If you still do not have the title because you are still financing (bring the name of the finance company or bank and its address), or leasing the vehicle (bring lessor's name and address), or you just cannot get the title, you still have to register the vehicle in California.
In California, if you find yourself with a boat but no title, don't fret. National Documentation Portal's easy-to-fill online forms present a safe path you can follow. You'll need to submit a completed Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title, proof of ownership, a bill of sale, and follow the easy steps.
You may also need: Bill(s) of sale (if you bought your boat/vessel from a private party instead of a dealer). A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form, in case you do not have a copy of the bill of sale.
In California, if you find yourself with a boat but no title, don't fret. National Documentation Portal's easy-to-fill online forms present a safe path you can follow. You'll need to submit a completed Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title, proof of ownership, a bill of sale, and follow the easy steps.
Any boat with a motor counts as a motor vehicle and must therefore be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Vessel use tax is based on the situs (location) county or on the registered owner's residence county, if no situs is shown. The minimum use tax in California is 8.25 percent. Those counties and cities which assess a greater or lesser tax percentage are shown in the use tax tables in Appendix 1A.
If you decide to sell your boat/vessel, you need to: Give the Certificate of Ownership to the person who buys it. Make sure you sign the certificate on the front. Contact the DMV within five days of the sale and fill out a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) form.
If you decide to sell your boat/vessel, you need to: Give the Certificate of Ownership to the person who buys it. Make sure you sign the certificate on the front. Contact the DMV within five days of the sale and fill out a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability (REG 138) form.
You will need to follow these steps: Obtain Necessary Documents. Complete the Bill of Sale. Check for Liens. Complete Form HSMV 82040 (Application for Certificate of Title). Complete Form HSMV 87244 (Vessel Registration Application). Visit a County Tax Collector's Office or License Plate Agency: