I called the 800 number in my local phone book for boat registration, the lady said if the boat has Tx number or VIN number, you can run it to see who tiled/registered it before. if no numbers or ID info is available, you can apply for a VIN number. just tell them that you have had if for like 6mos or more, otherwise whoever you got if from will have to title it and then transfer it to you.

my boat has tx numbers on it, but where do i run those numbers?

It is called a google search

https://apps.tpwd.state.tx.us/tora/jump.jsf

i tried google and didnt come up with anything....glad u are the google king and found it for me! thanks

okay so what if I have a boat and t doesn't have a serial number anywere now any TX numbers what do I do then

If there are no hull ID numbers then you will need your bill of sale. You will have to fill out an affidavit as to how you came about the boat. Tell the truth as it is a felony to file that affidavit with known false information. You will have to poay a $25 inspection fee and $100 or so for the registration and stickers. You will also pay taxes on the sale price or a blue book price.

Look all over that boat front to back and up underneath anything that could hide a number. If they find a number and it has been involved in something then your involved. Knowing you are trying to obtain the boat and a legal title your probably not going to get in trouble. But just being in that situation can't be any fun.

I have read a little about bonded titles but I am not completely up to date a TPWD rules and regs. I just know I would rather a swift kick in the nads before I try to register a boat without the correct paperwork. The first thing I check for when looking at a boat is "Clear title in hand". Makes it so much simpler. Tere are way too many boats out there that people are willing to almost give away, why waste the time and energy trying to get past TPWD.

I was reading this thread yesterday and I can't for the life of me remember typing the post I have in Quotes. I read it and the way I typed, it seems like rude behavior. So publicly BrandonA I apologise if I offended you when you read it. I know it was a long time ago but I it still aint right the way I typed that.

good info. bump to find again

In reading this it does suck that it is so painful to get a clear papers on a boat. However, at least you know once you've made an investment in a rig, if it is ever stolen it is H3!! on Earth getting the paper work on the boat.

yep. I see all the used boats on craigs list that say lost title or similiar words. After reading this I think I'll pass on anyone that doesn't have clear titles in hand.

I would rather have teeth pulled than go through the whole boat title/motor title process. Its a pain in the A&*!

There is also a form that is called Request to Skip Titling Requirement of Previous Owners (PWD 1238).

When I bought my boat, the man I got it from had the titles, but he had never transferred them into his name. So he gave them to me, with the original owners name on the title, and his was not there. I called him to chew him out, and then try to meet him and have him sign them, and he informed me that he moved to Louisiana.

So I looked up the man on the Titles, and found his phone number and some information. I also found out that he died in 2001. So I took all this information over to TPWD, and they gave me the form I mentioned above. I filled it out, and they faxed it over to the Headquarters in Austin for approval. About 2 hours later, they called me and told me that it was approved, and my titles were being processed. I went over there and paid the fees, and got my registration sticker and hit the lake the next morning.

Duckaholic,
I ran into this issue a few years ago with a small boat...shoot me a PM and I'll tell you how I quickly (and legally) resolved it.

hpd,
Duckaholic made this post over 1 1/2 years ago. Someone just came along and bumped it to the top for some reason.

Thanks, sniper.

He probably killed himself after futile attempts to get his $200 boat titled

SniperJohn, that was me. I didn't want to lose the info but had no idea the replies it would create. I'm looking for an inexpensive jon boat to use on a gator hunt with my boys and all the craigslist adds with no titles got me worried about buying one.

X2, I had been emailing someone with one with no title, It was inexpensive but doesn't seen worth it now.

Duckaholic.....call me....I've got the answer to your question...I had a 16 ft that I had to title and I've been through any and everything that you could possibly encounter.....

Cameron
972-533-6060
Cam_wildlife3@yahoo.com