USCG Renewal: How to Do It, and What Happens When You Don’t

USCG renewal

Do you feel like it’s just about time to get your USCG renewal? Are you uncertain about just how the process works? Renewal might just be the most common use of our site. It’s something that you have to do often, yet it’s also the kind of thing that’s easier than you might think to forget. After all, when you have to do something just once a year, it’s very easy for it to become “out of sight, out of mind.” At our Vessel Documentation Online site, you can renew your vessel documentation easier than ever before. 

The Initial Documentation 

You can’t renew your documentation until you get that initial Certificate of Registration. You can come to our site and, provided you have the relevant information nearby, you can complete these forms in just a few minutes. As our site is fully mobile-optimized, you can even fill out these forms from anywhere on any device (so long as you have a connection to the internet). If you need to get these forms just a bit faster, clicking on “Rush Processing” can make sure that you go right to the top of the queue. 

The Right Time for USCG Renewal 

“When should I renew?” That’s one of the most common questions we’re asked. The truth is that it’s best to renew in the same month that you initially got your Certificate of Registration. Yes, you can renew earlier than that. However, if you do so, then your next due date is going to be in the month that you renewed; not the original renewal month. For example, if you were to renew in November and decided to renew in September, then the next year, your renewal date is going to be in September. 

Renew Well Into the Future 

For many, remembering to renew their documentation is more challenging than it might seem. As vessel owners ourselves, we completely understand. That’s why, at our site, we offer a service where you can actually renew your registration for many years in advance. Whether you want two, three, four, or even five years of renewal, you can get it all at our site in one purchase. In fact, you can even opt for this from the moment you turn in your initial documentation. We see it as one more way that we can make vessel documentation easier. 

More Forms than Renewal 

Renewal is probably the most commonly-used form at our site. However, it’s far from the only one. In fact, you can find just about everything you’ll need for the course of owning your vessel at our site. There’s a “Change of Endorsement/Trade Indicator” form for when you want to shift your endorsement to something else and change how you use your vessel. There’s the “Reinstatement” form if you do let your vessel registration expire. So that way, you can always stay in compliance. If you have any questions about this, you can call us at (866) 981-8783.