All About
State-Issued
Hull ID Numbers

What is a State
Assigned HIN?
The general rule is that the maker of the boat must affix a
standard HIN to the hull of the boat
Otherwise, the State and or USCG will work together to
provide you with a HIN
We discuss the different cases where the State might issue
a HIN for your Boat
Occasionally the USCG has allowed a 12 character HIN with
an incorrect format as long as the manufacturer and year of
the vessel can be identified
Kit Boat is a boat in which the buyer purchases plans to
build the boat and the materials to complete the boat are
supplied by the manufacturer/seller

Imported Boats
and their HIN
A single boat imported by
an individual for their own personal
use receives a HIN from the State in
which the boat is principally operated
This boat requires a state issued HIN
in the New Format
On the other hand, if you are an
importer of boats for sale in the USA ,
then the boat will receive a HIN with
your MIC

Are There other
cases for State
Issued HINs
+ When the State encounters HINs on boats
within 10 years old from the date of
manufacture, that contain any number of
characters other than 12 and the
manufacturer is out of business, the State
should verify if the USCG authorization has
been given and then the State should issue a
State HIN using the New Format
+ Another case is when you have a boat with a
manufacturer HIN that was not correct
+ For example, the manufacturer did not follow
the standard format for the HIN or the year is
invalid…etc

How do I know if
my HIN is invalid?
+ Use HINDecoder.com to validate the
Hull Number.
+ Boats before 1972 get issued a state HIN. It
is Risky to buy a boat that has a State
Assigned HIN.
+ Many states have a provision that is worth
noting: Such boats would fall under the
homemade-boat-provision and can lead
to mischief
+ A state assigned HIN will have the year and
month of the HIN issue date and not the year
of manufacture.