To obtain title to a vessel that does not have one, you must contact the local department of motor vehicles. If you are buying a boat with a title, you will have to have that title transferred to you before you can register the boat in your name. If you are selling a boat that has a title, the title must be transferred to the new owner before he or she can register the boat in his or her name.
Boats have titles, and most boats in the United States are required to have a title. The laws concerning which boats are required to have titles vary by state, but it is generally the case that small boats are less likely to require a title. The need for a title does not vary with the type of boat.
Buying a boat that is not titled is tricky because most states require that you register the vessel. Chances are if you own a motorized boat, you probably need to title and write it in all 50 states.
Parked Boats Have Registration Laws About Them
Usually, if your boat is parked for longer than a certain period, you will need to comply with the laws in that state regarding registration and titles. You will usually find you are not subject to regulations if you are out of state and you are just cruising on their waters for a short period. People that can operate their boats on the waters in this state for more than 60 days are required to register their boats in Pennsylvania. All states shall permit boats registered in other states to operate in their waters for the specified time.
In states where you are required to only register your boat, you can choose to have your vessel registered, if you want. Rowboats, paddling boats, or other vessels that are hand-powered would not need to be titled or registered most of the time. In most cases, a new boat owner will need temporary registration to be able to use the boat while the registration documents are processed.
Virginia boat owners should request the Certificate of Title at the same time the registration application is filed. Once a sale is completed, a buyer must file for a certificate of legal title with the state agency handling the boat’s registration. Supporting documents such as proof of ownership should be submitted along with an application for registration of title, even if the title and registration process has begun online.
Proof of Ownership Laws in the US
Proof of ownership must be provided in the form of Pennsylvania or another state’s title, or the manufacturer’s certificate of origin*, and a copy of the sales invoice. If a watercraft has been previously registered, the original, correctly signed, certificate of ownership for that watercraft issued under the seller (s) name is required to be turned over at the time the title/registration is applied.
All watercraft without valid boat identification numbers or previous registrations must be examined before applying for title/registration. By law, the SCDNRS is required to have the completed application and the other required documents to title and register your boat and/or motor.
If you purchased a boat or motor out-of-state, or from a marine dealer licensed by the SCDNR, your county will impose a property tax once it is titled and/or registered by the SCDNR. Contact your state’s Department of Boating for information and instructions related to getting a title to a boat you did not previously register and/or title. Check with your state’s boating department for regulations and instructions regarding boat titles that may apply where you live.
Each state has different requirements regarding boat titles, however, you will at the very least need registration and a notarized bill of sale. Each state has different laws regarding boat titles, so you may even need the bill of sale from the owner of the boat you are buying from, to prove ownership of the non-titled vessel. Having a proper title for your vessel helps secure and prove ownership, which helps protect your assets, and allows you to have your boat insured and registered.
The Cost of Obtaining a Boat Title
A title will have a cost but is a good way to demonstrate ownership of your vessel in case the unthinkable happens. The title is important when it comes time to sell something, as it helps to show it is yours to sell, and once it is sold, the new boat owners will want the title to show that they now own the boat. When you purchase the boat from someone, they need to provide you with the title, notarized signature, and back, along with all kinds of other documentation that is state-specific. If a boat is obtained illegally, you may receive a letter saying that the original owner of the title wants theirs back.
Lien Release documents should identify the lien holders listed on the title, the owner of the boat in escrow, and the boat either by the dock identification number or by its State Registration Number. Effective February 1, 1989, a boat owner, whether operating the boat in waters within the state or if it is 16 feet long or longer, is required in Wisconsin to have proof of title. The certificate of title must be available on board the boat at all times when it is operated. There is no requirement to have registered vessels, owners can choose to have them registered as they wish.
An application for title and registration requires a detailed description of the vessel, including make, length, model year, vessel type, hull material, propulsion type, and twelve-character boat identification number; make, horsepower, and a serial number of the engine, if more than 25 hp; and the name and address of liens, if any.
Of course, registration means fees and proof of ownership, whether you got your boat at the dealer or from a person who bought the boat. New Resident Tax is assessed (not sales or use tax) on owners that have formerly lived in another state that are moving their boat and/or outboard motor, which were previously titled or registered, from that other state to another Texas state.
