ILLINOIS boating registration question.

[DDM02]

I don't know if i am putting this in the right section. I hope i am and if i am not please move.

I am very interested in a boat in Wisconsin. Its a 15ft bayliner project (the price is right). The guy says he had a "title card" for the boat only. He said that in WI any boat under 15ft doesn't need a title for the trailer or the boat. Just a title card.
Is it the same thing in IL? Can i register it in IL? I tried searching online but came up empty. Thank you for your help. Just want to know if this is going to be an issue to Legally transport and use on water.

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

im pretty sure anything under 16ft u can register and do not need a title, just make sure u take the previous registration when u register in your name

 

[DDM02]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

How about the trailer? Should i call the dmv? Or can i just pull it around with no plates?

 

[1ArmBandit]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

im sure u need to register the trailer, put plates on it....not sure about titling but if its a "home-made" trailer u should be able to take the last trailer registration and the trailer itself up to the dmv and they will inspect it and give u a home made trailer title...

 

[DDM02]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

It sounds like a pain. I just searched some more and in IL the trailer HAS to be titled. Not ever sure about this "title card" thing. Im just going to move it. I want to get it in the water this summer and not worry about paperwork. Thank you so much for the reply.

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Best bet on this is to call IL DMV and ask your questions. That's who you will have to deal with when you actually file the paperwork and pay any fees, so your best bet on knowing exactly what you need is with them.

Not sure this helps, but I bought a 22' boat and trailer in Illinois and I received titles for both the boat and the trailer from the owner, so IL probably requires both to be titled, best to call the DMV.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Don't want to buy a boat or trailer in IL without a title. Not much of a chance to get it titled or registered without one. Not sure if you could insure it...

 

[roscoe]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

You definitely need titles for the boat and trailer in IL.

Boat gets titled at Secretary of state in springfield.
Boat gets registered with the DNR.
Trailer gets titled and registered with the DMV.

If you don't have the titles, you are not getting it done in IL.

Use the search function and you will find many frustrated boaters' stories.

 

[DDM02]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Yeah. IL really sucks. I was trying to call DNR all freaking day today. No wait.. Nothing. Just kept telling me to call back later because they are busy. I should have just stayed in Florida

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

How about the trailer? Should i call the dmv? Or can i just pull it around with no plates?

im certain no trailer in illinois can be towed without a plate. in fact i would put my right hand on it. the trailer registration on my boat to transfer was $68 when i transfered it same as a car title. in 04. no way can you pull a boat around this state without a plate and sticker. sticker renewals are $18 a year.

i have a watercraft title and the trailer title i have for my 17' trailer has a title just like a car title. had the same on my 16'. all trailers towed in this state HAS to have plates.


http://www.dmv.org/il-illinois/other-types-of-vehicles.php

Trailers
All trailers must be titled and registered. The yearly license plate fee for a small trailer (up to 3,000 pounds) is $18. The title and registration process is the same for car registrations.

if you get it you may be looking at another $100 for a lost title and a big headache.

 

[roscoe]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/recreation/boating/Pages/Information.aspx


All watercraft (other than sailboards) operated on the waters within the jurisdiction of this State shall be registered and titled.



"I should have just stayed in Florida "

Or you could just move 50 miles north.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

I'm in Illinois, and one of the first boats I looked at had an untitled trailer from a neighboring state. Some of the routes that people used to take to get around the lack of title (e.g., declaring the trailer "home made" even when it clearly is not) are no longer likely to work. I did read about quite a few people getting titles from Maine, which apparently has fairly lax regulations. A search on this board or Google will give you a lengthy list of discussions of Maine titling so you can decide if you want to consider that. Good luck!

 

[DDM02]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Thank you guys for all your help. I'm really starting to love this forum. It is getting very frustrating. I am a mechanic so i'm looking for something that needs some work to save a few $. I found 4 beautiful boats in Wisconsin just across the state line and its the same story with all of them. No title for the trailer. Guess i'm just going to have to look in Illinois. It sucks because WI has more of a selection and they are much cheaper. Once again thank you all for replying.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

The Lund that I have was purchased in Illinios and had a title. When I registarted it to Wisconsin I sent in the title along with the paperwork. Wisconsin does not title boats under 16' so when I received my registration all there was sent is the registration card showing my name, boat make, model, year, color and the DNR number. No new title. Trailers in Wisconsin are a different story. They are to be titled but they do not need to be plated under a certain weight/length. Which is why many Wisconsin trailers do not have titles. They were simply never filed or lost over the years because they were not required to be plated.

The trailer I use now is untitled and is fine as long as I don't leave Wisconsin or try to sell it out-of-state..

 

[moabbikr]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

I live in IL and recently bought a boat in Michigan where they don't require boats or trailers to be titled. So far getting everything done has actually been painless, the trick is having a license & Title company that actually knows what they are doing. I did all of the paperwork at the beginning of June and i already have the plates for my trailer and when i did the paperwork for the boat they told me that IL DNR is taking an unusually long time to issue boat titles, they haven't even cashed my tax check of $700.00 yet. For me the trick was applying for the title off of the last owners boat registration numbers, as long as the boat was successfully registered to the person on my bill of sale i'm told i'm good to go.. I just checked the IL DNR website and it says they are currently processing titles from the early part of May so i'm assuming i have a few weeks to go.

Also, applying for the title and showing payment buys you a 120 temporary permit..

Good luck!

 

[roscoe]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

The Lund that I have was purchased in Illinios and had a title. When I registarted it to Wisconsin I sent in the title along with the paperwork. Wisconsin does not title boats under 16' so when I received my registration all there was sent is the registration card showing my name, boat make, model, year, color and the DNR number. No new title. Trailers in Wisconsin are a different story. They are to be titled but they do not need to be plated under a certain weight/length. Which is why many Wisconsin trailers do not have titles. They were simply never filed or lost over the years because they were not required to be plated.

The trailer I use now is untitled and is fine as long as I don't leave Wisconsin or try to sell it out-of-state..

Wisconsin will title a boat under 16' long, I did it with 2 of them.

Trailers under 3000 gross do not require titles or plates, but you can do both if you wish.

And you can take your boat and trailer anywhere in the US or Canada, as you are legal in your home state. Just like your drivers license. And you can sell it anywhere in the US as well, but the buyer may have his hands full when he tries to transfer ownership in his home state.

 

[roscoe]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Thank you guys for all your help. I'm really starting to love this forum. It is getting very frustrating. I am a mechanic so i'm looking for something that needs some work to save a few $. I found 4 beautiful boats in Wisconsin just across the state line and its the same story with all of them. No title for the trailer. Guess i'm just going to have to look in Illinois. It sucks because WI has more of a selection and they are much cheaper. Once again thank you all for replying.

Keep your eye out for a boat you want, with a carpy trailer you can junk or sell.
Then pick up one of these NEW trailers. These are new, 2006 model trailers with full paperwork.
I did 2 years ago, and it looks like they still have plenty, and they are reasonably priced.

Me, and my uncle, bought the 2200# galvanized model.
I added a 34" swing-away tongue to mine, and it fits my 18'er with 18" to spare.

The 3100# model with brakes was selling for $925 2 years ago, looks like they bumped the price up a little.

http://newboattrailers.ahlstrand-marine.com/

 

[bonz_d]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Wisconsin will title a boat under 16' long, I did it with 2 of them.

Didn't get a replacement when I registered mine. Do you have to request one?

 

[roscoe]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Didn't get a replacement when I registered mine. Do you have to request one?

For boats over 16', the title fee ( $5 ), is included in the $37 registration fee.

For boats under 16', you need to pay the $5 in addition to the $22 registration fee. So I guess paying the extra $5 is kind of like asking for one.

You can probably get a hold of the people in Madison, and still get a title, as long as they still have the one you sent them.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: ILLINOIS boating registration question.

Thanks roscoe, now I'm curious and will have to find out.

Don't recall seeing that on the application though.