Titling a boat with lost title

[Ryan0186]

Anyone know any tricks to getting a john boat with a lost title in South Carolina titled again? My unlce bought a boat about 10 years ago, previous owner said title was lost. Recently we did a reverse title seach with the Hull id number at DNR but were unable to track down the registered owner as his number and address have since changed. The boat has not been registered in almost 10 years. Anyone know any secret ways to get this thing registered so I can get a title. Thanks

 

[Robbabob]

Not sure about SC,,, In TN you just give them an explanation and bill of sale. They check the HIN and provide you with a clean title. It happens a lot, apparently.

 

[southkogs]

Check with your DNR, they'll have the best answer. You might be stuck looking at a salvage title.

 

[Ryan0186]

DNR is never cooeprative down here. Everytime I go in there they try their hardest for me to not give them money...You'd think the local govt would have a good solution to the issue and their hands out waiting for tax revenue.. They obviously have not collected taxes on it for over a decade. Seems weird that they would rather see the boat sit and rot than to have someome pay taxes on it annually. Time to so some thinking and reseach. I like the idea of getting a TN title though. Maybe I have some friends in TN that can hook me up.

 

[Texasmark]

Same here. Check with the local tax assessor/collector (elected official) office. Since they do the issuing, they know the requirements.

Mark

 

[thumpar]

Every state is different. Some don't even title boats. Check with whoever you register boats with as to what you need to do. Here in WA we file for lost title and wait 3 years for a title if it never gets reported stolen. They still let you register it though.

 

[southkogs]

... I like the idea of getting a TN title though. Maybe I have some friends in TN that can hook me up.

We don't title boats here in TN, which will add a little twist. Make sure your friends here in TN check out things with the county clerk. They may need something to establish the ownership as there is no bill of sale from the last registered owner. Some counties will be easier than others.

From there, they'll have to have a document (forget what we call it) issued to act as a title for other states.

 

[ssportsmfg]

Go to the DMV and apply for a lost title, they will let you know if you can get it or not, just that simple. They will check whatever it is that they check, If the boat comes up as stolen you will probably get a visit, if not then most likely they will issue a new title. As another poster said, take your BOS with you.

 

[ihearth2o]

Around here we only need to register motorized boats. For non-motorized (includes electric trolling motors), we just need to get a "water sticker". I've seen jon boats with them. If you've got something similar in your area, and you can get by with a trolling motor, might be another option, at least until you figure out how to title it.

 

[redneck joe]

DNR is never cooeprative down here. Everytime I go in there they try their hardest for me to not give them money...You'd think the local govt would have a good solution to the issue and their hands out waiting for tax revenue.. They obviously have not collected taxes on it for over a decade. Seems weird that they would rather see the boat sit and rot than to have someome pay taxes on it annually. Time to so some thinking and reseach. I like the idea of getting a TN title though. Maybe I have some friends in TN that can hook me up.

'sell' to me, and i'll 'sell' back to you. Couple stamps and a few weeks.

 

[smokeonthewater]

keep in mind that titling out of state and then back (washing the title) MAY be a criminal offense... do your homework first:

You aren't the first and won't be the last but it amazes me that people constantly ask this question only AFTER plopping down their money...... In the future you will know better..... ANOTHER option would be to do some searching for the registered owner.... Google is pretty darn powerful and even if you only reach a relative and tell them you would happily pay the guy $100 to sign a couple of affidavit forms allowing you to apply for the lost title in his name and then transfer it to yourself you might have a win.


Below is the info from NC on the correct process..... unfortunately you are already in violation by even buying it in the first place.... At this point if you can't locate the LEGAL owner you will have to choose to lie and say you found it or try to cheat the system by going through another state.....



16) Watercraft/Outboard Motor - Found/Abandoned

To title or register a watercraft or outboard motor that has been found, abandoned or where proper paperwork cannot be obtained to issue a clear title then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor.

1. S.C. Law prohibits the sale or purchase of watercraft or outboard motor without a valid title issued in the seller's name to assign over to the purchaser at the time of sale. If you purchase a watercraft and/or an outboard motor without a title then you will need to obtain the proper chain of paperwork from previous owner(s), along with the fees and then you will need to complete an Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor.
2. Affidavit In Support for Application for Title for Watercraft/Outboard Motor can be obtained by calling Boat Titling and Registration at 803-734-3857 for information and a form.

 

[milehighjc]

With some states having different laws, this seems like it could become very complicated quickly. Like TN, CO does not title boats, but they do title the trailer. To register the boat, you either need to have a previous valid registration in your name, or a bill of sale saying the boat is yours. Surely there is some process to title a boat purchased from another state that does not title boats - perhaps that is just the BOS.

I dont expect to deal with it any time soon, but should I ever sell my current crownie to somone outside Colorado, I could believe things could be complicated...

 

[slowleak]

Like mentioned above, every state is different, here in NJ, they wouldn't accept an expired PA registration as proof of ownership even with a notarized bill of sale.
The boat had been unregistered for 20 years and still owned by the original owner. The PA registration had an ownership transfer section on the back. NJ wanted the original PA owner to supply a current registration, PA wanted that owner to pay up all the previous years registration to get a current reg. card. It took 3 months and a court order to get it registered and titled in NJ. The seller hadn't touched the boat in decades, they only sold it to get it out of the yard. The amount to pay up the registration fees was more than the boat was worth.

In NJ, they have a procedure but it opens you up to just about anyone laying claim to the boat in question. You basically have to post a letter of intent in the local newspaper announcing that you have a boat with no proof of ownership and that if anyone cares to lay claim to it, they must do so immediately.

I've been trying to register a boat which I myself bought brand new back in 1978, prior to all the current laws, the boat sat unused in the garage for 35 years, now they won't let me register it because I don't have sufficient proof of ownership, which means either a certificate of origin or current registration for that size boat.
When I bought the boat, all I got with it was a cash register receipt from the sporting goods store where I bought it.
So now it sits in the back yard upside down useless because all the ads and fees needed to file for proof of ownership here far exceed the value of the boat.