When people think of a titled watercraft, the first image that comes to mind is usually a luxury yacht or a fishing boat with a catchy name on its side.
People started naming their boats for sentimental reasons decades or even centuries ago, but it’s become required by law for most types and sizes of boats out there. So is this a requirement for personal watercraft, too?
In a nutshell, you should title your jet ski regardless of whether or not it’s required in your state. Most states require a title for any motorized watercraft. This will depend on your state’s regulations, though.
That said, a title is the only legal document that proves ownership. We highly recommend titling your jet ski even if it’s not required in your state.
If you’re not sure what kind of paperwork goes into owning a jet ski, the process can be a little daunting. In this post, we’ve put together some of the most important things to understand about titles, registration, and what you need to do as a future owner of a jet ski.
What’s the Difference Between Title and Registration?
A lot of people mistake registration for proof of ownership. This is understandable since it’s a legal document that links your name to the vehicle. However, registration doesn’t prove that you’re the owner of your newly bought jet ski. Both documents are necessary to have for different reasons.
Title
A title is a document that proves your ownership of any kind of vehicle. This is why purchasing a jet ski without a title puts you at a huge risk since it’s not in your name from a legal standpoint.
Transferring Ownership
When you’re buying a jet ski, the seller should provide this title as proof of ownership before you pay for it, whether it’s an individual or a dealership. They’re also responsible for some steps at least taken to transfer the title to you.
In the case of a dealership, they’ll handle all the paperwork for you. You should receive your jet ski with the title and a bill of sale. There may be other paperwork, too, depending on your state’s regulations.
If you’re buying a jet ski from an individual, the process will look different. It’ll vary depending on the laws in your state, but there’s a step that’s usually essential in this transaction: the previous owner signing the title over to you.
This is generally done by signing the back of the title and writing the buyer’s details on it. It’s crucial to understand how these things should be written on the title for this transfer to go smoothly. A misplaced signature or a scratched-out letter may require you or the original owner to file a correction form.
Check with your local DMV to get this information before taking any action.
In some states, it’s possible for the buyer to transfer the title if the previous owner couldn’t provide it for any reason. All you need to do is provide a bill of sale that includes the seller’s name and signature, the date, your full name, and your signature.
Once again, check your local laws and regulations before you attempt to do this. Some states require that the previous owner transfers the title themselves, which means they may need to order a new one if they lose it.
Useful Tips
If you have the title of a jet ski and are planning to use it only on private waters, you may not need to register it in some states. Still, it’s not advisable to skip the registration, especially that personal watercraft registration can help authorities find it if it was reported stolen.
Another important thing to consider is that a title can have multiple owners. If the jet ski already has more than one owner, you might need both signatures or one of them. This should be clarified in the title itself.
If you want to add multiple names to the title, you’ll just need to add the other person’s name and details in the bill of sale.
Registration
Registering for your jet ski is a relatively easy process. It doesn’t prove ownership, but it authorizes you to operate the personal watercraft in public waterways.
Let’s take a moment to unpack this sentence.
The first thing a registration accomplishes is that it authorizes this vehicle to be operated in public waters. This means that it’s safe for its operator and others.
Registering your jet ski also means that you’ve paid all the fees and taxes due for it. In some states, registration is a one-time process that grants lifetime registration.
Jet Ski Serial Numbers
Registration will require having a registration sticker and a HIN, or hull identification number, on the bow (front) of the jet ski for easy identification.
If the jet ski already has this sticker in place, it means that it’s already been registered before. Try searching for the HIN online to know more about the jet ski’s history.
There’s another important serial number for you to know, although it’s not related to the registration process. That is the Engine Identification Number or EIN. This number is crucial for many reasons, including ordering spare parts or reporting a stolen PWC.
Multiple Registrants
The second thing a registration establishes is that you’re authorized to operate it. Any boat or vehicle can have a different registrant from the owner, and it can have multiple registrants.
The owner can authorize different people or entities to operate the jet ski, including companies. You can register a watercraft without being its owner, as long as you have authorization from the owner to do so.
Conclusion
Buying a jet ski can be a dream come true, so don’t let some necessary paperwork spoil the excitement.
The details of your jet ski’s title and registration will surely depend on which state you’re in and where you’re planning to operate it. We hope that the information in this post made a strong case for getting a title even if your state doesn’t require it.