Registering 12’ Jon Boat without Title?

[brunner]

What is the process of registering a 12’ Jon boat (no title) with mud drive (harbor freight engine)?

Guy doesn’t have title just bill of sale.

No trailer either


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[7sdad]

From my understanding it's not going to happen. I was told "no title no register". But I do think you can apply for a lost title if the person your buying it from was the last one that had it registered.

[bboswell]

No title = private pond use only

[S-3 Ranch]

From my understanding it's not going to happen. I was told "no title no register". But I do think you can apply for a lost title if the person your buying it from was the last one that had it registered.

I been down that road before, Texas is impossibley difficult
Don’t let anyone try to convince you it’s not.
I wouldn’t buy a boat with cloudy paper!!

[TxDispatcher]

I been down that road before, Texas is impossibley difficult
Don’t let anyone try to convince you it’s not.
I wouldn’t buy a boat with cloudy paper!!

I agree...while I have heard plenty of times that it "can" be done, it isn't worth the hoops and headaches I went through and still didn't get a title. I'll never do it again...if you can't produce a clear title that is in YOUR name, I'll move on down the road

[jdg13]

TPWD ain't gonna let you do it. NEVER buy a boat without a title. It's bad enough going through the DMV for a bonded title on a car, boats are pretty much impossible. The classic "no title but it's easy to get one with a bill of sale" means "I really don't own it and can't legally sell it so here it is for cheap to get it out of my hair." IF the current possessor is the last registered owner, they can file for a lost title, get you said title, and then sell it. Otherwise you ain't getting it in your name.

[brunner]

Good info thanks


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[Puggy625]

Yeah, not gonna happen. I had hell with them when my parents gave me dad's boat a few years ago. And I had signed titles in hand with notarized gift letter to everything. Still took me 3 trips to tax office and 3 trips to TPWD.

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[flywise]

Do not do it.
TPWD mentions it ont he site……don’t do it. There is a process but likely to take forever if ever

[flywise]

Has it been registered ever? If the numbers are still on the boat you can look up the owner and might find out he is or not the owner. If he has registered it in his name then he can get a replacement title. If he personally has not personally registered it them the search above would tell you who did. Then you can contact that person for a possible title.
If it has numbers I’ll do a search for you if you want.

[Uncle_Milty]

About the only way to make it happen is to file it as an abandoned vessel. You then have to wait like 6 months from the time it is filed for someone to claim it and produce documentation to prove it. After that I believe you can file for a new title to be assigned, once you have that you can get it registered. Not worth it in my opinion so I would pass on it personally.

I picked one up a few years ago and decided it wasn't worth the headache so it's now just a pond boat

[brushtrooper]

I just did this and it's not an issue. Go to your local TPWD office and they will give a form to complete. My boat for example was bought by my grandparents and used on the ranch for all these years. It was never registered. You complete this form, sign it. They will make an appointment to meet a Game Warden for inspection of boat. My GW called me direct and we arranged the meet. He checked it out, mine for example had no Vin. He advised it would be a couple weeks for the new Vin# it was called something else anyways once that was issued, we meet again. He called a few weeks later, we meet, and he puts the new vin in 2 different spots, takes pics and it was complete. I was issued a title for the boat. It was not a difficult process at all, time consuming but worth it. I think if it had Vin, it would have faster and easier. Make sure you put the family history down of the boat to make it easier for yourself. They do not ask hardly any questions and my grandparents had passed as it was. It was not a difficult process

[tgil]

Has it been registered ever? If the numbers are still on the boat you can look up the owner and might find out he is or not the owner. If he has registered it in his name then he can get a replacement title. If he personally has not personally registered it them the search above would tell you who did. Then you can contact that person for a possible title.
If it has numbers I’ll do a search for you if you want.

TPWD couldn't even fimd the one I have with a TX#. Suggested bonded title. Not worth the money or the hassle.

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[SmTx]

An abandoned boat only has to be on your property for 7 days before you can start the bonded title process.