Safety First

Navigating Titles & Registration

How to obtain boat and trailer titles for state registration.

HELEN AITKEN is a boating writer, photographer and former science educator from eastern North Carolina. She loves classic wooden boats, is an America’s Boating Club member and plays in the Intracoastal Waterway. Before heading out on the water, make sure you are legal — register your vessel and trailer with the appropriate Great Lakes state agencies. Whether you own a powerboat, PWC or even vessels without motors, proof of ownership is required for registration in every state; however, the process and requirements differ. Ownership is generally determined by either a title or an insurance document. Using the Take

Me Fishing website (TAKEMEFISHING.ORG/REGISTERA-BOAT), type in the state you boat in to find the requirements and how to register online.

What is a title?

A vessel’s title provides legal proof of ownership. It may be obtained from a bill of sale or a notarized statement transferring the vessel to a new owner. The transference may come from a swap/trade, payment of debt, as a gift or as a payment of service.

The title guarantees rightful ownership, especially if there’s a hidden lien from a previous owner. To ensure protection, you can do a title search through the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to get that information for as little as $7. Likewise, when a vessel is scrapped, junked or destroyed, the title/registration’s state DNR must be notified shortly thereafter and surrender the title. If a boat is retrieved and repaired by someone unscrupulous, it may be traced; a savvy buyer should take note of a vessel without a title.

A vessel may be in your possession but you may not own it. For instance, a lender or bank may own the title while you make payments. Once the vessel is paid for in full, the title is transferred to the owner.

Vessel warranty A warranty is a promise that the title is clear with no claims (like a loan or lien) so the buyer is protected, but the seller is liable. However, if the sale is made without a warranty, the buyer takes responsibility if a claim arises after the sale. To avoid problems getting a title and registration, handle the sale legally with a bill of sale transferring ownership and a warranty on the boat.

Missing title? Perhaps the title is lost or nonexistent for older boats. For example, in Wisconsin, boats built before 1988 didn’t get a title on the purchase date, while in New York, it was before 1987. An attorney may need to do research and prepare a bill of sale for the title application.

A title application includes proof of ownership, the seller’s information, and vessel data for the state agency handling boat registrations. Expect a title fee or a replacement title fee. The trailer might need a title as well.

Registration requirements and numbers Vessels over a specific length are registered with the state in which they reside; additional state laws and regulations now apply. The registration fee, or “contribution,” varies by state, with the funds being used for projects like maintaining clean waterways. Additionally, if you boat in another state for part of the year, it may also require a registration. Registration renewals also differ; for example, Indiana has yearly renewals, while Pennsylvania’s registration lasts for two years.

Once a vessel is registered, a number is provided and a sticker is issued. Purchase large registration stickers online and display them as designated on both sides of the hull beside the official registration sticker. The small sticker gets replaced when it’s renewed, similar to registration on a vehicle’s license plate. The registration paperwork should remain onboard while the vessel is occupied. Taking a photograph with your cell phone may qualify, but check with your state to confirm.

What about trailers? Each state is different, but first, the towing vehicle must have a title. A used trailer needs the seller’s information on the back of a notarized title, but the dealer handles it if it’s new. Contact your state’s DNR or SOS for clarification. For example, Pennsylvania’s DMV requires that trailer owners have a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), current Pennsylvania driver’s license and license plate, insurance and safety inspection sticker, and that fees have been paid for the title and registration. If the VIN is missing, illegible or doesn’t match the owner’s paperwork, an application for a replacement is in order — contact the Department of Transportation. Like vessel registration renewals, begin trailer registration renewals about 60 days in advance. ★