can I get the length of my boat that is listed on my rego certificate changed?
Yes, a HIN provider can measure your boat, confirm the details and HIN and issue a new HIN certificate if the length of your boat that is listed on your registration certificate is wrong. The cost is the same as HIN verification.
• Fees and charges. The current prescribed HIN fees payable are $130.79 inc gst for a new or replacement HIN application and $73.92 inc gst for a HIN verification. These fees are set by the Department of Transport. If you are taking your vessel to the HIN providers premises for the HIN application or verification, these are the maximum prices you will pay. Boat Check WA currently charges $130 for new HIN's and $70 for HIN verification at our premises. If you want the HIN provider to attend your premises to do the HIN application or verification, then a call out fee and/or travel fee may be charged. The statutory fee is reviewed by the Department of Transport regularly and may be subject to change without prior warning.