How do I check if a used boat has a lien in Florida?

For a Florida-titled boat, look at the original title for a lienholder; the title application must list known security interests under s. 328.01, F.S. For a Coast Guard documented vessel, request an Abstract of Title (form CG-1332) from the National Vessel Documentation Center under 46 C.F.R. § 67.301.

Does every boat in Florida need a title?

Generally, vessels operated, used or stored on Florida waters must be titled, under s. 328.03, F.S., with exemptions including Coast Guard documented vessels. Buyers must apply for the transfer within 30 days.

What is a hull identification number and why does it matter?

It is the boat’s unique identifier, like a VIN. Florida requires a HIN of at least 12 characters on boats built after October 31, 1972, displayed so tampering is obvious. Knowingly buying or possessing a boat with an altered HIN is a third-degree felony under s. 328.07, F.S.

Who can get a Coast Guard abstract of title?

Any person may request a General Index or Abstract of Title from the National Vessel Documentation Center, under 46 C.F.R. § 67.301.

Is a marine survey enough before buying a used boat?

A survey checks the boat’s condition, not the seller’s right to sell it. Check title or documentation, liens and the HIN as well, and verify the seller if anything does not match.

Check a Used Boat Before You Buy in Fort Lauderdale

Before you buy a used boat in Fort Lauderdale or anywhere in Broward County, confirm three things on paper: that the seller is the legal owner, that no one else holds a lien, and that the hull identification number on the boat matches the paperwork and has not been tampered with. A Florida-titled boat is checked through its title and registration; a federally documented vessel is checked through the Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center. Get those right and a marine survey and sea trial cover the rest. Get them wrong and you can lose the boat and the money.

Is the boat titled in Florida or documented with the Coast Guard?

Ask first, because the paper trail is different.

Florida title. A vessel operated, used or stored on Florida waters generally must be titled in Florida, and a buyer must apply for the transfer within 30 days (s. 328.03, F.S.). Titles are issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (s. 328.0015), with applications filed through the county tax collector (s. 328.01). Vessels on Florida waters must also be registered through the tax collector (s. 328.48).
Coast Guard documentation. Vessels of at least five net tons wholly owned by U.S. citizens, including recreational boats, are eligible for federal documentation (46 C.F.R. § 67.5). Documented vessels are exempt from the Florida title requirement (s. 328.03(2)). Larger yachts on the New River and the Intracoastal are often documented.

How do I check a Florida boat title?

See the original title, not a photo. The owner named on it should be the person, or the company, selling to you. If a company owns the boat, confirm the signer has authority to sell.
Look for any lienholder. The title application must list every security interest known to the applicant (s. 328.01(2)(f)). If a lender is listed, you need a lien release or a payoff arranged at closing.
Compare the hull identification number on the title and registration with the number on the boat.
Be wary of a seller with only a bill of sale and a story about a lost title. A seller who cannot produce clean title is a seller who may not be able to transfer it.

Florida treats title fraud seriously. Procuring or passing a title for a vessel known or believed to be stolen, using forged or altered titles or lien releases, or making false statements on a title application are third-degree felonies (s. 328.05, F.S.).

How do I check a Coast Guard documented vessel?

Any person may request a General Index or Abstract of Title (form CG-1332) for a documented vessel from the National Vessel Documentation Center (46 C.F.R. § 67.301). The abstract shows the vessel’s recorded history, so you can see the recorded owners and whether mortgages or other instruments have been filed against it. Also confirm the certificate of documentation is current: endorsements are generally valid for one year, or up to five years for recreational endorsements, and must be renewed (46 C.F.R. § 67.163). If a boat was documented and is now being sold on a Florida title, the Florida application requires a Coast Guard record showing it is no longer documented (s. 328.01).

What should I look for in the hull identification number?

The hull identification number (HIN) is the boat’s equivalent of a VIN, assigned under federal rules (s. 328.0015). Florida requires boats built after October 31, 1972 to display a HIN of at least 12 characters, placed so that any alteration, removal or replacement would be obvious (s. 328.07, F.S.). Red flags include:

Characters that look ground down, re-stamped, painted over or covered by a plate or fitting.
A HIN that does not match the title, registration or documentation.
A model year in the HIN that does not match the year the seller claims.

This is not a technicality. Knowingly buying, selling or possessing a vessel whose HIN has been altered, removed or covered is a third-degree felony, and a vessel with a missing or altered HIN can be seized as contraband (s. 328.07). Even an innocent buyer can lose the boat.

Other red flags in a used boat sale

A price well below comparable boats, with pressure to close fast.
A seller who will only meet away from where the boat is kept, or will not let you see it out of the water.
Requests to pay by wire to a personal account, cryptocurrency or gift cards.
A seller whose name, address or company does not match the paperwork.
Recent registration in a new name just before the sale.
Engines or trailers sold “with paperwork to follow.” Outboards and trailers can be stolen separately from the hull.

What does a private investigator add?

A marine surveyor inspects the vessel. A licensed investigator checks the people and the paper:

Confirms the seller’s identity and, for a company, who the officers are and whether the company is active.
Reviews court records for liens, judgments, lawsuits, divorce or bankruptcy cases that could affect the seller’s right to sell.
Compares the HIN, title, registration and any Coast Guard abstract for inconsistencies.
Researches the seller’s history with prior sales where public records allow.
Puts it all in a short written report you can take to your attorney, lender or closing agent.

Our background reports and background investigations cover the person; the vessel checks above cover the boat. If something looks wrong, stop and talk to your attorney and, where theft or fraud is suspected, to law enforcement.

Broward Private Investigations works with licensed Florida private investigators across Broward County, from Fort Lauderdale and Dania Beach to Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. If you are about to buy a boat and something does not add up, call (954) 235-4955 or contact us for a confidential consultation.