Selling a boat

[TyGuy02]

So I'm selling my 14 footer and don't know exactly what to have together and how. I'm fairly certain it will be GONE in the morning tomorrow. When I had bought the boat the motor vehicle registration was open and did it all there. How do you go about selling it if the office isn't open?

I realize that this is vehicle selling 101, but just want to make sure I have it all together so I don't have to meet the buyer out of town to get it straightened out. Thank You

[cylinder]

For sure, you need a title for the trailer. The boat may or may not have a title, depending on the year and a couple of other weird things, plus any mortgage releases if there is a lien registered on the title.

You should also write up a bill of sale naming the boat, motor and trailer, with both parties signing and dating. Keep one copy for yourself in case 'something happens' after the sale and before the buyer gets around to transferring it into his name; you may need that for your own liability protection. You can find examples of a bill of sale at some legal sites online.

[TyGuy02]

I think that "weird thing" you said with no title for the boat pertains to me. I have the title transfer form that I filled out for the trailer, but nothing for the boat, and it isn't the official title, but just the form. I know I wasn't very organized at that time in my life but GEEZ!

So if I have the trailer (make/model/seriel#/plate#), motor (make/model#/serial #) and boat (make/Hull ID#/Registration #) put into a form that is signed by both parties would that be enough for the buyer to take to their motor vehicle registration office to complete the transfer? I would have to notify the state via sale of vehicle.

[Brad B]

I think that "weird thing" you said with no title for the boat pertains to me. I have the title transfer form that I filled out for the trailer, but nothing for the boat, and it isn't the official title, but just the form. I know I wasn't very organized at that time in my life but GEEZ!

So if I have the trailer (make/model/seriel#/plate#), motor (make/model#/serial #) and boat (make/Hull ID#/Registration #) put into a form that is signed by both parties would that be enough for the buyer to take to their motor vehicle registration office to complete the transfer? I would have to notify the state via sale of vehicle.

I believe this would be the form you use for the boat(I could be wrong thou). it is for transfering the registration without a title on the boat :

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/licenses/universal_form.pdf

the trailer title should be like a vechile title just fill out the back of the title with the required info.

[cylinder]

you probably should have checked with the licence bureau yesterday to see if it has a title - give them the reg number on the boat and they can tell you if it has a title.

You need a title to transfer the trailer. Same if there is a title for the boat. If the boat has no title, a bill of sale will do it. The motor will go on a bill of sale. If the boat has a title, you need it to make a legitimate transfer.

If you aren't sure if you are giving him everything he needs, give the buyer your name/address/contact info. if he needs more stuff, you will have to provide it. I've been thru it before more than once on a weekend and sometimes it takes a couple of months for the license bureau to catch up.

I don't get too worried about it if I have possession of the trailer or boat but no title as long as I have the bill of sale and it's a worthwhile deal. It might take several months to work it out but it eventually gets done. Having possession and bill of sale is big.

Make sure the person who signs the bill of sale has his/her name and address plainly noted on that bill of sale. For example, if a person signs the bill of sale but his deceased father is the real owner on a 'non-existent' title, that doesn't constitute legal ownership of the boat/trailer. Getting the seller to provide a real title with legitimate ownership can be a problem. Again, being creative, having possession is big.

Does that make sense?

[TyGuy02]

It does make sense, I had two people set to look at it this morning and the young kid just told me to tell the other guy it's sold. the that hard part is done, but I lucked out because the kid is from the same town, so I can work it out I believe as long as I have the bill of sale written up right and the trailer title to sign over. I just didn't want to mess with the travel if it didn't work out right. I've always bought vehicles from dealerships, traded with dealerships and always miss this part of the private seller transaction even for my vehicles. Thanks for the info and I am happy to get rid of the 2nd boat, I can only fish out of one at a time right?

[Pat K]

Give the buyer a bill of sale for the boat and another bill of sale for the trailer. The buyer pays sales tax on the trailer but not on the boat in MN on a private party sale.

[Down Deep]

You might just need to give them the boat and sign the back of the trailer registration form. I always write up a bill of sale stating: "What it is" and, "ALL SOLD TO BUYER AS IS" "No Warranty Of Any Kind Stated or Written" "Buyer Accepts This Stipulation ", and have them sign it. Also CASH ONLY

[MuskieJunkie]

I realize the deal is over but for future reference:

For sure, you need a title for the trailer....

That is not correct.

In MN there is registration and there are titles, they are different. Both will be registered (assuming they have a sticker and MN #s).

The hull may or may not have a title, the registration card will have a section that says "Titled" and there will be the word "No" or "YES" in there.

The trailer may or may not have a title. It WILL have a registration card if it does not have a title. JUST BECAUSE THE TRAILER HAS LIFETIME REGISTRATION STICKER THAT DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS NO REGISTRATION CARD OR TITLE. I can't tell you how many times I've heard that one from a seller.

[TyGuy02]

Thanks for the info! The kid that bought it is from my town, so it'll be easy to meet up later this week when we can make it to the motor vehicle registration to help us out and get it finalized

[MinnesotaMike]

I was told by the DMV that a boat over 16' has a title, I just bought and transfered a 20' pontoon and needed to get the title from the owner.

Good Luck,

Mike

[MuskieJunkie]

I was told by the DMV that a boat over 16' has a title

Probably but maybe not. When the boat is first licensed in MN the owner has the option to get it titled (usually the bank in the case of a loan). A boat under 16' can have a title.