Dear Lord! In Tennessee all you had to have was a bill of sale and the registration card.

I understand that forms PWD143 & PWD144 have to be completed.

Do I also need a Bill of Sale? If so ... does it need to be notarized?

Do I need a bill of sale or other paperwork for the trailer beside the title?

Anything else I need to know?

I'm making a purchase that is 4 hours from me and I do NOT want to have to go back there and hunt the seller down later for paperwork.

Already asked and he does have all 3 titles.

THANKS !

It never hurts to have a bill of sale but it is not required for the boat and motor I don’t believe.

The trailer is done at your local tax accessory office and a signed title is all you need there too I’m pretty sure.

I would still have a bill of sale generated and signed by both parties just for my records though.

You will have to pay taxes on the equipment; so a Bill of Sale will solve that problem. Just make sure titles are signed properly on the front and back. Make sure the dated titles match the date on bill of sale. That one issue can get sticky if you get the wrong person in the office.

TPWD has online instructions step by step and PDF forms to print off and fill out.

TPWD has online instructions step by step and PDF forms to print off and fill out.

I just went through the same thing with a champion I bought in Tennessee. You will need a copy of the bill of sale, the original proof of ownership(registration card)- this can not be a copy of it, pwd143, pwd144, pwd504 for the boat, and a pad 504 for the motor. I am in Fort Worth so my office is closed so I had to call Austin and have them figure up the taxes and fees for my check.

On the trailer go up to the county tax office. Look up the form you need I don’t know it off the top of my head. It is the same form you need to register your trailer normally. They will ask if you for proof of registration for the previous owner. You don’t have to register trailers there so just tell them it was not registered and you will be good. Let me know if you have any questions.

I went to the office in Garland and just had the girl highlight what lines I needed to complete and what lines the seller needed to complete. This way there were no questions when I went into the office with my completed paperwork. She said she wished everyone done it the way I had. For the trailer you need the title or the receipt from the last time the trailer was registered.

I’ve bought a boat, motor and trailer from TN. It wasn’t easy with the trailer but after 4 trips I got it done. TN doesn’t even require license plate. Lol.

In Texas today, you need Forms 143 and 144 AND a Bill of Sale. All are available on TP&W's web site. When I bought my boat in Tennessee, it was a simple job to get it registered in Texas. One trip to a TP&W office and they took care of it all except the trailer. You have to surrender the out of state title, and pay the taxes due. So, just be sure and take your check book.

Yes, don't forget your checkbook. I drove all the way to Garland office (about an hour for me) with title in hand but forgot checkbook and they don't take credit cards. Can't remember if they do/don't take cash.

What was the problem with the trailer? More than one trip isn't appealing to me since I have to go 4 hours to get any more paperwork.

Had issues with trailer as well, I bought it from a man in Louisiana. Texas required an official weight ticket on the trailer itself. Had to dump the boat at the lake, take the trailer to a scrap yard to get weighed and get an official weight ticket. Was the most ridiculous process. Spent 2-3 trips and a phone call to Austin trying to figure out why this was even necessary. Be curious to know if anyone else had even heard of that.

I've had to do the weight slip before and will have to do it for my latest boat purchase

Some manufacturers include trailer weight on the official serial number label on the trailer. Will they not accept that? (Where the manufacturer, year model, serial # and empty weight are both clearly declared.)

I've had to do the weight slip before and will have to do it for my latest boat purchase[/quote]
Some manufacturers include trailer weight on the official serial number label on the trailer. Will they not accept that? (Where the manufacturer, year model, serial # and empty weight are both clearly declared.)[/quote]



Yes. Some require you to bring the trailer to their parking lot so they can see the label, but most will accept a picture clearly showing the serial number and weight.