(888) 228-7320 Start my boat donation
Boat Types
YachtsCenter consolesMotorboatsHouseboatsSailboatsFishing boatsCommercial boatsPersonal watercraftClassic boatsSki and wake boatsBoat trailersMarine equipment
Donate by State
All state guides
Tax Benefits
How It Works
How to donate a boatDonation guidesFAQs
About
Our charityWhere your boat goesTestimonialsContact
Call Start donation
A pontoon boat at a private dock on a small Indiana lake, with a maple in fall color, a lawn and a wooden boathouse

Donate a boat in Indiana

Indiana has a strong lake culture in the north, around Wawasee, Lake Maxinkuckee, and the Steuben County lakes, plus Lake Monroe and Patoka in the south, the Ohio River, and a slice of Lake Michigan. Pontoons are everywhere.

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

Indiana rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY
Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Visit the agency site
Registration
The Indiana BMV registers watercraft. Whether a title is involved depends on the boat; the BMV can confirm.
Excise tax
Indiana charges an annual boat excise tax with registration. After you donate, you stop owing it.
Trailers
Trailers are registered through the BMV as vehicles.
Lost title or registration
The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. 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 Indiana title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Indiana boat owners call us about

Lake cottages changing hands
Pontoons left with a cottage sale.
Ohio River boats
Cruisers from Evansville and Madison.
Boats sitting in pole barns
Runabouts stored in barns for years.

Boats we pick up in Indiana

Motorboats Pontoons and runabouts. Fishing boats Bass boats and aluminum fishing boats. Boat trailers Trailers from sold boats.
We also pick up every other kind of boat in Indiana. The types above are just the ones we see most here.
Yachts Center consoles Houseboats Sailboats Commercial boats Personal watercraft Classic boats Ski and wake boats Marine equipment

Boating in Indiana: seasons and storage

The season
Boating runs Memorial Day to Labor Day, with fall fishing.
Storage and carrying costs
Pole barns and garages hold many Indiana boats over winter. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.
A typical Indiana donation
A pontoon on a northern Indiana lake. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Indiana by region

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

Northern lakes
Wawasee, Maxinkuckee, and Lake James.
Lake Michigan shore
Michigan City and Hammond.
Central Indiana
Geist, Morse, and Monroe.
Ohio River
Evansville to Madison.

Indiana boat donation questions

Do I still owe Indiana boat excise tax after I donate?

No, not for future years once the boat is transferred.

My pontoon is in a pole barn. Can you get it?

Yes, if a truck can reach the barn.

Does Indiana title boats?

The BMV can tell you what applies to your boat, and we will confirm with you.

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

After Labor Day, when cottages close for the season. 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 Indiana 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

OTHER STATES IN THE GREAT LAKES AND UPPER MIDWEST
Illinois Michigan Minnesota Ohio Wisconsin All state guides