How to Replace a Lost Alabama Boating License Certificate

To replace a lost Alabama boating license, mail a written request to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division along with proof that your certificate was lost or destroyed and a $5 fee for a first replacement. If you’ve already requested a duplicate before, the fee is $15.¹ Alabama requires you to carry the certificate any time you operate a motorized vessel, so replacing it quickly matters if you plan to be on the water.²

Where to Send Your Request

The process is paper-based. Send your written request to:

Alabama Marine Patrol
P.O. Box 301451
Montgomery, AL 36130
Attention: Education Section²

Include proof that the original certificate was lost or destroyed. The statute doesn’t specify what that proof must look like; you’re essentially attesting the original is gone. Include your payment in the same envelope by money order, cashier’s check, or certified check made payable to Alabama Marine Patrol. Personal checks and credit cards are not listed as accepted.²

ALEA uses forms for the application, so call the Vessel Registration Unit at 1-800-272-7930 before mailing anything. They can pull your record from the certification database and confirm what to include.²

There is no online duplicate-order portal. The process moves at the speed of the mail, so don’t wait until the week before your first trip out.

What It Costs

Fees go into the State Water Safety Fund and pay for ALEA boating safety and enforcement work.¹

If Your Certificate Was Issued With Your Driver’s License

Alabama boater safety certifications are sometimes issued together with a driver’s license, learner’s permit, or nondriver identification card. When that’s the case, replacing the driver’s license or ID card also replaces the boater safety certification at no extra charge. You don’t file a separate request with ALEA and you don’t pay the $5 or $15 duplicate fee.¹

This only applies when both documents were originally issued at the same time. If you earned your boater certification separately, you go through the standard ALEA process above. Check your original paperwork or contact the Driver License Division before paying for a standalone duplicate.

Why You Shouldn’t Delay

You must have your certification with you whenever you operate a motorized vessel. If a marine patrol officer asks to see it and you can’t produce it, that’s a problem regardless of whether you actually completed the course.² The replacement isn’t just paperwork; it’s what keeps you compliant every time you leave the dock.

One more thing worth knowing: filing a false claim to obtain a duplicate you aren’t entitled to is a Class C misdemeanor, with a minimum $50 fine set specifically for false affidavits tied to boater safety certifications.¹

Using Your Replacement Out of State

Many states require visiting boaters to carry proof of a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Alabama’s approved courses meet that standard, so your certificate is generally recognized when you travel, and some states explicitly accept any NASBLA-approved home-state certificate. Each state still sets its own rules, though, so check the requirements for your destination before trailering your boat across state lines.

1
Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 33-5-64 – Duplicates for Lost or Destroyed Certifications; Fees
2
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Boating Education and Operator Certification/License