People who sell boats that are scammers.

[DeepCMark58A]

I recently bought a fishing boat and trailer. Very happy with the purchase the motor runs well. I headed in with the title for the boat and trailer to get it registered. The boat transfer went well, the trailer on the other hand not so much. Minnesota has a permanent trailer license on trailers. The cheap skate I bought from did not transfer the trailer title because it had the sticker on it. The guy the previous owner bought from is dead, to get the registration transferred is a huge runaround needing death certificates after finding the original owners next of kin. Grind my gears to say the least, funny the guy who sold me the boat does not return my calls.

 

[GA_Boater]

Not a scammer. He was a seller and you bought what he sold.

Did you ask him why his name wasn't on the trailer title before paying? I'm not saying that I wouldn't be in the same boat or rather trailer, as you, probably would. :blue:

 

[MTboatguy]

We have perm tags on our trailer here as well and I have yet to buy a trailer that the title has been properly transferred. I have here right now that the title was issued in the 90's and the last time anyone actually signed it was in 2008, perm plates so no one has properly transferred it in the last 11 years!

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Not a scammer. He was a seller and you bought what he sold.

Did you ask him why his name wasn't on the trailer title before paying? I'm not saying that I wouldn't be in the same boat or rather trailer, as you, probably would. :blue:

Wrong assumption ask more questions. The guy had a bill of sale all written up with the Hull# and the serial number for the trailer on the bill of sale, it all was made to look legit this is the guy never transferred the title because he did not have expiring registration on the trailer.

I do have an option I can get a blank bill of sale, I do have the original owners name from some paper work that came with the boat. It would involve pretty much forging a dead guys signature on the bill of sale. I am trying to do the right thing is the easiest way possible. Since the guy will not return my calls I am left with no other choice.

 

[southkogs]

Dunno what your state laws are, but this edges up on larceny. He faked documents to make you assume you were purchasing something legally. But, essentially you were sold a trailer by someone who legally didn't have the right to sell that trailer ... It'd be analogous your neighbor selling your car without your permission.

There's got to be some legal action you can take. And it may be as simple as talking to local law enforcement.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Same in my state. Once a trailer has a permanent plate, nobody ever transfers them. And smaller trailers like a typical boat trailer don't have titles, just registration.

Minnesota is the same way, I just want to do the right thing.

 

[tpenfield]

A look on the website can help . . .

Minnesota titles cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, vans and large trailers. Except in special situations, the transfer of ownership must take place on the certificate of title. You may transfer the ownership of a vehicle at any deputy registrar office. If a vehicle is purchased through a licensed Minnesota dealer, the dealer will take care of the transfer paperwork.

Minnesota laws requires that every motor vehicle be titled except the following:

• Vehicles owned by the United States government, unless they are registered in this state

• Vehicles used by a manufacturer solely for testing

• A vehicle owned by a non-resident, not required by law to be registered in this state

• A vehicle regularly engaged in the interstate transportation of persons or property for which a currently effective Certificate of Title has been issued in another state

• A vehicle moved solely by animal power

• An implement of husbandry

• Special mobile equipment, as defined by Minnesota statutes

• A self-propelled wheel chair or invalid tricycle

• A trailer having a gross weight of 4,000 pounds or less

• A trailer designed primarily for agricultural purposes with a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds

• ATV’s, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles, as defined in Minnesota statutes
• Utility, boat, or snowmobile trailers with a gross vehicle weight of less than 4,500 pounds, unless there is a lien. The Minnesota registration card is acceptable proof of ownership in these cases.

• Clearly marked municipal fire apparatus, police patrol cars, ambulances and ambulances owned by ambulance services licensed under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.802.

So, just wondering if your trailer is exempt from titling and only carries a registration :noidea:

 

[MTboatguy]

Our state is actually pretty easy to get along with, I never get rid of titles on trailers or boats I buy. We also have a program where we can tell them the trailer or vehicle had no title when we bought it, they will inspect and issue a "bond" title and if no one claims or puts in a inquiry they will issue a regular title for you. Then of course, it is easy to get a trailer classified as a home made and they will issue a new serial number and title for it. This state is easy to get along with. My easy loader trailer is actually titled and registered as a Shorelander trailer, someone had a title for a Shorelander which went out of business and he had a new ID plate made up for the trailer and put it on this easy loader and it has been titled and registered that way for many years now.

 

[TyeeMan]

I'm in Minnesota as well, if you need/must transfer the trailer you have a couple options.

1. Go to the deputy registrar and tell them you need to license a home made trailer. Home made trailers generally don't have a VIN. You will have to buy a new lifetime license, , there pretty cheap. Peal the old lifetime license off and throw it away.

2. There are some cases where you can do a "forced transfer" which is just that. If your deputy registrar is pretty cool they can help you out with that. I've had to do a forced transfer before, it was pretty easy.

 

[jkust]

Only small trailers have lifetime license in MN. Both of my boat trailers require annual renewal but none of my atv, snowmobile, utility or waverunner trailers do.

 

[Starcraft5834]

No scam there... legitimate sale.. buyer needs to educate themselves on what's required.. that is...what your state requires to title and register the boat... far to many people buy boats not knowing whats needed, they end up running around trying to fix it...to get boat and trailer in buyers name, . as to the seller.. they could care less, they already have your cash...

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I have bought more than a few boat and trailer combos, this seller had a bill of sale with all the required information on it. Should have been an easy transfer. Like I said I do have the name and address of the original owner I can just write his name on a bill of sale. Just pisses me off when things are not done the right way.

 

[carburated]

welp, you can fight the system, or just go with the flow. Either way works. I know where I am, the trailer is covered by the insurance of the car towing it, so it doesn't matter whos it is from a liability standpoint.

I would not forge a dead guys signature though, that seems worse than not registering the trailer in you name.

 

[TyeeMan]

A number of years ago I was transferring a title to a vehicle I just bought. I'm standing at the Deputy Registrars desk and she says, "the seller didn't sign the title". I was like, I'm totally screwed!. The lady then goes on to say, "why don't you go out to the vehicle and have the seller sign it." I said, he's not here. It took a couple back and forths like that when she more firmly said, "WHY DON'T YOU GO OUT TO THE VEHICLE AND HAVE THE SELLER SIGN THE TITLE!"
It then sunk in and I promptly went out to the vehicle and signed the sellers signature.