Can I Register A Jon Boat Without Title

Y'all have found the perfect jon boat. This beauty is clean, well maintained and best of all cheap. Merely there is a catch – there is no title. Is the deal too good to exist truthful? Or accept you found a true treasure that will merely take a picayune bit of paperwork before hitting the h2o? How do you register a jon gunkhole without a title?

The process of registering a jon boat without a title will vary from state to state. In some cases, boats manufactured prior to a certain date or beneath a certain propulsion threshold or length will not crave a title in order to be registered. Y'all will need to contact the department in your state to understand the specific requirements.

Similar automobiles, boats often require both registration and titling. However, the specific requirements will vary state to state. Whether you're considering purchasing a jon gunkhole and want to know in advance the registration requirements, or already own one but don't take a title, nosotros'll explain what to exercise from here and who you can contact.

Terminology

Earlier nosotros can discuss the rules and how they may apply to you lot and your new jon boat it is important you understand some of the basic terminology you lot will meet. Let's review some of that information now.

Registration

This is the procedure through which you prove to the land that you own, or have legal utilize of, a specific boat and pay the necessary fees to legally operate that boat on the waters of that country. In return for the specified fee the state will outcome a registration number and validation decal. Like the license plate on an car this registration number and decal must be displayed on the boat when in operation. Registrations are recognized from ane state to another, allowing you to use that gunkhole for short periods when visiting another area.

ALL motorboats are required to be registered and in some states this includes those propelled by electrical motors. Registration requirements for unpowered boats vary from country to state. Remember that while registration is recognized from land to country exemptions may non be. In other words, just because your home land does non require unpowered registration that does non hateful a state you visit and take you jon gunkhole to may non.

Championship

This is a declaration of ownership for a specific vessel. Similar an automobile, the title is issued by a state agency to either y'all or a lienholder. Unlike automobiles, the runs pertaining to titling of motorboats, including jon boats, vary by state. Some states require all boats to be titled while others make this determination based on twelvemonth of manufacture, length, power source etc.

I near universal requirement is that once a boat has been titled information technology must keep to be titled for the remainder of its existence. For case, if you lot purchase a 1991 jon boat from anywhere and information technology was titled, even voluntarily, and attempt to register information technology in a country that requires titling information technology will demand to be titled again. This is true even if the state you are taking it to started registering boats after 1991 or only titles boats larger than the one you are purchasing.

Hull Identification Number

Also known as the HIN, this is a unique number assigned by the manufacturer, or sometimes the state registering agency, that allows the boat to exist tracked throughout its life. Like to a Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, the HIN was first adult to track recalls or consumer protection issues just has become the primary means of identifying a specific boat for titling, registration and theft recovery.

Where is the HIN?

The HIN is permanently affixed to the starboard transom, or rear outside corner. In the case of boats that predate the HIN system, are bootleg or when the HIN was accidently damaged/removed a state and not the manufacturer may issue a HIN. This state issued HIN may exist attached to the stern or on a larger plate near the operator position.

The HIN is either 12 or 17 characters in length, depending on twelvemonth of manufacture, and provides specific information.

Case: ABCF0930A686

ABC
Manufacturer's Identification Code, specific to each manufacturer and issued by the U.Due south. Coast Baby-sit

F0930
Production or serial number, issued by the manufacturer

A6
Month*, Year of production

86
Model Year, many not be the year of production equally production cycles oft cover portions of 2 dissimilar agenda years

* The following conversion is used to determine calendar month of production:

A = January
B = February
C = March
D = April
E = May
F = June
G = July
H = August
I = September
J = October
K = November
L = December

Capacity Plate

This is a dissever metal plate or sticker affixed by the manufacturer that lists the maximum condom chapters of the vessel. This is mostly displayed in terms of total passengers, weight of passenger and total combined weight of passengers & gear. It will also list the maximum allowable horsepower. The capacity plate will be displayed near the operator'south position for easy reference.

Width

Measurement of distance from one side of the boat to the other at the widest point, which is generally the transom's waterline.

Length

Measurement of the distance from the boat from farthest signal on the bow to the farthest indicate on the transom, which is generally directly along the centerline or keel but above the waterline.

Document Vessel

A vessel which is registered with the U.S. Coast Guard. In some states this is in lieu of registration or titling, in others it may be in addition to registration or titling.

How to Register a Jon Gunkhole Without a Title

Although the specific requirements regarding which motorboats must exist titled or registered varies by state, the general process for obtaining either is like. Here we will accost some of the basic steps that need to exist followed to obtain a registration and, if needed, a title for your jon gunkhole.

Points of Contact

Equally stated earlier, each country has a specific agency that handles boat registration and titling. In some states this will be the Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicle, Treasurer'south Office or whatever bureau issued similar documents for motor vehicles. In other states it will exist the Department of Natural Resources, Fish & Wild animals Bureau or similar department that is also tasked with enforcing regulations related to gunkhole operation.

Alabama
Department of Conservation/Natural Resources
outdooralabama.com
334-517-2950

Alaska
Department of Motor Vehicles
doa.alaska.gov
855-269-5551

Arizona
Game & Fish Section
azgfd.com
602-942-3000

Arkansas
Dept. of Finance & Administration
dfa.arkansas.gov
501-682-4692

California
California DMV
dmv.ca.gov
800-777-0133

Colorado
Parks & Wildlife
cpw.land.co.usa
303-297-1192

Connecticut
Department of Motor Vehicles
ct.gov
860-263-5700

Delaware
Division of Fish & Wild animals
dnrec.delaware.com
302-739-9916

Florida
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
myfwc.com
850-488-5600

Georgia
Department of Natural Resources
georgiawildlife.com
800-366-2661

Hawaii
Div. of Canoeing & Ocean Recreation
dlnr.hawaii.gov
808-587-1966

Idaho
Parks & Recreation
parksandreaction.idaho.gov
844-834-2446

Illinois
Section of Natural Resources
dnr.illinois.gov
217-782-6301

Indiana
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
in.gov
888-692-6841

Iowa
Department of Natural Resource
iowadnr.gov
515-725-8200

Kansas
Section of Wildlife & Parks
ksoutdoor.com
620-672-5911

Kentucky
Department of Fish & Wildlife
fw.ky.gov
800-858-1549

Louisiana
Department of Fish & Wildlife
wlf.louisiana.gov
800-256-2749

Maine
Inland Fisheries & Wild animals
maine.gov
207-621-2600

Maryland
Department of Natural Resource
dnr.maryland.gov
877-620-8367

Massachusetts
Dept. of Energy & Environmental Affairs
mass.gov
617-626-1610

Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
Michigan.gov
517-284-6057

Minnesota
Section of Natural Resources
dnr.state.mn.us
651-296-6157

Mississippi
Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
mdwfp.com
601-432-2400

Missouri
Department of Revenue
dor.mo.gov
573-526-2407

Montana
Fish, Wild animals & Parks
fwp.mt.gov
406-444-2535

Nebraska
Game & Parks Committee
outdoornebraska.com
402-471-0641

Nevada
Depart. Of Wild animals
ndow.gov
775-688-1500

New Hampshire
Department of Motor Vehicles
nh.gov
603-227-4000

New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission
country.nj.us
609-292-6500

New United mexican states
Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources
emnrd.state.nm.state
505-476-3200

New York
Department of Motor Vehicles
dmv.ny.gov
518-486-9786

North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission
ncwildlife.org
800-628-3773

North Dakota
Game & Fish Department
gf.nd.gov
701-328-6300

Ohio
State Parks & Watercraft
watercraft.ohiodnr.gov
614-265-6480

Oklahoma
Tax Commission
ok.gov
405-521-3160

Oregon
State Marine Lath
Oregon.gov
503-378-8587

Pennsylvania
Fish & Boat Commission
fishandboat.com
717-705-7800

Rhode Island
Depart. Of Environmental Management
dem.ri.gov
401-222-4700

Due south Carolina
Department of Natural Resources
dnr.sc.gov
803-734-3857

Southward Dakota
Game, Fish & Parks
gfp.sd.gov
605-223-7660

Tennessee
Wildlife Resource Agency
tn.gov
615-781-5270

Texas
Parks & Wildlife
tpwd.texas.gov
512-389-4800

Utah
Department of Motor Vehicles
dmv.utah.gov
800-368-8824

Vermont
Department of Motor Vehicles
dmv.vermont.gov
802-828-2000

Virginia
Depart. Game & Inland Fisheries
dgif.virginia.gov
866-721-6911

Washington
Land Depart. Of Licensing
dol.wa.gov
360-902-3770

West Virginia
Depart. Of Transportation
transportation.wv.gov
304-558-0130

Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources
dnr.wi.gov
888-936-7436

Wyoming
Fish & Game Department
wgfd.wyo.gov
307-777-4600

Here is a list of the states that currently issue titles for motorboats and any special requirements, if known. This list is simply to assist requite you a kickoff and might not be authentic if regulations have been updated since the writing of this article. Be sure to contact the applicable agencies listed above to confirm the requirements.

California
All motorboats and sailboats in excess of 8 ft.

District of Columbia
All vessels that obtain or renew registration after 03/14/1989

Florida
All undocumented vessels

Idaho
All vessels 12 ft or greater in length, 2000 or newer
All vessels with permanently attached propulsion, 2000 or newer

Illinois
All motorboats
Sailboats exceeding 12 ft.

Indiana
All registered vessels acquired, transferred, sold or mortgaged afterward i/1/1986

Iowa
All vessels 17 ft or more in length

Kentucky
All motorboats

Maryland
All motorboats

Massachusetts
All vessels 14ft or more in length

Michigan
All watercraft 20 ft. or greater in length
Whatsoever watercraft with permanently affixed engine

Minnesota
Vessels over 16 ft. in length

Mississippi
Optional for all motorized vessels

Missouri
All motorboats & sailboats 12 ft or longer

Montana
All motorboats & sailboats 12 ft. or longer

Nebraska
All motorboats manufactured later 1972

Nevada
All motorboats

New Bailiwick of jersey
All motorboats & sailboats over 12 ft

New Mexico
All motorboats & sailboats over x ft. in length

New York
All vessels 14ft or more than in length with a model year of 1987 or newer

North Carolina
All boats 14ft or greater transferred or purchased after 1/1/06
All Personal Watercraft (PWCS)
Whatever vessel subject to a lien

Ohio
All PWCS and all boats equipped with propulsion

Oklahoma
All watercraft

Oregon
All motorboats
Sailboats 12 ft. or more than in length

Pennsylvania
All motorboats 14ft. or more in length with model twelvemonth 1997 or newer
All PWCs
Whatsoever boat already titled in another land

Rhode Island
All vessels

Due south Carolina
All watercraft over fourteen ft in length

South Dakota
All vessels sixteen ft. or more in length

Texas
Motorboats exceeding xiv ft. in length

Utah
All gunkhole 1985 model or newer, except unpowered canoes, kayaks or inflatables

Vermont
All motorboats 16ft or more in length AND 1989 or newer

Virginia
All motorboats 15 ft. or greater in length and powered by motor exceeding 25HP
Sailboats over 18ft.
All Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Washington
All motorboats

Westward Virginia
All motorboats

Wisconsin
All vessels xvi ft. or more in length, except documented vessels

What Y'all Will Demand

Although registration does not grant ownership it does testify your legal authority to use that boat should you be inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard or other police force enforcement officers. For this reason states are more often than not very specific when it comes to the documentation required to register a gunkhole in your name. Although special circumstances may ascend that crave additional documentation, such as inheriting a boat upon the decease of the owner or transfer during a legal settlement, the following is a list of the documents you lot volition need to complete the registration process.

Pecker of Auction
Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (if new gunkhole)
Application grade – bachelor from registering agency or authorized agent and volition include your name, name of seller, identification information for the boat (make, model, length, yr, HIN etc.), lienholder, co-owner and possibly identifying information for any outboard.
Championship, if applicable, signed by the concluding listed possessor

What if I am missing something?

The central to successfully registering a boat is providing a documented path of ownership. If your state issued a title for the jon boat you are trying to register this is more often than not the means of doing this. The title, if issued in the name of the seller, proves that person'south right to sell the boat to you. Because the aforementioned procedure would take been followed when that seller first obtained that title and then on back to the original owner the title, forth with the seller's signature & bill of auction, prove path of ownership up to and including you.

But what if you do not have a title? Honestly, this tin can be a difficult hurdle to overcome. Again, it depends on the specific land and why you do non accept a title.

Here are some of the more common reasons your newly acquired jon boat may not come with a title and how to rectify the trouble:

Never Titled

if the boat was never titled, which is usually due to differing requirements when moving a boat from one state to another, merely apply in the state where yous are located and supply whatever supporting documents are required.

Seller Lost Title

If the person selling the boat has a title just can not discover it the easiest, and often only, recourse is for the seller to utilize for a duplicate title and then provide that to you. Near states will Not allow you the heir-apparent to apply for this replacement championship.

Seller Refuses to Provide Title

Although this is rare information technology does happen. Information technology is frequently a sign of a larger, more complex problem (i.e. they did non have legal dominance to sell the boat) it tin can also be equally uncomplicated every bit they do not desire to bother obtaining a duplicate or meeting again once the sale is complete. The good news is that in near state it is a legal requirement the seller provide the title upon sale of the gunkhole. This means you can contact the police enforcement agency responsible for enforcing registration / titling issues for assistance.

Seller Was Non Last Title Holder

This happens more than than you tin can imagine, especially with smaller easily transported boats when there is no trailer. In most cases information technology just means that seller never followed through with registering the boat or obtaining a missing title.

In near instances the state bureau that issued titles will contact the last title holder and request they approve the auction or country a reason why information technology should non be honored. If the title holder does not answer in a given period the auction will proceed, and you volition obtain the necessary registration and / or title.

Outstanding Lien

Contact the lien holder and request a release of involvement in the boat. If the lien holder is a licensed fiscal institution you tin contact your state's Attorney General for assistance in locating the correct address or bespeak of contact.

Boat Was Titled/Registered in Another State

Contact that land's titling bureau and asking an official copy of the records for the vessel in question indicating last registered owner, address and possible lien holder. You can then contact this possessor and asking the championship, or provide the information with your registration awarding as part of the path of ownership.

Complete Affidavit of Buying

Due to the small size and value of many boats, including about jon boats, states realize that ownership often transfers repeatedly and without required paperwork. Due to this they oftentimes permit the new owner to complete a short affidavit, which may or may not need to be notarized, attesting to the legal purchase of the boat when not championship is bachelor.

Deceased Possessor

This can be tricky, especially if yous were not related to the last now deceased owner. If the spouse was a co-owner ownership almost always automatically shifts to them. This tin can also occur past legal action due to a will or estate settlement. As well, a legal activeness can also transfer ownership to some other family unit fellow member.

While in each situation the surviving spouse or family unit fellow member will be granted ownership to the boat, as well as the right to sell it, it may be necessary to file boosted paperwork with the country starting time. If you are considering purchasing a boat post-obit the death of the possessor be very cautious and ensure the person selling the boat has completed the necessary steps before paw.

Purchased at Auction

Depending on how the boat concluded up at auction at that place may or may not exist a title available. The good news is that most legitimate auctions know what the process is and have already obtained the necessary documents to allow legal transfer of the boat whether the title is needed or not. You should then exist able to take this paperwork to the state registration agency and proceed without too much delay.

Abandoned Boat

Believe it or non boats are abandoned past the owner who has not intention of retrieving or otherwise claiming the boat in the future. How these boats are tending of vary from land to state and oft depend on specifically where it was abandoned and why.

For case, if a boat drifts loose from its mooring, dock or storage area and ends upwardly on your belongings yous can ofttimes claim ownership, afterward reasonable attempts to locate the owner, and register the gunkhole without a title.

Yet, if information technology is plant drifting in state waters it is often upwards to one or more regime to retrieve the boat and dispose of it accordingly.

Likewise, if the boat were abandoned at a storage facility, marina or rental property it is often covered under more complex and restrictive laws governing these businesses.

In all cases there will be additional steps that need to be take, such as placing ads in local papers for sending certified letters to the last owner, which are designed to protect the legitimate owner from beingness taken advantage of.

Again, the specific requirements and process does vary slightly from state to state. Information technology is best to contact the titling authority in your state for specific instructions and forms.

What about homemade boats?

Most states hold homemade boats to the same standard as manufactured boats of a similar length in terms of registration and titling. Although some states all the same provide a registration to a bootleg gunkhole few crave them to be titled. Generally, you will exist required to evidence, commuter'due south license, receipts for parts and inspection by a licensed marine surveyor.

Is it worth trying?

This is a question that comes up ofttimes, and one which tin can non be easily answered. Whether or not it is worth attempting to register a gunkhole without get-go obtaining a championship is a question very specific to your own state of affairs.

Depending upon the reason there is no title bachelor the recourse can vary greatly and it may simply come downward to whether or not you have the time and coin to address the possible scenarios.

If you have the power to contact the final owner and obtain a duplicate it is a matter of a few mean solar day, maybe a calendar week, until y'all are on the water. On the other hand, if you are buying a deal that is too good to exist true, without paperwork or even a name/accost for the terminal owner, chances are in that location is a problem. The more complex the problem the more likelihood it will not end in your favor.

Tips to Make Information technology Easier

While it is true that many obstacles encountered when attempting to register a jon gunkhole without a title can be overcome they all cost you more than expected. This price may be in the form of additional fees or information technology may exist in terms of time needed to complete the process.

In either example information technology is all-time to avoid the potential problems to exist begin with, and mitigate known problems every bit much equally possible, at the fourth dimension of purchase. Here are some tips to assistance you.

Know the local requirements – know what the rules are before you go shopping for your new jon boat. This will allow you to shop with confidence, know what any additional fees may exist and what paperwork is required. This is the easiest way to avoid potential problems.
Always get a bill of sale. While it does not matter is this is a professionally prepared document or written on the dorsum of a napkin with red crayon it should always incorporate your name, the proper noun of the seller, a description of the boat ( as detailed as possible including size, color, HIN, registration number and included accessories), the date and toll paid. Practice not forget to also go seller's signature.
Inquire for paperwork at time of purchase. If there is missing paperwork discuss this with the seller, come to an agreement as to how it will be resolved and certificate this on the beak of sale. If gunkhole is sold as is without necessary paperwork and you practice not accost this at the time of sale you may face difficulty to practise so later. This is when knowing what will be required for registration comes in very handy.
Do not be agape to call for help. Every state has an agency that handles registration and each of these agencies have a public help line. Do not exist afraid to telephone call and ask questions, even if you are in the middle of a purchase that may not be 100% correct.
Exist fix to walk away. Even if you recollect you take institute the perfect next jon boat practice not allow yourself to exist sucked into a situation you lot are unwilling to walk away from. If the seller is legitimate and has nothing to hide, they should exist willing to postpone the sale until they have the necessary paperwork or accommodate to become that paperwork to y'all at a subsequently date. If not walk away and avoid a potential headache.

Advice to Save You lot Time and Money

It is important to understand the rules BEFORE you buy a boat, especially a used ane that may not have all the paperwork needed to satisfy your state's requirements. Otherwise, y'all run the take chances of spending your hard-earned money not on the jon boat of your dreams but on your own personal Titanic.

In that location are many reasons why a title may not back-trail your used jon gunkhole. Many of these situations can be ultimately resolved in your favor, however there are some cases which will be impossible to resolve and the only mode to obtain registration is to first obtain a legal title for the jon boat.

Although these circumstances are rare, they do happen and could toll your far more in both fourth dimension and coin than your perfect jon boat is really worth. Our communication to you is to always make every effort to obtain the proper paperwork, including championship if one has been issued, at the time of purchase.

Decision

Hopefully this data will assist y'all in one, determining whether or non you new jon boat requires a title and ii, assistance y'all figure out how to obtain registration without a title if required. There is an old saying "the two all-time days of boat ownership is when you buy you lot new boat and when you sell it". Our goal is to help ensure that those two days are not back to back, separated by only the time it takes to go feed upwardly trying to obtain the necessary registration.