First: does your state title boats?
Not every state titles boats. Some only register them, and a current or recent registration plus a bill of sale is the ownership record. Other states title boats above a certain length or year. Your state guide explains which applies to your boat.
If your boat was titled and the title is lost
The owner on record applies to the titling agency for a duplicate. It usually takes a short form, identification, and a small fee. Some states let you apply online or at a local office.
If the owner on record has died or the boat was never retitled after a sale, the process is longer but still manageable. Tell us the situation and we will point you to the right forms.
Documented vessels
A Coast Guard documented boat does not have a state title. Ownership is recorded with the National Vessel Documentation Center, and the transfer uses a bill of sale. A lost Certificate of Documentation can be replaced.
Titles that were never transferred
A common situation: you bought the boat years ago, the seller signed the title, and it went in a drawer. The state still shows the previous owner. The fix is usually to complete the transfer into your name first, sometimes with a late fee. If the signed title is lost too, the process takes longer, and we will point you to your state's route.
Boats with no paperwork at all
Older boats and small trailers sometimes have no paperwork anywhere. Some states have a bonded title or court process for this. Others let you register with a bill of sale and an inspection. Your state guide covers the general picture, and we confirm current requirements with you.
Gather what you can
- Any old registration cards or renewal notices
- A bill of sale from when you bought it
- The hull identification number from the transom
- Old insurance declarations listing the boat
- Photos of the registration numbers on the hull
Questions
I bought the boat years ago and never transferred the title. Can I donate it?
Usually, yes, but the title has to be brought up to date first. That may mean finding the seller's signature or using your state's process for unclaimed or unrecorded titles.
Do I need the title before you pick up the boat?
In most cases we need the title, or an application for a duplicate, before pickup. We will tell you exactly what your state requires.
What if the trailer has no paperwork?
Trailers are often untitled or registered separately. We can usually work through trailer paperwork after the boat's title is sorted.
Can I donate a boat with a title from another state?
Yes. The title from the state where it was last titled is what we work with.
Is a duplicate title expensive?
Usually not. Most states charge a modest fee.