Best Way to get a title

[Happy Houseboat]

Facts- houseboat titled originally in Iowa by first owner. Purchased but never titled anywhere else by second owner. Boat is now sitting in Wisconsin. We purchased from second owner but the title is lost. Xerox copy only. We want to title in Illinois. Illinois said go to Iowa and get a replacement We have tried working with Iowa to get replacement title. No success because can’t find the first owner. We actually tried in Florida too because the second owner had someone in the marine industry. No luck yet. Looking for options. Second owner is being cooperative but he is not much help. We have a bill of sale. Second owner willing to sign an affidavit or whatever we need. Illinois DNR does not answer the phone. Considering titling in Indiana as an interim step to get a title then into Illinois.

 

[GA_Boater]

Is the second owner, the one selling to you, really the owner?

Reading stories here, Illinois is not the easiest of states when it comes to interstate title transfer, even with good paperwork.

 

[roffey]

I know I have said this in the past, but I don't understand why it is so difficult to get the title to a boat in the US. In Canada you can get the title to a boat as long as it has not been registered as stolen. I'm not sure but I believe a vehicle, car is the same.

 

[southkogs]

Does the second owner have a document that shows the legal sale of the boat to them from the original owner in Iowa? The only thing I can think of at that point is that the second owner has to establish ownership of the boat in order to sell it - that means duking it out with Wisconsin or Iowa for them.

Even in a state like TN or KS where it's easier to register a boat, it doesn't sound like you have enough documentation to pull it off.

Maybe look into registering an abandoned boat with IL?

 

[Captain Caveman]

I would give the boat back to second owner, get money back, and tell him to notify you when he/she actually owns the boat and has the legal right to sell it. If you don't have the legal title, you don't own it. You just gave money to somebody without any security.

My first "big" boat for me was going to be a 17' Lund with a 90hp motor. Some kid was selling it but was still waiting for the title. I waited a week and then just told him to call me if he ever got it. I ended up getting a different boat and never heard from the kid.

Safe = get your money back
Hard = try and get it re-titled for the seller who should have done it in the first place

 

[GA_Boater]

I know I have said this in the past, but I don't understand why it is so difficult to get the title to a boat in the US. In Canada you can get the title to a boat as long as it has not been registered as stolen. I'm not sure but I believe a vehicle, car is the same.

It is simple. We want to extract every tax dollar we can. And nickles and dimes, too.

 

[matt167]

You can title it with Vermont using a bill of sale. but you need to pay 6% sales tax to VT, and then tax to your state.

 

[JASinIL2006]

We found some very helpful people at IDNR, but with COVID stuff, I imagine they much harder to reach.

Trying to get either a boat or a trailer titled in Illinois is really hard if you don't have the required paperwork. We were looking at a boat and trailer from Wisconsin, and their relaxed paperwork standards would have made it ridiculously difficult (or impossible) to get the boat and/or trailer registered and titled in Illinois. It was such a pain that we excluded that boat from our search. If it were my, I'd try to get my money back and look elsewhere for a boat with documentation accepted in IL.

 

[Starcraft5834]

In PA you can get a title pretty easy.. pay the PA Boat and Fish Commission give them the specs and hull#, they will send u a title.

 

[JimS123]

A local marine dealer had a few brand new boats on his showroom floor. He sold them all, had the new owners fill out the paperwork to get a title, plus the state registration numbers. In some cases he was even so nice that he took their old boat in trade and promised to pay off the existing loans while the new boat loan was in process. On top of it all, he even provided free winter storage, provided that he could still show the boat to new customers that would want to order one just like it.

Now the problems.....

He never ordered the new boats, and kept the down payments. He sold the same boats on the showroom floor to 28 different people. He never paid the loans off.

Come Spring, 28 people came in to pick up their boat, and the owner had skipped town.

Maybe an apples to donuts story, but it seems to me that requiring proper paperwork ain't such a bad idea.

 

[jbcurt00]

I know I have said this in the past, but I don't understand why it is so difficult to get the title to a boat in the US. In Canada you can get the title to a boat as long as it has not been registered as stolen. I'm not sure but I believe a vehicle, car is the same.

Because different states have different rules.

Same question could be asked about buying a boat w/out title and accompanying paperwork. Why?
I'd wager a significant number of uninformed boat buyers have bought or sold a car in the US and should know whats required to do that. Start w whats required for a car, and go from there. Why would anyone think otherwise? But still here we are.... Probably hundreds of times a year.

Also, why would anyone take a sellers word for it that it was mechanically sound if you dont lake test it? Wouldnt pay $500 for a car that should run but doesnt and get home and be surprised when it doesnt. It's a $500 car, its gonna need work...


Apologies happy houseboat, didnt mean to rant in your topic.

Good luck. Never easy to move undocumented state to state, even for smaller 16ft runabouts.

Might try a title service, Maine has 1.

Pursue a bonded title w whoever registers boats in IL as well, the DMV?

Might turn out to be a kods playhouse w an "indoor" sand pit....

 

[Happy Houseboat]

Facts- houseboat titled originally in Iowa by first owner. Purchased but never titled anywhere else by second owner. Boat is now sitting in Wisconsin. We purchased from second owner but the title is lost. Xerox copy only. We want to title in Illinois. Illinois said go to Iowa and get a replacement We have tried working with Iowa to get replacement title. No success because can’t find the first owner. We actually tried in Florida too because the second owner had someone in the marine industry. No luck yet. Looking for options. Second owner is being cooperative but he is not much help. We have a bill of sale. Second owner willing to sign an affidavit or whatever we need. Illinois DNR does not answer the phone. Considering titling in Indiana as an interim step to get a title then into Illinois.

The second seller is not a stranger and was out of state, so some procedural steps got short circuited. He thought he had the title in storage and it looks like the ex might tossed it when they ended the relationship. Confident the boat does not have liens or was sold 28 times. It’s just a administrative struggle and trying to find the path of least resistance.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Have the second owner get a title in their name and then you are good. Without the second owner doing the proper paperwork, he NEVER legally owned it in the eyes of Iowa, Wisconsin or Illinois.

so legally he cant sell it to you.

He will probably have to pay arrears as well

 

[jhande]

Kind of the same here in NH.
Anything to be registered in NH you need a title back to 1999.
Anything bought from out of state you need a title plus a VIN verification, again back to 1999. Without the title we have to get a title bond.

 

[Captain Caveman]

The second seller is not a stranger and was out of state, so some procedural steps got short circuited. He thought he had the title in storage and it looks like the ex might tossed it when they ended the relationship. Confident the boat does not have liens or was sold 28 times. It’s just a administrative struggle and trying to find the path of least resistance.

I feel for you, but the fact remains that the second owner (friend, family, or foe) needs to either do the work or give your money back. His laziness (both at the first sale and now the second...is your pain.

We haven't even touched the money pit aspect of third-hand houseboats, but that is a whole other discussion. This whole transaction screams train wreck to me, but you may be able to still find a solution out there.

I would keep going to different people in Illinois until you find someone willing to (or in a position of power to) help you get through a sticky situation. They are out there but very hard to find. Maybe even a notarized letter from the second owner or a personal visit with him to the DMV / DNR.

 

[jhande]

I agree, best scenario is to get your money back but that's probably not going to happen.

I've been through more than my share of nasty registrations in both CT & NH.
Unfortunately DMV sticks to it's guns no matter who you talk to or try providing other options.

I'm sure Illinois is similar to here in New Hampshire, sounds like it.
The person you bought it from doesn't count/matter to DMV/DNR. The first owners title (not a copy) and a bill of sale is needed from him. Unfortunately the law is not on your side, they feel you should have known you need the title and checked it before completing the transaction.

A few possible work a round's...
See if you can get a title bond.
If you have all the info, pretend to be the first owner and file for a duplicate title in Iowa.
A long stretch, see if you can register as a home made water craft.
Find a dealer you might be friends with and have them try for an abandoned vehicle title.
Worst case, see if you can sell it.

Good luck!!!