Outdated titles, no titles, blah

[Ballinamuck]

Hello, I've been looking to start a winter project, but most all the boats I've seen don't have a current title. I live in California, and have heard horror stories of registration here. So a few questions I had on them are:

If a boat has a pink slip from 2-3 owners back, meaning a pink signed off to one person, then a bill of sale, then another bill of sale, can it still be registered as a new owner (and with a new bill of sale)?

If the above is the same, but the original pink was signed off but not filled in, could you fill it in with your own info and register it that way?

If there's no title, just a bill of sale, do you have to trace back the current owner and have them sign off? Could they turn around and say they want it back?

Thank you!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

Can not comment on California, however my recommendation is to contact your local registration department and keep looking for a boat with a clean and current title.

I suspect the reason you are finding boats with pink slips 2-3 owners back is that they could not be registered easily.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

This will help get you started...
Vessel Boat Registration and Information

 

[Ballinamuck]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

True Scott, I'm assuming it would be an issue registering such a boat with 2-3 undocumented interim owners, and not even sure if it'd be possible.
Thank you Wood, but I'm familiar with the basics on registering a boat, just this out of the ordinary situations I'm not sure on (and the dmv site doesn't have any information on it).

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

Then I expect you will need to call the DMV and ask them what to do.

 

[maryhannaj]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

Hey. Just wanted to ask if you are sure that it was even assigned a title. I'm sure every state has it's own regs. but I'm in Utah and my boat is considered a non-titled watercraft on the registration. Only because it was manufactured before 1985. All I had to do was to provide the bill of sale and vin number to the DMV and they gave me the stickers and put the registration in my name.
I don't think here that they even care as long as they get their cut.

 

[mccoytr]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

In Nc if it has a registration number on it you can get the info of the person that registered it and send certified email  with  paperwork in it. If it does not return or is returned as non-deliverable, then  you have made the attempt with proof and can get it retitled. With bill of sale from current owner. I just went through it here in NC. But hey Calli is a different world.

 

[fshklr]

Re: Outdated titles, no titles, blah

Hello I live in SoCal and I've registered a few boats that no title. If you are a AAA Member go there and and tell them you are buying a boat and trailer that has no titles. They will give you the paper work to take with you so you can have the person that you are getting it from to fill out. Make sure you get a separate bill of sales for the boat and trailer. Also if the boat hasn't been registered in several years it may have dropped out of the system. If that's the case you might have to take the boat to the DMV for inspection. Not that big of a deal for the right project.
Good luck.

 

[rachellamkin]

To add to what fshklr said, you can visit http://locator.carolinas.aaa.com/insurance to find the nearest AAA office near you and they'll get you squared away. Hope that helps and good luck!

 

[Brian 26]

As stated check with local offices to see what's what in CA. You may have to call/go in to a few different people until you find someone willing to help. In MN if it's not titled you only need a bill of sale but don't take the seller word that it's not titled.

I'll never understand why people don't hang on to their titles, or if you do loose it take an hour out of your day and spend the $12 to get it replaced, geez. However I will say when you scratching around on craigslist looking for bottom of the barrel deals you have to expect to run into this.

 

[GA_Boater]

Folks - This an old topic. We ask that you not reply to topics inactive in excess of 90 days unless you are the original poster. Thanks.