About to buy a boat from someone who has the physical paper title, but never did the transfer and hasn't registered since it expired in 2020.

He claims he can get a signature on transfer and title from the guy he bought it from.

Assuming he gets that done, will it be easy enough for me to register the boat in my name and likely skip his registration altogether?

Thanks, new to the title requirements for Texas.

It's probably okay to do. They call that "skipping" the title. I would be skeptical though. People who have boats without a title will do/say anything to convert them to cash. They need someone to be willing to take a chance or someone that doesn't know what they are getting into.

Yeah, that's what I was wondering. He has the actual paper title in the previous owners name. I searched TPWD and it lists the Asset Status as "active".

I also searched marinetitle.com and it doesn't come back as stolen.

What else can I do to make sure I don't get screwed here.

I had to do this with my last boat, except I was the one who had to hunt the other guy down. Luckily it all turned out fine. If he can get everything signed by the other guy it shouldn't be a problem.

It's been years since I've bought one from an individual but i think they may require you to have a bill of sale from the currently titled owner stating the date of the sale and who it was sold to on it.

Not sure on boats but on autos in Texas i think there is like a $25 a month penalty for each month it isn't transferred after 30 days from the signed date on title. Is the title already dated from the last sale ?



Edit


Found calculator online
Doesn't look like the penalty is as bad as autos if the title is already dated but they may get you on the trailer side if the trailer has a signed title.

https://tpwd.texas.gov/form/boat-tax-calculator/



If I was you I would call or stop by your local TPWD office and ask them any questions you have before proceeding with the purchase.

I would recommend doing the transfer at the parks and wildlife office. Don't pay him until the staff says everything is good to go.
I swear the staff pulls made up regulations out of their backside just to hassle folks.
A boat without clear title is worthless unless you plan on using it on private water.

hopeandrealchange said:

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I would recommend doing the transfer at the parks and wildlife office. Don't pay him until the staff says everything is good to go.
I swear the staff pulls made up regulations out of their backside just to hassle folks.
A boat without clear title is worthless unless you plan on using it on private water.

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This.

It may not be a problem but just laziness on his part. I have a cousin that owned a pair of jet skis like this and never titled them. When he finally sold them he just gave the signed titles to the buyer. Same cousin never gets inspection/Liscense on his pickup.

You are spot on. Be patient and hopefully it will go smoothly but you never know with TPW

The previous owner should "sell it to you". He needs to sign bill of sale, title, and form pwd 143.

No trailer involved?

Motors are supposed to be titled but I've never messed with it on any of mine and its never created an issue.

If you can't get the previous owner on board then tell the seller you'll be glad to buy it once it's in his name.

Someone that is too lazy to get a boat title taken care is likely to not have taken care of other maintenance with the boat.

Thanks for all the input.

Waiting on trailer information.

I should have stated this is on a 16 ft Jon boat with trailer. Primary use will not in private , but I want everything to be good if I want to take it anywhere else.

Cost in this is under $1,500 so it's not like it would be a huge loss if something didn't work out and we could only operate on our pond.

If hes got legit the paper doc, Id buy it and ask him to sign the other guys name. He started the mess, ask him to finish it.

You can have hell at the Parks and Wildlife Office. I had a buddy tell me he got into a situation like this and it took him three separate trips to get everything finalized. I bought a boat from a buddy and requested he come with me to the office to be sure we got it done in one trip. Employee there started out nice enough and then flipped a switch. She tried everything she could to not finalize the title transfer. I know you can probably get it done, but it will be trouble. I'd run as fast as I could and find another boat with current title.

People don't complete the transfer of titles because they don't want to pay the sales tax or are lazy and irresponsible. If the guy who sold it to him dated the title then somebody is going to have to pay the late penalty and the sales tax.
If the original owner signs it over direct to you as though he just sold it then you will have to pay the sales tax.
TPWD staff hear 1000 excuses a day as to why titles are not transferred and they know it's usually to avoid paying tax so they don't have much tolerance.
It's simple..... get the guy who is now selling it to you to get a good clean title and then sell it to you like it is supposed to be done.... As said above it's his mess and negligence.

ag_pete09 said:

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Thanks for all the input.

Waiting on trailer information.

I should have stated this is on a 16 ft Jon boat with trailer. Primary use will not in private , but I want everything to be good if I want to take it anywhere else.

Cost in this is under $1,500 so it's not like it would be a huge loss if something didn't work out and we could only operate on our pond.

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If you don't want to go through the hassle, my son wants to move up to a center console and has a 14' jon boat he wants to sell. It has seats, a rear folding battery operated light and a Nissan 2.5hp . It is licensed. He wanted to start at $475

Dang, sounds like a nice rig and price.

We ended up buying and working through things now.

If it was me I wouldnt touch it until the name of the person on the title has singed it over to you.

Edit,
Just saw that its a cheap jon boat. I say send it!