Thread: Boat titles

It can be done. Make sure you get a "Bill of Sale" from the seller, even if you have to write one up yourself and have him sign it. He should make sure he gives you a heck of a deal, since you have to go thru the hassle because he did not do it correctly when he bought the boat. Check and make sure the boat has a legible serial number stamped on the serial number label and that it is not scratched off. (A scratched off serial number would be nearly impossible to register since it would be assumed stolen.)

Here is the website that should answer your questions or call the DMV.

Indiana Boat Registration Instructions | DMV.ORG

I tried making sense of the bmv stuff but wasnt sure. Was hoping the value under $3g or one of the exemptions would be enough to get the stickers. I assume that's not the case?

A friend of mine bought a pontoon boat off a city police officer in Martin Co last year with no title but he got a bill of sale. Got the paperwork off the local BMV office and had to have the Sheriff!s dept run a check on boat and sign the paperwork. Something I never heard of before, he then had to have the local judge sign off on it before returning the paperwork and sales bill of sale to BMV. Go to BMV and/or call them and see what hoops you have to go thru before buying is my suggestion to get a title as it can be a pain and take at least a month to get accomplished. If the pontoon hadn’t been previously registered with DNR as it had the numbers on the sides, I don’t think he would have gotten title for it.

Thanks chuck..no numbers said it's only ever been used on private lakes. Well boo

Still, give BMV a call and make sure the I D Plate with serial numbers is on the boat, if not, DNR can issue numbers maybe.

Every boat should have a hull ID#. I bought an inflatable Sea eagle and to put a trolling motor on it I have to register it and it's got a HID. If it was manufactured in a factory it should have a hull# on it somewhere even if it was never registered before. if you go look at it you can probably find it. That would make things much easier.

I was going to buy a boat a couple yrs back and the guy said it had no numbers, lady at BMV said its a really big hassle if no numbers if not impossible in a lot of cases.