Help with Titles and Registration (NJ)

[basstender10.6]

Hello fellow boaters,
I am in the process of purchasing a used laser sailboat with a trailer. They owner has the "Manufacturer's Statement of Orign" for the boat and "Certificate of Origin for a Vehicle" for the trailer. Should I assume that these are the titles for the boat and trailer? And does anyone how I would transfer a title in New Jersey?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Hello fellow boaters,
I am in the process of purchasing a used laser sailboat with a trailer. They owner has the "Manufacturer's Statement of Orign" for the boat and "Certificate of Origin for a Vehicle" for the trailer. Should I assume that these are the titles for the boat and trailer? And does anyone how I would transfer a title in New Jersey?

There two items are what a dealer recieves for Brand Spanking New boats and trailers direct from the Manufacturers and have Never been titled or registered.

If these are for a USED boat and trailer, RED FLAGS!
If there is any sign that the boat has ever had a bow number on it. RUN!! Then Call the Police!

 

[basstender10.6]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

There two items are what a dealer recieves for Brand Spanking New boats and trailers direct from the Manufacturers and have Never been titled or registered.

If these are for a USED boat and trailer, RED FLAGS!
If there is any sign that the boat has ever had a bow number on it. RUN!! Then Call the Police!

I am purchasing this boat from a guy on craigslist, not a dealer, should I still be concerned?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

I am purchasing this boat from a guy on craigslist, not a dealer, should I still be concerned?

I would be very cautious.

I just looked up the Laser sailboat, I didn't realise that it was under 14 feet, so it may not need to be titled in your state.
If the trailer has been used on the road it would need to have been registered.
If the boat has never been trailered that may have been possible.

Again Caution is in order with anything Craigslist.
Listen to his story and make sure you are comfortable with the reason that he has never titled or registered them.
It may be an OK deal, but it is a bit suspicious.

 

[basstender10.6]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

I would be very cautious.

I just looked up the Laser sailboat, I didn't realise that it was under 14 feet, so it may not need to be titled in your state.
If the trailer has been used on the road it would need to have been registered.
If the boat has never been trailered that may have been possible.

Again Caution is in order with anything Craigslist.
Listen to his story and make sure you are comfortable with the reason that he has never titled or registered them.
It may be an OK deal, but it is a bit suspicious.

The boat has not been trailered in a few years, so that could be why.. But any boat over 12ft in New jersey must be titled.

 

[Congreve502]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Hello fellow boaters

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

If a trailer ever sees the road it needs registration, to get registration requires title. Same with the boat. You haven't said how old this setup is. I consider craigslist one of the least safe ways to buy used boats. There are upstanding sellers there but the scammers out weight them.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

The boat has not been trailered in a few years, so that could be why.. But any boat over 12ft in New jersey must be titled.

I will assume you are in New Jersey.
Click on "My Profile"at the top of this page and enter your "Location." It will help people help you.

The Laser is 13',10.5" so it should have been titled.
If the Trailer or boat was EVER used and registered, he should have Regular Titles.
He would no longer have the Cert. of Origins.

The Red Flag is that the words USED and Cert. of Origins do not belong in the same sentence.
This smells like a scam or someone trying to sell a stolen boat with Fake Certificate of Origins.

There may be a valid reason for this, But I would be very skeptical.
If it a deal too good to be true, it likely is!
Look very closely at the Hull ID Number on the transom, If it does not match the paperwork, or does not look like it was molded in when the Hull was laid up, BAD!

If he just want to give you the boat and paperwork in a parking lot and drive away with your money, I would not do it.

If you are intent on buying it, In order to cover your behind, go with him to your local title bureau/office.
Submit the paperwork with both of you present.
Once the state Accepts the the paperwork and agrees to issue You a Title; Now you can hand over the money. NOT Before!

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear.
If you are trying to convince me to tell you that this is an everyday way of doing business, then I am sorry, I just can't do that in good conscience.

 

[basstender10.6]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

I will assume you are in New Jersey.
Click on "My Profile"at the top of this page and enter your "Location." It will help people help you.

The Laser is 13',10.5" so it should have been titled.
If the Trailer or boat was EVER used and registered, he should have Regular Titles.
He would no longer have the Cert. of Origins.

The Red Flag is that the words USED and Cert. of Origins do not belong in the same sentence.
This smells like a scam or someone trying to sell a stolen boat with Fake Certificate of Origins.

There may be a valid reason for this, But I would be very skeptical.
If it a deal too good to be true, it likely is!
Look very closely at the Hull ID Number on the transom, If it does not match the paperwork, or does not look like it was molded in when the Hull was laid up, BAD!

If he just want to give you the boat and paperwork in a parking lot and drive away with your money, I would not do it.

If you are intent on buying it, In order to cover your behind, go with him to your local title bureau/office.
Submit the paperwork with both of you present.
Once the state Accepts the the paperwork and agrees to issue You a Title; Now you can hand over the money. NOT Before!

Sorry if this is not what you want to hear.
If you are trying to convince me to tell you that this is an everyday way of doing business, then I am sorry, I just can't do that in good conscience.

Thanks so much for the help, I have gotten this straightened out. This is not one of those "meet up in a packing lot" kind of deals. The guy found all of the proper paper work that he had stored away.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

... The guy found all of the proper paper work that he had stored away.

So he found the Certs. of Origin that he should NOT have,
but not the Titles that he should! :facepalm:

... BUYER BEWARE .... You must surrender the Cert. of Origin to the state to obtain a Title / Registration. It's almost unheard of for a private person to have a cert. of origin.... I would insist we both go to the state TOGETHER and have the paperwork completed.

+++ 3 or more!

There is only so much we can do to help you.
You have been warned.
Please go Together to the Title Office.
Hold your money until they accept the paperwork.

And be sure to let us know the outcome.

 

[basstender10.6]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

I have told him that if he does not find the correct titles, then he should go to DMV and pay the $60 per item (boat and trailer) and then I will buy the boat. I really do not need the hassle of trying to prove to the state that I own the boat if I buy it.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Let me just chime in on Certificates of Origin for boats. This may not apply to a trailer. I worked in the USCG Office of Boating Safety and dealt with this issue on almost a daily basis. Many states now require titling. To get a title for a new boat the manufacturer is required to provide a Certificate of Origin COO ( in other states it can be called, Manufacturers Statement of Origin. MSO) This document is used by the person doing the very first registration of the boat to obtain a title. If the dealer is doing the registration for you then the buyer never sees the COO. However if you bought factory direct, or the boat is going to be registered by the buyer, then the buyer gets the COO. This is then given to the state who issues the title. Unlike cars, this is commonly done with boats. Frequently people buy factory direct or from some local builder who does not have a dealer network. In a state that does not register certain types of boats, the bill of sale and the COO will both be kept by the buyer. Many states do not register sail boats, and some states do not register small utility type trailers.

So this may be legit. But it is always best to be careful. I recently bought a boat off Ebay (please God. forgive me for this!) But i was very careful. The person selling was local, and I checked them out, check the boats registration numbers, took delivery (he delivered it) and looked at all the paper work before I handed over a dime.

But having the guy go with you to register the boat is a great idea. I wish I had thought of that.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

... But having the guy go with you to register the boat is a great idea. I wish I had thought of that.

It is also a great idea if you are buying a car or anything else that is Titled!
It protects both the Buyer and the Seller.
It assures that the Buyer does not get ripped off in the deal.
And it assures the Seller that the liability has passed to the Buyer.

Consider this ugly....
The Seller just signs the Title and gives it to the Buyer and collects the money.
The Seller believes he no longer owns the vehicle and cancels his insurance.
The Buyer never transfers the Title or Registration.

A month later, the Buyer, who doesn't have a license or insurance, flees from the police,
Runs over a pedestrian, and crashes into a store front.

The Buyer is arrested, the cars remains are impounded, and a Title/Registration search shows the Seller as the owner.
Posession is NOT 9/10th of the law. Your name on the Title is 100% of the law!
The Seller/Owner, with his now non-existant insurance, is the primary on the damages.
He is also guilty of allowing his Non-Insured vehicle to be operated on the public roads!
Many very sleepless nights follow!

Don't be this guy! You WANT to go with the Buyer to make sure the Title is transfered and out of your name.

 

[Ike-110722]

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Re: Help with Titles and Registration

Thanks for the tip.

I guess that's why I have always purchased cars from a dealer.