NYS DMV Question

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Brian77

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Joined
Sep 4, 2010
RO Number
32320
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12
Well I've finally found a boat, it's a 1986 30' Sea Ray and it passed it's survey on Friday. Now for my problem...the owners can't find the title and actually don't remember ever having one. The boat is currently registered to the owners (who have owned the boat for 10 years---and they've shown me all of the registrations in their name since they bought the boat) but the registration states that it is non-transferable. The owners also have a Coast Guard Documentation certificate from 2004.

I've done some research on my own and the NYS DMV's website states that 1987 and newer boats have titles, but that those boats without titles should have a transferable registration...which is confusing because this boat is an 86 but has a non-transferable registration.

Should this boat have a title? What's the deal with the Coast Guard Documentation? Does anyone have any advice?

I'm just disappointed because I thought I'd be enjoying this beautiful weekend on my new boat. I appreciate any information anyone can provide.

Thanks,

Brian
 
My boat did not have a title, it was originally from Canada, then moved to FL - I had it trucked back to NY.

Once I got the CG documentation in my name, DMV took that and a bill of sale and as proof of ownership and registered the boat in my name.
 
Hogan,

How do I get the CG Documentation in my name considering the owners current documentation expired 6 years ago? How long will this take, days, weeks, months? Should I wait to complete the sale until the current owner has a valid CG documentation?

I spoke to the person who did the survey on the vessel and he's telling me that the current owner should go to DMV and request a transferrable registration and that would take care of the issue. I guess he has more faith in the NYS DMV then I have. I also worry that since the vessel was documented when it was first registered with NYS getting a transferable registration might be more difficult then just requesting one.

-Brian
 
I would suggest both tactics. The seller is going to need proof that he owns it before he can sell it to you.

Documentation is federal, registration is state - they are two different things, however, the state will take documentation as proof of ownership.

Check out the CG site for your questions regarding documentation.
 
There is no title because the boat was Documented back in 2004. It looks like the owner let the Documentation lapse and therefore it expired. You need to contact the Coast Guard and have the current owner to get an updated and current Documentation. You can also ck with NYS DMV and see if they will accept a 2004 Documentation from the Coast Guard and let you use that for ownership transfer and then you can have the option of getting a title from NYS DMV.

You can not have a US Coast Guard Documented boat with a NYS title or transferable registration. That 2004 Documentation paperwork is the title for the boat now.

Hope this helps.

P.S. there is no need to keep that boat documented at this time. Just switch it to a NYS Titled boat.
 
Remember you will pay sales tax when you register it on the bill of sale amount! :)
 
We're waiting on a replacement title for a car from NY dmv. The owners can do it online for a few $$ if they are at the same address as on the title. If not, they can do it in person at a local DMV with other proof of ID-check the dmv site and they spell it out fairly clearly.
 
I lost a title for a business truck a few months ago, my secretary went on line and I had a new title in 3 days.
 
So after speaking to the DMV and the CG, this is what I've been told to do. The seller will fax a letter to the CG requesting the removal of Documentation from the vessel. The CG will send a letter certifying the removal of documentation which I will take to the DMV along with a bill of sale and I will be issued a transferable registration in my name. I'll let you know if it works...

-Brian
 
Keep in mind that not every clerk in every DMV office knows how to handle a boat registration. I won't go into the problems with the registration on my previous boat, but I will tell you it was only solved when a supervisor was called over and pulled out the loose-leaf manual on boat registrations. Yes, there is such a thing! Make sure they give you the proper registration card - transferrable - printed on the special paper for boats, which is water resistant. Also, download the sales tax form from the DMV site and have the seller and you fill it out beforehand. That way you'll pay sales tax on the amount you paid for the boat, not on an amount pulled from a "Value" guide, which might be much higher. Depending on your local DMV office, it might be helpful to bring a good book with you for the waiting time. Good luck. Hy
 
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