Boat motor Titles?

[Stoof]

So I posted a 2.5 hp mercury in the classifieds and had no idea that a boat motor needed a title. I got the motor from a friend's father's estate a while back. Since then the estate is cleaned up and gone and I don't think a title will be found.
I did some looking around and the interweb makes it sound like replacing a title in Texas is extremely hard without the original owners documents in hand. Is there a process to replace a title without original paperwork or receipts? This is a brand new engine.
Thanks for any info. I've never dealt with boat stuff before.

[friscopaint]

I bought a boat years ago with Missouri registration and they didn't title motors, was such a pain (impossible) that I just ran it without title and sold it without title.

[Walker]

What year is that little merc? Texas didnt have outboard titles before sometime in the 60s

[txpitdog]

Titling a motor without the original paperwork is very difficult, as the transfer of title form with TPWD required the original title as part of the application.

Since you got the motor from an estate and it is brand new, it is possible it was never titled with TPWD. You should call them and see if they can search the serial number. If it wasn't ever titled you might be able to get a new title for it.

For states where titles are not issued on outboards TPWD will title it no problem. I bought a motor that was originally purchased in Nevada, which doesn't issue a title for an outboard. TPWD gave me a new title on it with no questions asked, because I had the original purchase receipt.

[Jaybo31]

Since you dont have to get it registered and if you have proof of where it came from just run it. Not a big deal really.

[Chuy]

any way you can at least get a bill of sale from the son in charge of the estate? Might help

[Stoof]

Thanks for the replies. There is a good chance this thing was never registered with the State so I will start there. I plan on selling it and I don't want this to be a PITA for the purchaser.

[azle]

I was "told" the law only pertained to 5hp and above?

Azle

[BowSlayer]

If I were in the market for a motor I would not let the lack of a title stop me from buying it. I've been running the same 40 HP outboard on the same boat for almost 20 years with no title. It's just another way for the State to collect tax. Anybody ever been stopped by a GW and asked to see their outboard title?

[Jaybo31]

If I were in the market for a motor I would not let the lack of a title stop me from buying it. I've been running the same 40 HP outboard on the same boat for almost 20 years with no title. It's just another way for the State to collect tax. Anybody ever been stopped by a GW and asked to see their outboard title?

No. Thats why Im saying just run it.

[basschsr]

any way you can at least get a bill of sale from the son in charge of the estate? Might help

Bill of sale is only for the purchaser. The TPWD doesn't need it. Only a form PWD144 ( http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/p...pplication.pdf ) is needed but requires seller and purchaser signatures. If the seller is not reachable for any reason, not sure what to do for that.

[Rat]

If I were in the market for a motor I would not let the lack of a title stop me from buying it. I've been running the same 40 HP outboard on the same boat for almost 20 years with no title. It's just another way for the State to collect tax. Anybody ever been stopped by a GW and asked to see their outboard title?

It used to be only 10 HP and above, but now it is all outboards that are internal combustion regardless of the fuel type. Also, if it is older than 1994 then no title is required for less than 10 HP.

I have been asked for the title (the card anyway) for both the boat and motor by game wardens on my big boat. I was only ever asked for the boat title on my small boat (with a 9.9 HP). I don't think they ask for the motor title very often for small motors, but it is required.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat..._registration/

[BowSlayer]

It used to be only 10 HP and above, but now it is all outboards that are internal combustion regardless of the fuel type. Also, if it is older than 1994 then no title is required for less than 10 HP.



I have been asked for the title (the card anyway) for both the boat and motor by game wardens on my big boat. I was only ever asked for the boat title on my small boat (with a 9.9 HP). I don't think they ask for the motor title very often for small motors, but it is required.



https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat..._registration/

There is no "card" for outboards? I have 2 with titles and neither has a card. Just the boats.

[Jaybo31]

It used to be only 10 HP and above, but now it is all outboards that are internal combustion regardless of the fuel type. Also, if it is older than 1994 then no title is required for less than 10 HP.

I have been asked for the title (the card anyway) for both the boat and motor by game wardens on my big boat. I was only ever asked for the boat title on my small boat (with a 9.9 HP). I don't think they ask for the motor title very often for small motors, but it is required.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat..._registration/

The card is only for boat registration not motors

[Eagle19]

I've got an outboard for sale and it was a 1965. It's had two owners before and I asked the original owner of it ever came with a title and he said you didn't have to have one when he bought the motor and it was kind of grandfathered in. So I've just been running it with out the title. I didn't have one on my homemade mud motor either that I sold. I've been stopped by game wardens 6 times this past year and have never been asked about the motor.

If somebody is super concerned about it being stolen tell them to look the serial up and prove that it hasn't been stolen. From my understanding you can get a bonded title sometimes and they put it up on the stolen list and if someone has proof they bought it they'll take it and give it to the original owner. That's what I read someplace somewhere.