question[s] about buying boats with no titles
OK, I've seen a lot of people selling boats with "no" titles. What's
the deal? Do people just lose them?I's seen some pretty nice runabouts and cuddies with "no title" even
from boat dealerships that were listed as "recent trad-ins" thats
wierd. Anyhow, I've seen a coule I'd like to snag, but am leary about the "no
title" thing. and how difficult is it to get a title? a lot of red
tape? Also, I've seen out of state boats that don't require a title at all,
or so it is stated. But a bill of sale is provided. Is this also a red
flag? And if not, then how does one take a boat from out of state, even
with current conservation numbers on the bow, and re-register them in
your home state? BTW, and FWIW, I live in Illinois. Thanks! |
tschnautz
Oct 19
2006
|
| As is Georgia |
basskisser
Oct 20
|
| In nc a title is optional on a boat. A registration is required and
does have to have the hull id number. There is the option of paying
more and getting a title as well as a registration. Three year
registrations are available as well and that's the route I take. The
registration also includes a sticker to go on the boat. Dept of
wildlife deals with boats in nc. They share registration info with
local government who generally treats the boat as taxable personal
property. Trailers in nc are treated as vehicles and any over a quite small size
require title, registration, and tags. The dmv people handle all that. I managed to get away without renewing my boat trailer tags for 10
years before I was caught by a park ranger that must not have had
enough to do. He went through the parking lot at th elocal ramp and
then sat and waiting for people to retunr on their boat and try to
leave. Then he would pull you over still in the state park land which
operated the ramp with flashing lights and all. I went to court with
my new registration and the ada say very good and that was the end, no
fine. I figure a trip to the court house was worth 10 years worth of
not paying for tag renewal. Funny thing is I've been all over nc, sc,
and va with the boat and it took 10 years for anyone to decide it was
worth stopping me. |
jamesgangnc
Oct 20
|
| There are states that don't issue titles for boats - CT is one of
them. It can be a hassle if you live in a title state and buy a boat from a
non-title state. --
Disclaimer: This is a boating post and applies to boaters. It is not
intended to provoke, annoy, irritate, bother, aggravate, anger,incite,
inflame, infuriate or create controversy resulting in unacceptable
behavior on the part of other posters nor is it intended to generate
political commentary or off-topic debate. |
Short
Oct 19
|
| Some states consider boats " miscellaneous personal property" rather
than "vessels" and don't issue titles, but most states will issue a
registration so that they have a means to collect tax. No documented
vessel has a state title, but nearly all in the US will have a state
registration, once again for tax purposes. If there's no title, it wouldn't be overly cautious to ask to see a
current registration and to confirm that the registered state is a
"non-title" state for boats. Is the boat on a trailer? It may be that the trailer has a vehicular
title in a state, even if the boat is considered personal property and
does not. Be really careful. It wouldn't hurt to run the HIN past the license
departments of a few neighboring states to see if there is a record
there. What you don't want to do would be to pay $20,000 for a used
boat and then have some bank from a neighboring state with an
unsatisfied lien show up and tow it away. |
Chuck
Oct 19
|
| Are you sure about that? What about states that require titles for |
Short
Oct 20
|
| Yep. Don't even try it in MA. Eisboch |
Eisboch
Oct 19
|
| In MA trailers of less than 3000 lb GVW do not require titles although you
can request one.
I did for the Haulmark trailer and motorcycle trailer only because it can't
hurt to have one should you need it to sell out of state. Eisboch |
Eisboch
Oct 19
|
| If that be the case, and I'm sure it is... Then how do you get license
plates for a trailer with no title? and if you sell the trailor, how
does the new owner get the trailer put in his/her name? |
tschnautz
Oct 19
|
| In CT, it's just a question of having a proper notarized bill of sale
and a VIN. If the trailer doesn't have a VIN, it requires an
inspection at which time the Inspector will assign and afix a VIN to
the trailer. At that point, it's a little more official and with the
VIN, allows it to be traced and thus registered. I assume it's the same in most states that don't require titles. I
would find out if the trailer was or is currently registered and what
the VIN is. The Registry can run a NAIS search against the VIN to
check it's stolen status if any. |
Short
Oct 20
|
| You just present a bill of sale at the registry. If the trailer is new,
they also take the certificate of origin.
Unless you ask for one, they don't require you to apply for a title. When you sell it within MA, again all you need is a bill of sale. I
requested (and paid for) titles just in case I ever sold them to someone in
a state that requires titles. Trailers over 3000 lb GVW have to be titled. I suppose in a while that
will be extended to all trailers.
Until fairly recently, you used to be able to register cars that were more
than XX years old without a title, just a bill of sale. They changed that
so now you have to have a title which can present potential problems for
someone like me who enjoys buying old cars. Without a title you simply
cannot register a motor vehicle here anymore. Eisboch |
Eisboch
Oct 19
|
| you need to ask your state dmv to list which states you can get a boat
from with NO TITLE and get a title in your state.
Here in new jersey, they always want a title or current registration
from the current owner.
I have gone to dmv with notorized bills of sale from other states and
NJDMV refused to assist me.
I had to resell the boats. sonofadocker tschnautz@gmail.com wrote: |
sonofadocker
Oct 19
|
| That's what I'm afraid of. |
tschnautz
Oct 19
|
| There is a little known trick in FL that I have seen used
successfully. First register the boat in a non-title state like
Georgia, and then transfer it again, requesting a new title. |
Wayne.B
Oct 19
|
| FWIW, CA issues titles for both boat and trailer. --Mike |
mgg
Oct 20
|
| Same in Illinois. and that to me is the difficult decision on buying an
out of state boat and/or trailor where a title isn't required by the
origional residential state. I know I can check in with the IL. DMV about a trailer transer and
various state laws, but in IL we don't have a "title" to a boat/craft.
Its a "Water Conservation Certificate" issued by the Dept. of
Conservation. Getting info from our local office is like 1) finding hens teeth, 2)
then pulling them. |
tschnautz
Oct 19
|
| In MA, we got away with avoiding excise taxes for years if the boat was
documented. Finally though, they caught up with us. From what I understand
they sent tax guys out to marinas who walked around taking down boat names,
hailing port names and then checking the CG records (public information).
That year we got letters from both my town of residence and from the town
the boat is in, both demanding excise tax payments. I just noticed that the CG no longer maintains the on-line documentation
search and it has been moved to a site maintained by NOAA Fisheries, Office
of Science and Technology. http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/CoastGuard/VesselByName.html Eisboch |
Eisboch
Oct 20
|
| Until the late 1990s Pennsylvania did not require titles on jetskis
(and I assume certain small boats). I had two jetskis with no title.
Then I bought a Seadoo via ebay that was in NY which had no title
requirement. I got a notarized bill of sale (I also went with the
owner to his bank and wrote the payoff check to the bank so I knew
they had no lein on it). In Pa they were now requiring titles
(unbeknownest to me) so they tried to give me a hard time, but a
loacal notary and licensing service put all of the paperwork through
and got the new title. I have lived in two states (PA and WV) and in
both there are title service companies that people use to transfer
titles when doing private vehicle sales. These companies tend to know
all of the ins and outs of titling in the stae and for a relatively
minor fee can get these things through the process. I don't know if
such services are regularly available in IL, but if so I would bet
that they can get you through the red tape rather easily. Dave Hall |
Dave
Oct 20
|
