A bay boat running slowly past moss-draped bald cypress toward a weathered stilted camp on a Louisiana bayou in evening light

Donate a boat in Louisiana

Louisiana is a working-water state: bay boats and flats boats in the marshes, shrimp and crab boats on the coast, sailboats on Lake Pontchartrain, and bass boats on Toledo Bend, Caney Creek, and the Atchafalaya Basin.

Call (888) 228-7320

Louisiana rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Visit the agency site

Registration

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries registers boats. Whether a title is involved depends on the boat; we confirm with you.

Commercial vessels

Commercial fishing boats may carry separate licenses that do not transfer with the boat.

Storm season

After hurricanes, settle insurance first. Boats declared total losses usually belong to the insurer.

Lost title or registration

The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 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 Louisiana title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Louisiana boat owners call us about

After storms

Boats damaged or displaced by hurricanes.

Camps on the coast

Boats from fishing camps that are no longer used.

Retired commercial boats

Shrimp and crab boats from families leaving the business.

Boats we pick up in Louisiana

Fishing boats Bay boats, flats boats, and bass boats. Commercial boats Shrimp and crab boats. Sailboats Sailboats on Lake Pontchartrain.

We also pick up every other kind of boat in Louisiana. The types above are just the ones we see most here.

Yachts Center consoles Motorboats Houseboats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Boat trailers Marine equipment

Boating in Louisiana: seasons and storage

The season

Louisiana boats all year; hurricane season shapes coastal plans.

Storage and carrying costs

Many boats stay at camps or on trailers at home. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.

A typical Louisiana donation

A bay boat or flats boat on a trailer. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Louisiana by region

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

New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain

Mandeville, Slidell, and the Northshore.

Southeast coast

Grand Isle, Venice, and Lafitte.

Atchafalaya Basin

Henderson and Morgan City.

Toledo Bend and Northwest

Bass country on the Texas line.

Louisiana boat donation questions

My boat was damaged in a hurricane. What should I do first?

Settle your insurance claim. If you still own the boat, send us photos.

Does my commercial license transfer with the boat?

Usually not. It is handled separately.

Can you pick up a boat from a fishing camp in the marsh?

If it can be brought to a ramp, often yes.

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

After hurricane season in late fall is a common choice, but pickup is available year round.

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

Start your Louisiana boat donation

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

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

Name

Phone

Preferred contact method

Best time to reach you

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

OTHER STATES IN THE GULF COAST AND SOUTH CENTRAL

Alabama Arkansas Mississippi Oklahoma Texas All state guides