TITLE NIGHTMARE: please help as I am losing patience

TexasTexas95 · 04-18-2009, 06:09 PM

Ok, I have read a few of the threads regarding title issues and they seem to compare to my problems but not quite...Here are my little situations...

1. I bought a 1989 Kawi 650sx about a year and a half ago and the guy I bought it off never got it titled in his name, so it is still titled under the origional owner. I cannot contact the guy (origional owner) because his number is no longer working. I never went through with the hassle of doing anything with it until now because the ski is still registered good through next month. Am I to understand that the title has nothing to do with me re-registering the ski again? If so, then what really is the point of titling the ski in my name if I am just trying to stay off the wardens ticket list. I JUST WANT TO RIDE!!!

2. Last week I bought a 1991 Yami SJ. I bought it off a used car lot for $350 and it came with a bill of sale from the origional owner as well as a title from the origional owner. However, the title is from OKLAHOMA and not texas. The lady at the Texas Parks and Wildlife office explained that I would need to do a pencil trace or some such on the hull vin, go back to the dealership where I bought it from and make them title it in their name, and then title it in my name before i could do anything....I am so confused right now it hurts my head.

As far as the 1989 Kawi, I just need a bill of sale coupled with the origional title right? Can't I just make one up and sign the guys name since I cant find him? I have the title for it but, no bill of sale. The guy I bought it from gave me one but it doesn't even matter because the origional owner (whom the boat is titled under) and the seller I bought it from are different anyway....

Can I get them registered for right now just to get them water legal or no?

What the heck should I do with the superjet titled in OK? I am clueless on this one and the lady at the TPW office did nothing but confuse me more and used all kinda big words like "procrastinate" and "plagiarize" and "forgery"...I dunno

Anyone have any ideas on exactly how the process works? All advice and comments would be greatly appreciated. Lol I think there should be a sticky on the titling process and ways to get around all this red tape with no future problems. Thanks in advance guy's.

vandalais · 04-19-2009, 12:12 PM

Some states have much easier requirements to register a ski. I believe Mississippi just requires a bill of sale. You may just want to "sell" the ski to someone in an easy register state and have them sell it back to you after registering. I know its not the easiest solution but I had to do that once on a trailer and it worked out fine.

tominaustin · 04-19-2009, 12:32 PM

Let me see if I can help out a bit. I've been through several "difficult" dealings with Texas Parks-And-Wildlife.

1. You're gonna need to find that person. Lots of resources on the net for this (whitepages.com, people searches, etc.). It's pretty easy and you can find him/her unless he/she has gone to great lengths to try to hide. If it was previously registered/titled in Texas, you can get the last-know registration info from TxPWD (and it's free now) and start there.

You cannot register a ski unless it's in your name (new rules) unless you use the Power-of-Attorney form (and then it'll be registered in someone else's name). I believe you're gonna have to find the person that has the title and have him/her fill out the proper section on the registration form (PWD-143) - and then create a bill of sale (with HIN, build date, manufacturer, motor number, sale date and price) signed by both of you.

2. You're stuck here - and the TxPWD's suggestion is right on the money. Out of state purchases are a little tougher. The used car lot should be on the hook for this one. Go back there and explain to them that they may have broken the law. TxPWD has specific rules for selling vessels now. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat...ng/index.phtml

There's special instructions on the TxPWD website that lays it all out pretty clearly. Unfortunately, it doesn't always seem fair or logical - but that's the way it is.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/owner/

- - - > Look at the matrix at the bottom of this page
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat..._registration/

IMO - the TxPWD office doesn't try to confuse, but their procedures are ultra-strict now. Once you get used to it it's a snap. It's just that it can take 3 or 4 trips to the office to get used to it.

If you need a sample Bill-Of-Sale form, send me an email and I'll forward one along.

TomInAustin

Zorkman · 04-20-2009, 08:02 PM

I've never needed a bill of sale as long as I had a signed title and the PWD-143 was filled out correctly and signed by the seller and purchaser? Atleast not on the 6 skis I have registerd in Texas that had prior titles. I do not see why you would need the dealership to title it in their name first? You have the title still in the original sellers name, you have a bill of sale from him signed? So now all you need is a signiture on the title and the PWD-143 filled out and SIGNED by you and him.. Texas does require a pencil tracing sometimes, I believe for skis from states that do not title PWC, atleast that was in my case.

More than likely they were telling you the dealership needed to title it in their name is because it was considered a sale transaction and they "should" of paid sales tax on the sale, which is why TPWD is telling you to do so, because then you get taxed on the purchase from the dealer.. Basically they make money twice off the sale.. Just dont mention the dealership again..

Good luck.. It can be frustrating..

hilljt · 04-20-2009, 11:35 PM

I had no problems transferring a title from LA to TX. The transcription of the HIN can be a color photo, not just a pencil rubbing. I filled out the form, had the bill of sale and the printed color pic of the HIN and it was done.

dcg9381 · 04-26-2009, 04:59 PM

I'm not sure she's right on #2. Dealers get special privledges here in TX - on vehicles at least they don't need to get the title in their name, they can pass-through as long as they collect taxes.

The good news is that as a dealer, they're required to produce a title within a certain amount of time on a sale (2 weeks I thinK) - if they collected taxes on it, you should push back on them or consider filing a licensing complaint - a bond is required for a TX dealer license.

Alternately, you can do a search for the current owner, then use a service like publicdata.com to find where the person lives now.

the penguin · 04-27-2009, 10:05 PM

you have titles for both skis?

has the title been signed on the back by the previous owner on either one?