Obtaining an Abstract of Title For Your Vessel

How an Abstract of Title for a Vessel Benefits You

Buying a boat involves interacting with the US Coast Guard, including obtaining certification for your vessel. When you are about to purchase the boat, one of the most important pieces of documentation that you can obtain is the abstract of title. This should be obtained prior to the purchase and is evidence of all of the documentation and paperwork that has been submitted to the USCG regarding your vessel. This will give you a history of the boat, as well as details of its origins, previous owners, and any issues with the vessel. Finding the abstract of title for a vessel will allow you to understand more about the boat and any financial concerns that still have an interest in the vessel.

abstract of title for a vessel

Understanding The Abstract Of Title

In the majority of US states, vessels will be required to have a title. Anyone who buys the boat, new or old, has a month to register the vessel with the USCG and provide a title. The owner must supply the information relating to the boat, including the details of the purchase and any mortgages or liens on the vessel. There are a few liens that are secret, and this means that they will not be shown on the vessel, and so your seller will still need to submit a representation that says the vessel is clear and free of liens. When you obtain the abstract, you will receive information about the boat specifically listing the name, ID number, and construction details. You may also receive information such as a bill of sale, mortgages, liens, and any other factors, all provided in chronological order.

How To Obtain The Abstract

When you are examining a boat prior to purchase, you may see a number written on the hull. This is the documentation number and it shows that the boat has information submitted to the USCG. This information is stored by the USCG as part of the title, and when you want to obtain information about the boat, you will receive from the Coast Guard an abstract of everything that relates to the boat. By reading this document, you can get more information about the boat. In order to obtain this information, you will have to submit a form to the USCG which will place a request for the abstract. By submitting this request, you can have all of the information you need about your vessel at your fingertips.

Get Help With Obtaining An Abstract

If you think that you may need help with obtaining the abstract of title for a vessel you are interested in, then you may want to reach out to Vessel Documentation Center. Our teams are very experienced with submitting information requests to the USCG, and we should be able to help you get your abstract of title quickly. To find out more about how we can help you, simply reach out to us by email, or talk to the team directly by calling us at 1 (866) 981-8783 now.