i just bought a 14 foot Jon boat and I�m just curious if I need the title to the motor in myname? I have bills of sale for the motor but the title is not in the name of the guy that I bought it from, it is in the guys name that sold it to the guy that sold it to me. With this being said it is going to be a hassle getting the title from one guy to the next to me eventually. I�m just curious, in what scenario will I need the title to be in my name? I can prove that it�s not stolen with the bills of sale I have. The motor doesn�t need to be registered with the state or inspected at all, so the state won�t keven really know if I have a motor on it period. And when game wardens stop you on the water, they don�t ask for the title to the outboard do they? Again, is there any scenario where I will need the title to the motor in my name? Unlike the boat and trailer which need to be registered with the state.. thanks for the help guys!

Go to Texas Parks and Wildlife type in motor title in the search engine. I found it but do not know how to move it here.

reasons for:

lotsa guys will not buy a motor without a title in your name if ya wanna sale it..
proof of ownership..
finance/loan against it..
insurance..

almost forgot.. in case of an accident of some sort where water cops get involved....

I have never cared about a title tha way I've used, bought and sold for my own personal use.. as for as any LE's/game warden types, i have never, and don't know of anyone that has, been checked/ask for proof of ownership/title for any motor (and that's probably a coupla hundred since I've been doin' this.. for years I changed motors like changin' socks) at any time other than when insurance and/or finance is involved...

now if you want tha title you will need to track down tha guy whose name is on tha title to complete any paper work so a title can be issued to you.. you may also be required to get tha "inbetween" folks involved also..

so its your call and gl with it...��.

Thanks man!

I have been asked for my owner card every time I've been checked. By LAW it is supposed to be titled in your name and the seller is required by LAW to sign the title in his/her name over too you. Then you are required to pay sales tax on it when you register it, this goes for the hull, and the motor. Now as far as all that goes, idk what you do with it and I fully understand a man not wanting to go to that trouble and/or give uncle sam anymore money. You could very well never have an issue, but that is the "why should i". It is totally up to you what you do, but you did ask

wow, i've never been asked. you must really be shady looking. lol. JK.

Yes sir, injust look guilty

I thought you couldn�t even get a registration sticker from TP&W if you didn�t have a title for the boat and motor. They always ask for that when you transfer it in your name and they give you the registration card. It has been a while since I purchased a different boat though.

You are correct, you cant register it without a tittle.

tha "BOAT" can't be issued tha TX numbers without title.. motor has absolutely nothing ta do with those numbers.. this is in Texas, don't are know or care 'bout tha rest.. before I got outta tha boat stuff I registered a whole bunch a boats.. motor isn't ever mentioned in any shape form or fashion.. in state purchase, outta state purchase, with/without motors made no difference as long as tha BOAT ONLY was titled.. where are you referring to that requires a motor title to acquire TX numbers for tha boat?


justa note.. over tha years I've been stopped, checked by game wardens way more than tha normal boater type because i ventured inta real "stem winder, loud, obnoxious, very fast hot rod mercs" for a number of years.. would get checked at tha ramp, on tha water, jus settin' ina parkin' lot and never, ever been ask for anything 'bout motor.. jus boat registration...�����.

Effective January 1, 1994, all motorboats and all outboard motors must be titled. Also sailboats 14 feet and over in length must be titled.

All motorized boats, regardless of length;
All sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or any sailboat with an auxiliary engine(s); and
All internal combustion (gasoline/diesel/propane powered) outboard motors must be titled.
Boat trailers are handled through your local County Tax office.

Even electric-powered boats(canoes, kayaks, bass busters and jon boats) are supposed to be titled and registered, if used on public waters. I've never heard anything about electric boat motors being required to be titled. That would be a humongous headache for boaters and TPWD. I inquired of my Texas State Representative why battery-powered vessels have to be titled. They got back to me(hard to believe), and they said the Feds require it, and they get oodles of money from the Guv'mnt(extortion!). But some states ignore that, and don't require titles for battery-powered vessels. I get the message that it's a revenue source for TPWD that they don't want to lose.

My antique aluminum skiff(circa 1959) gets lots of attention from the Game Wardens, but they have never asked about my late-model (1961) Johnson outboard. Boat is titled, not the motor. They are zeroed in on why I don't have an ugly registration sticker. I have educated several about there being no requirement for antiques to display their ugly sticker. I have to carry it on the boat, though. No prob. IslandJim

to add to that; pre 94 outboards were sold without a title from the manufacturer, but it does have to be titled from the tpw to be sold. it can be sold as a parts engine without titling

no one said they don't have ta be titled.. its was said that it has ta be titled to receive TX numbers for tha BOAT which is not true.. i'll say it again that tha MOTOR title has nothin' ta do with tha BOAT title and/or TX numbers.. it was also said tha they have been checked by water cops for title of motor which I have very serious doubts about... has anyone on here EVER been ask for motor title proof while at tha lake or ramp???

I have always bought used tiller motors and nothing newer than 1994. None of the tiller motors that have I bought or looked at had a title. Not sure about the old Johnson I had on my first boat but every motor since that had remote steering has had a title. When on the water the only thing that I have ever been asked for is the registration. I have been checked 5-10 times and only once did they not ask for the registration card. I think having to show it is pretty silly if the bow sticker is current.