Can You Register A Boat Without A Title

[bclark7b]

I live in NY and have an old boat that was my grandmothers. She no longer has the title. I'd like to register it, but I don't know if that's possible without the title. Any pointers?

[T_Nix35]

Here in Arkansas in order to register a boat you need:

 

-A bill of sale or the past years registration

-Proof of liability insurance (if the motor is over 50HP you must have a minimum coverage plan of $50,000 dollars)

-Your boat must be assessed at the assessors office for personal property tax

-And Finally you have to have proof that you have paid your personal property taxes (either with a county tax collector receipt or you can show your assessment papers where they stamp on the document whether you have paid or not when you get it assessed)

 

It may be different in your state but I believe the only differences would be in the percent of tax you have to pay on your property according to your states regulations, and the amount of insurance coverage you would be required to have.

 

Referring to your title dilemma, typically on the back of any title is a bill of sale which just has places for the past owner to sign over how much they sold you the vehicle for and their signature that you have actually paid them and it has not been stolen. So you may run into some difficulties when trying to register your boat, but my dad and I have literally written out bills of sales on notebook paper and we also wrote one on a receipt before haha! A bill of sale usually goes along the lines of:

 

I (current owner prints their name) hereby grant ownership to this (year, brand, model, and VIN number of the vehicle) to (buyer of the vehicle) for the price of ($$$). 

(current owners signature) (buyers signature)

 

I have taken these into the DMV many of times and they accept them, but that could just be my state. I think the best thing you can do is either to go online to your states DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) webpage and look at the requirements that they have. Or you could call them and see if it is needed to register your boat.

 

One last thing, in Arkansas if the boat does not run via motor or sail it does not have to be registered. This does not include trolling motors, so you could use a trolling motor and pond hop and have a good time without all of that hard work and time spent at the DMV. But I don't know what kind of boat it is that you are talking about. 

[Brian Needham]

depends on what you title........ In Arkansas we only title trailers..... other states are different.

 

you can always apply for a bonded title, if the title is needed. but it always varies state to state.

 

your best bet is to stop by your local  DMV and ask them.

[spartyon8]

Given that your in NY, it is probably like IL were you need a title for the boat or trailer to register. It is looking like you need proof of ownership (i.e. title?) from this NY DNR form:

 

http://dmv.ny.gov/forms/boats.pdf

[EvanT123]

Pretty sure you will need a title. I bought a 14 foot jon without a title. Had to have the owner sign a bunch of paper work copy of license etc. got a new title in his name and then transferred to me. I really didn't do any of it. I have a friend of a friend that's contracts for the dmv handle most of it. Wish I could help you more.

[bclark7b]

Looks like I just need to move south lol....

[BassnChris]

I imagine in so................inOklahoma you can file for a lost title.

[jbsoonerfan]

  On 4/29/2014 at 11:24 PM, T_Nix35 said:

Here in Arkansas in order to register a boat you need:

 

-A bill of sale or the past years registration

-Proof of liability insurance (if the motor is over 50HP you must have a minimum coverage plan of $50,000 dollars)

-Your boat must be assessed at the assessors office for personal property tax

-And Finally you have to have proof that you have paid your personal property taxes (either with a county tax collector receipt or you can show your assessment papers where they stamp on the document whether you have paid or not when you get it assessed)

 

It may be different in your state but I believe the only differences would be in the percent of tax you have to pay on your property according to your states regulations, and the amount of insurance coverage you would be required to have.

 

Referring to your title dilemma, typically on the back of any title is a bill of sale which just has places for the past owner to sign over how much they sold you the vehicle for and their signature that you have actually paid them and it has not been stolen. So you may run into some difficulties when trying to register your boat, but my dad and I have literally written out bills of sales on notebook paper and we also wrote one on a receipt before haha! A bill of sale usually goes along the lines of:

 

I (current owner prints their name) hereby grant ownership to this (year, brand, model, and VIN number of the vehicle) to (buyer of the vehicle) for the price of ($$$). 

(current owners signature) (buyers signature)

 

I have taken these into the DMV many of times and they accept them, but that could just be my state. I think the best thing you can do is either to go online to your states DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) webpage and look at the requirements that they have. Or you could call them and see if it is needed to register your boat.

 

One last thing, in Arkansas if the boat does not run via motor or sail it does not have to be registered. This does not include trolling motors, so you could use a trolling motor and pond hop and have a good time without all of that hard work and time spent at the DMV. But I don't know what kind of boat it is that you are talking about. 

 

 

All that to register a boat?????

[Brian Needham]

  On 4/30/2014 at 3:14 AM, jbsoonerfan said:

All that to register a boat?????

 

yeah......... bill of sale, proof of insurance(if you have a lien holder), and receipt saying you paid your taxes.  

not too bad, since we only  title trailers here.

 

every time I have gone to title mine I had to track down the original MSO, now that's a pain! I have bought and sold boats in or to TN and OK and it was a pain dealing with those states because they don't title trailers, ect ect.

[T_Nix35]

  On 4/30/2014 at 3:14 AM, jbsoonerfan said:

All that to register a boat?????

 

That is what I found on the Arkansas DMV website for registering a boat. I don't actually own a boat, but when I noticed this question I was interested and researched into it. I don't think it is that much, it just seems like it is because I went into detail on the bill of sale. In all actuality it is just like registering a car. It does take time, but that is usually because Arkansas DMV offices can be ridiculous. I have sat for two and a half hours in my hometown DMV office just to get a new drivers license. Talk about having to have patience. 

[T_Nix35]

  On 4/29/2014 at 11:46 PM, Brian Needham said:

depends on what you title........ In Arkansas we only title trailers..... other states are different.

 

you can always apply for a bonded title, if the title is needed. but it always varies state to state.

 

your best bet is to stop by your local  DMV and ask them.

 

So when I purchase my first boat here in Arkansas I don't get a title for the boat, just for the trailer? 

[Preytorien]

Here in Indiana you have to title the boat if it's more than $3,000 new. If not, no title is needed.

[Brian Needham]

  On 4/30/2014 at 3:39 AM, T_Nix35 said:

So when I purchase my first boat here in Arkansas I don't get a title for the boat, just for the trailer? 

 

that is correct.......warning: if you buy it from another state you are going to need the orginal MSO to get the trailer titled....so make sure whoever you buy it from has it..... unless you are buying an Arkansas boat then its all good.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

How big is the boat? In NY under 14' has no title

[bartdude186]

In TN i had a jon boat with no title, found a loop hole. i told them it was made in 1960 and didnt have a serial number. she wrote down the serial number as 000000001 and the make as "jon boat" problem solved. check your states requirements and see if older boats are grandfathered in.

[WIGuide]

In WI boats under 16' don't have a title, they just have a registration card. If it's over 16', you get the card and a title. Here you can get a title re-issued, but the boats have to be titled in one way or another to be registered. You might want to check with your local DNR and they will guide you int he right direction for your state.