I hear this rumor that outboards manufactured before 1994 don't need to be titled. Usually it's someone trying to sell an old motor that says it.
I can't find anything on the TPWD site to confirm this. Does anyone know if this is true or false.
Thanks

False

totally wrong. Years and Years ago, in the 70's, engines that were 75hp and larger were titled. As time went on, the rules were changed. Today , ALL engines, no matter what horsepower is to be titled. And, ALL engines sold from one individual to another individual, must be titled. If the seller does not have a title for his engine, he must get one to legally sell it. If the seller does not present a title at time of sale, he is by strictest letter of the law, selling stollen merchandise, which makes the buyer, receiving stollen merchandise......

Anything after 1973 needs to be titled in Texas.

Yep they changed that too Tommy. Had a guy with a 1969 boat with a 25hp motor in May this year that he had to apply for titles. Luckly his Grandad had owned the boat and motor since new or it could have been a mess. Have another friend trying to get Texas titles on a boat from Kansas and its not looking good. He bought the boat in New Mexico and it is registered their, but previous owner never transfered boat to his name. Showed me the New Mexico registration because I could`nt believe it.

I thought it was 76 that they started putting title on OB motors. I have a motor made in 77 that my dad bought new. He swore up and down that it was never titled. I looked it up on TPWD and sure enought it had been titled to him in 1977. When I got it switched to my name the lady at TPWD said they started titling them in 76 but it took a couple of years for it to catch on. She told me that she had seen some all the way up to about 1980 that had never been titled.

To answer the original question.......they were titled in the early 90's. If you have the serial # from the motor you can look it up on the TPWD site and get the title holder's info.