Help with boat/motor title transfer

Hey guys. My Uncle has given me an old fishing boat and outboard motor that I need to transfer into my name and get it registered. I have the titles for both, with his signature front and back, and have downloaded forms (PWD)143 and (PWD)144. Do I also need a bill of sale for these from him? The TPWD seems to say it is part of these forms, but it's a bit confusing. Also do I need a special affidavit for them being a gift as well?

Also when I go to the DMV for the trailer registration I'm I reading it right that there is no title required because it is less than 4,000 lbs. rated?

Best thing to do is have him sign a bill of sale for a dollar. Correct on the trailer.

I would get a bill of sale. You can have him sign it for a dollar but they will tax the value of the boat, not what you paid for it. ON the trailer, I believe any trailer is required to be titled. Trailers rated for less that 4K lbs do not have to be inspected.

Gonna disagree here. The transfer fee for a gift is almost always going to be less than the sales tax on fair market value. Here's why:



http://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdforms/media/pwd_143_a0900_vessel_boat_application.pdf

Davy, it wouldn't hurt to fill out a Texas Affidavit of Motor Vehicle Gift Transfer - form 14-317 as proof that the transfer is a bona fide gift.

Well that's one thing that was confusing me. Especially when I read this from TPWD:

Q:What is acceptable as a bill of sale when purchasing a boat or outboard motor?
]A:Bill of Sale or Invoice - is required for every transfer of ownership.
One of the following is acceptable to meet the bill of sale or invoice requirement:

(1)Form PWD 143/144 application - tax affidavit must be completed and signed by the seller,

Or
(2)Handwritten Receipt or Sales Invoice - must contain date of sale, sales price (DO NOT include
sales price of trailer), description of vessel and/or outboard motor (make, TX or serial number and
year built), purchaser(s) name, and seller(s) signature,
OR
(3)Back of original brown Texas title – seller must sign and list purchasers name and address, sales
price (DO NOT include sales price of trailer), and date of sale. If the sale includes more than one
asset (for example, a boat and an outboard motor) the sales price of each asset should be listed
separately on the back of each respective title.

Thanks Uncle Zeek. I've been looking for that gift form.

When I compute the tax using their chart I come up with no tax when claiming a gift.
And there's this:
Exemption List 3
Exemption from Boat Sales Tax/New Resident Tax (Tax Code 160.024-6.25%)

Government Entity such as State, Federal, Political Subdivisions, volunteer fire department, or emergency services.

Acquired as Gift

I was at parks and wildlife office a couple of months ago doing the same thing. The lady told me I needed one or the other, both is a plus but either will work. They will run the numbers on the motor and the boat anyway.

LOL..... They will recieve one, but not the other!
Thanks.

Why not just have your uncle go to TPWD with you?

Well, he's 86 and lives about 1-1/2 hours from here. Just trying to do it the easiest way for both of us. I don't think it will be a problem. Just wanted to get my ducks in a row before I went there.

For the trailer have a bill of sale from him and fill out form 130 u, which is a transfer of registration form. not sure about the amount from a gift. for the boat and motor you will need the signed titles if from tx or may have signed registration from other states. you will need a bill of sale that lists both the boat and motor with id or SN #'s and price for each and you names. this can be super simple as

sold to:
serial # of boat:
serial # of motor #:
date:
price of boat:
price of motor:
seller signature:

tpwd will literally give you a blank bill of sale with this exact info on it. We had a very nicely done bill of sale with all the info our addresses and everything, it was not what they wanted because they(tpwd) said it looked like I was only buying the boat, and not the motor and trailer, just because how we had the order of the items listed. He gave me this form, super simple and to the point bill of sale and I had to send it to the seller and have him sign. all was good. They want both boat and motor listed and price for each. tpwd doesn't care about value of the trailer.

Thanks . good info. I'm gonna see him over Memorial Day weekend. I'll get everything squared away then.

Great info.