It's irrelevant if it makes sense or not. It's the law. TPWD told me they were going to fine the guy that sold it to me $500 a year for every year he owned it because they did not receive their taxes and fees. That is incentive enough for me. TPWD is partly funded by registrations and fines. Just because you might get away with something does not mean it is legal. And who knows, maybe I will sell it eventually. If I do at least whoever I sell it to will receive a clean title. Also in the scheme of things.... $27 a year is a small price for peace of mind in my opinion. It's a far cry from the possibility of a $500 fine even if the probability is low.

So there is no lower limit these days? At one time there was a lower limit. I was thinking they changed it but still exempted older models.

What is the $27 per year that you reference above?

What a hassle.

I was mistaken..... I think. The $27 is what the TPWD says I'll owe them to title the motor for the first time, since I already paid tax on the motor when I paid taxes on the boat. The guy that sold it to me sold me both as a package. TPWD taxed me for the full value boat and motor from the bill of sale that was written in a confusing manor. I think now that the $27 is just a one time only title fee to title it in Texas for the first time. If that's the case... Even better. I'm hoping by this coming week, I'll be able to close this chapter in the never ending saga of governmental overreach and bureaucratic red tape.

Thank you all for the assistance.

Ah, yes! The Great State of Taxes. Just went thru the wringer on a "homemade" trailer, with the Tx DMV. Cost me $144.00 and three road trips to get my "assigned number", plus a title(required with an assigned number, even though it only weighs 600 pounds), and registration for a year. Texas wants every boat, motor, trailer, kayak with trolling motor, and most everything else to have a title. When I pressed them once about requiring titles on battery-powered kayaks, they said, "The Federal Government wants us to, and they give us lots of money". Funny that many other states don't require titles and registrations for kayaks with battery-powered motors. It's all about the $$$$$$$$!
IslandJim