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An express cruiser tied at a Lake Michigan harbor dock with the Chicago skyline behind it at sunset

Donate a boat in Illinois

Illinois boating spans Chicago's Lake Michigan harbors, the Chain O'Lakes and Fox River in the north, the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, and big southern reservoirs like Carlyle, Shelbyville, and Rend Lake. Cruisers and sailboats fill the Chicago harbors; pontoons and fishing boats everywhere else.

Start your donation here
Two answers now, the rest takes about three minutes.

Illinois rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Visit the agency site
Titles and registration
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources titles and registers watercraft. Most motorized boats in Illinois must have a title.
Outboards and trailers
Outboards are not titled separately. Trailers are titled and registered through the Illinois Secretary of State.
Chicago harbor permits
Chicago Park District harbor slips are permitted separately from the boat.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Illinois Department of Natural Resources. If the boat was never retitled after a sale, or the owner has passed away, tell us and we will point you to the right forms.
Coast Guard documented vessels
Documented boats transfer through the National Vessel Documentation Center with a bill of sale, not a Illinois title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Illinois boat owners call us about

Chicago harbor slips
Owners ending a harbor slip on the lakefront.
Chain O'Lakes pontoons
Pontoons and runabouts from Fox Lake and Antioch homes.
Winter storage costs
Northern Illinois owners paying for indoor storage six months a year.

Boats we pick up in Illinois

Motorboats Cruisers, runabouts, and pontoons. Sailboats Sailboats from Chicago's lakefront harbors. Fishing boats Bass and walleye boats from the rivers and reservoirs.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in Illinois. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Yachts Personal watercraft Houseboats Floating homes Commercial boats Boat trailers Classic boats Marine equipment

Boating in Illinois: seasons and storage

The season
Lake Michigan and the Chain O'Lakes run May to October.
Storage and carrying costs
Chicago harbor slips are permitted by the Park District; winter storage indoors is common. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical Illinois donation
A cruiser in a Chicago harbor or a pontoon on the Chain O'Lakes. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Illinois by region

Pickup works the same across the state. These are the waters we hear about most.

Chicago lakefront
Belmont, Montrose, DuSable, and Burnham harbors.
Chain O'Lakes and Fox River
Fox Lake, Antioch, and McHenry.
Illinois and Mississippi rivers
Peoria, the Quad Cities, and Alton.
Southern reservoirs
Carlyle, Shelbyville, and Rend Lake.

Illinois boat donation questions

Does Illinois require a title for my boat?

Most motorized boats in Illinois are titled by IDNR. If you cannot find yours, you can apply for a duplicate.

My trailer has an Illinois plate. Who handles that?

The Illinois Secretary of State. Sign it over with the boat.

Can you pick up from a Chicago harbor?

Yes. We coordinate with the harbor for haul-out.

When is the best time of year to donate a boat in Illinois?

October, around harbor haul-out, before you commit to winter storage. That said, you can donate any time of year.

State rules change. We confirm current requirements when we handle your paperwork. We do not provide tax or legal advice.

Start your Illinois boat donation

Takes about three minutes. Your best guesses are fine, or call (888) 228-7320.

BWC Donation: General (guides, states, main pages)

Free pickup by our trusted transport team · We handle title transfer and tax paperwork · No cost to you

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