An aluminum fishing boat tied to a weathered wooden dock on a misty Northwoods lake at sunrise, with white birch and red pine along the shore

Donate a boat in Minnesota

Minnesota has more than ten thousand lakes and a boat for most of them: pontoons on Minnetonka and the Brainerd chain, walleye boats on Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods, and sailboats on White Bear and Lake Superior. Winters are long and storage is expensive.

Call (888) 228-7320

Minnesota rules for a boat donation

TITLING AND REGISTRATION AGENCY

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Visit the agency site

Titles and registration

Minnesota DNR registers watercraft, and larger boats also need a title. Whether yours is titled depends on its length; we confirm with you.

Trailers

Trailers are registered through Driver and Vehicle Services.

Aquatic invasive species

AIS rules affect launching, not donating.

Lost title or registration

The owner on record can usually get a duplicate from Minnesota 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 Minnesota title. Some documented boats are also registered with the state for use here.

What Minnesota boat owners call us about

Cabin boats

Pontoons and fishing boats left at cabins up north.

Walleye rigs replaced

Older fishing boats sitting after an upgrade.

Storage bills

Owners paying for heated storage.

Boats we pick up in Minnesota

Fishing boats Walleye and multispecies boats. Motorboats Pontoons and wake boats. Sailboats Sailboats on White Bear and Superior.

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

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

Boating in Minnesota: seasons and storage

The season

Open water runs from ice-out in spring to freeze-up in fall.

Storage and carrying costs

Heated and unheated storage both cost money for six months. Every month a boat sits unused, those costs keep adding up. Estimate yours.

A typical Minnesota donation

A walleye boat or pontoon on a trailer. We accept every other kind of boat here too.

Minnesota by region

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

Twin Cities lakes

Minnetonka, White Bear, and Prior.

Brainerd Lakes

Gull, the Whitefish Chain, and Leech.

Mille Lacs

Walleye capital.

North Shore and Lake of the Woods

Superior and the far north.

Our pontoon boat was taking up space at our house, and selling it sounded exhausting. You did all the heavy lifting, title transfer, pickup, everything. It was out of our yard in 2 weeks. Couldn’t believe how smooth it went.

Nick S. · Duluth, MN

Minnesota boat donation questions

Is my boat titled in Minnesota?

Larger boats usually are. The DNR can confirm, and so can we.

Can you pick up from a cabin in the Brainerd area?

Yes, if a truck can reach it.

Do fish houses count?

No. We accept boats and boat trailers.

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

Right before freeze-up, when cabins close and boats would otherwise go into 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 Minnesota 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

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