I bought a REALLY old 10ft jon boat in illinois and it didn't have a title. Can I still get it licensed?

Question

The guy bought it when he was a kid a long while back with no title, and he sold it to me for 30 bucks to get rid of it. I just want to goto some small "no wake" lakes and use a trolling motor. Everything I look up seems to say I need a title to license it, but SURELY there is a way around this? I found the "Hull Identification Number" once, and I think I might have read something on the boat saying manufactured around 1960, but I maybe mistaken. ANY HELP?

Answer 1

check with your DNR before you take it out and get fined!

I'm from Ohio we dont title boats under 14' but then again I dont know your laws.

Being that old you may have to take it to the DNR to have it checked to make sure it is a safe vessel (inspected) then they will decide weather or not to give you the okay!

Good Luck and Happy Fishing!!

Answer 2

Call the DNR and check, there is a way to do it.  Worst case would be to have a friend register it in Wisconsin, which does not issue titles on boats under 16', then "buy" it back.  Submit the WI regristration and voila.  It'll cost you an extra $20, but hey, it works.

Answer 3

you can contact your local DNR ( department of natural resources ) explain your situation, have the hull id available and they will walk you through the process. you may check, but here in my state ( SC ) we have a "junked" form we fill out and have the customer sign. that might be possible for you as well. if you purchased something that was junked and you restored it, then as long as there is no active registration on liens, they can issue you titles. GOOD LUCK....

Answer 4

In Ohio, any boat under 14 foot does not need a title.  All you need to get it licensed is a hull number and a bill of sale if you just purchased it.

Answer 5

I don't think there is a title to a boat, only the trailer is titled. There is a registration card for a boat so you do need to register it with the state wildlife people. Some states don't require it to be registered if it's under a certain size on is not powered but I don't think Illinois is one of them. That should be all that you need.