selling a '96 ski without a title?

[bigJake]

My understanding is that PA does not issue titles for jetskis prior to '97, so when I bought my skis from the previous PA owner in 2008, I got a title for the '97 but just a registration for the '96. I just listed them for sale and have a guy coming up from W Va. tomorrow to look at them. I also had an inquiry form a guy in Indiana, who asked about titles. He said Indiana requires all PWC to be titled. Can someone explain how this works? If the guy from W Va. buys the skis, is he going to be able to get them registered in W Va without a title for the '96? And is there a way for the guy in Indiana to get them titled? I am the 3rd owner of the skis. I bought them in 2009 from someone who bought them from the original owner in 2004.

 

[bigJake]

I just called a local notary who told me I would just have to provide the buyer a bill of sale with year, make, model and hull ID and the local notary paperwork would indicate the ski was never titled in PA and that would be all they needed to register it in another state. Has anyone had this situation and can confirm the notary is correct?

 

[mikidymac]

The issue is each state is different in their requirements.
The buyer needs to check with their state and see what is needed.

 

[bigJake]

The issue is each state is different in their requirements.
The buyer needs to check with their state and see what is needed.

But is there at least a process of getting the ski registered in each state or will people from some states just not be able to buy it?

 

[mikidymac]

I know in California if there is no title the DMV will kick you out. Without a title they claim there is no proof of of ownership so no transfer can be made. If you don't even have a title from another state the vehicle is stuck in limbo because ownership can't be established so again, no transfer.

If you have registration in your name then you should be able to provide that along with a notarised bill of sale but even that is not a guarantee.

 

[bigJake]

I know in California if there is no title the DMV will kick you out. Without a title they claim there is no proof of of ownership so no transfer can be made. If you don't even have a title from another state the vehicle is stuck in limbo because ownership can't be established so again, no transfer.

If you have registration in your name then you should be able to provide that along with a notarised bill of sale but even that is not a guarantee.

That's crazy, I do have a PA registration so hopefully that will be enough for W VA. BTW, after I posted my compression readings a couple weeks ago when I asked what the skis are worth, I discovered that the o-ring on my compression tester had a tear in it. So I replaced the o-ring and did a quick test with the engines cold and got better numbers 150/140 and 140/133. Any guess on how many points they would go up testing a hot engine?

 

[mikidymac]

Hot or cold typically doesn't make a difference on these.

 

[Stevie96xp]

Man I guess I got it easy here in Alabama there is no title needed doesn’t matter what years or where is came from all you need is a bill of sale and the registration numbers

 

[TOMZILLA]

Titles were optional on all boats in Pa. prior to 1997 You would get a transferable reg card if title wasn't selected at time of registration. Look at your Pa. registration card. There's an area on it for the title number. If its ******** or just blank then the Ski or boat has never had a Pa title issued. In that case you just sign the back of the registration card and give the buyer a receipt.

 

[SabotageR1]

No title here in NYC... Ownership is established with the registration which you transfer to the new owner.

 

[Lothsahn]

Is it possible for you to get a title issued?

I know in WI trailers don't need to be registered under a certain gross vehicle weight. But you can go register them if you want to, which is very helpful for an out of state sale.

When I took mine to another state the DMV couldn't even understand how it didn't have a vin (sticker fell off in 20 years) or registration. When I told them WI didn't require registration they told me I was wrong, because their system says WI registers trailers (they do, but only for heavy ones and upon request, but the DMV didn't have that detail), and refused to help.

I had to go back to WI and have them register the trailer. The alternative was to spend about $5000 on a lawyer to get a declaration of "abandoned property".

I'm short: if you can get the original state to issue a title, it'd be WAY easier.