Good morning

I am buying a boat and I am picking up this afternoon. I have a concern and wanted to hear from you all.
First concern is that the guy who I am buying this boat does not have the title in his name. The title for the boat and motor is in the orginal owner's name. He has signed the titles but has not dated them

Second concern is that there is no title to the trailer "No title for trailer due to year model."

Is this something I need to be concerned about?

Thanks

Dusty

I would check with TPWD and also DMV BEFORE any money changes hands. You may have a hassle getting them transferred. According to records the boat and motor will show to belong to the original owner. The trailer is also a concern. It should also have a title. If it's a home made trailer, there is still a document for registering it. Personally, I would walk away from the deal with that many title issues, but you appear to be asking opinions after the fact so good luck with it.

Not the end of the world... Hopefully he has a signed and not dated title transfer form as well.

The owner of the boat now, never register the boat and has the bill of sale. The original owner signed the titles (Boat and Engine) but just didn't date them.

I just dont know about the trailer though

there is no title on trailers in texas just registration

No issues, the guy is reselling them and is avoiding paying sales tax from when he bought it from the previous owner. If the state didn�t screw people, this wouldn�t happen.

TPW are very picky. May need to check with them before money changes hands. I just went through the ringer with them and it was a btchi. Took 3 trips to get it right.

Be careful with a "floating title", most likely illegal, and buying from a "title jumper" as you have no idea how many jumpers may be involved in the title history. If for any reason, financing or registration, the titled seller's legal signature is required, you may have issues...

on the trailer go to dvm and register it as a home made trailer. I have done that twice. they will ask are there any tags on the trailer. just hold your own. no it is home made. depending on the qage of the boat the motor might not be titled. my pontoon was not, it came that way. ask him to go to the texas parks and wildlife with you. saying you paid 200$ dont work either they place the standard vaule for the model.

There is some really bad advice in this thread.

I agree. The OP should take the boat & motor, and seller to TPWD office and let them sort it out. Same with the trailer and DMV. If there are any issues, I would walk. There are too many decent deals out there to take a chance on ending up with a rig that you can not register or sell.

Only way to do it.

it is not the end of the world but if you sign your name to a tp&w doc or a trailer bill of sale that the person is trying to flip to avoid paying the taxes an registration like everybody else has to do it can turn into a nightmare. on all the forms it says that anything not true on the bills of sale can be subject to a felony an if the person your are paying the funds to does not have the titles in their name it cant be true. too many other deals out threr to get tangled up in a headache.

Run away as fast as you can .way too much trouble.
Johnny