I live in Texas and bought a new 15ft Alumina Craft Flat Bottom. I then bought a 16hp Go Devil Crawfish Tail to go on it.

Texas Parks and Wildlife is going to charge me $384.00 to fully register this boat. The big expense is that they are forcing me to Title my Motor and pay Sales Tax on it.

Anybody know if there is a fine in Texas if I just register the Boat with a Troll Motor and refuse to title this Motor?

I did call the Game Warden and did not get a straight answer. Just said Texas requires all new Motors to be Titled.

Game Warden had no idea it cost that much to register a Flat Bottom Boat and Motor.

If he didn't tell you a straight it's Prolly not a big deal but he is the law and don't want to tell you the wrong answer

And then what you gonna do when you get caught? Pay the fine and still end up registering everything is what. Bite the bullet and be legal.

I thought most states required title and tag..

My Godevil came with a title

I here ya.... I just paid to tiltle a 19k rig. I didn't like writing another 1500 for it, but wanted to be legal and go about it the right way.

You only have to show proof of registration on the boat on the water, but you are suppose to title the motor and trailer as well. It sucks, but dat's the way it goes....

tell them you bout it from a friend for 100 bucks and the taxes wont be that much

If you are moving from another state, lord help you. I had 2 boats that had been taxed and registered in MS. The county tax offices are a circus. Call the main # at the Boat Registration div. in Austin and find out what you neee to do. I made 4 trips to a Co. tax office 25 miles away thinking it would be closer and spent 2-3 hrs getting pissed off. Went another 10 miles into Austin and was done in 10 minutes. You may as well get what you need and you want have to worry when the man pulls up.

If you buy the motor from out of state, you will get an MSO (manufacturer state of origin), if you buy it from a dealer in TX, you will get a title because you pay the tax, title, & reg fees to the dealer when you buy it.

State of TX began requiring titles on all outboard motors back in late 80's-early 90's. Now, with that said, I've ran boats since I was a teenager, & the motor I have now is the 1st one I've ever titled. I've never been asked for the title or any other paperwork on any other motor on the countless times I've been checked. On the other hand, I know of people that have had issues with their local wardens that wanted to see theirs & they received warnings & tickets.

If you do it right, you won't spend a fortune on getting your stuff legal, & the state will still get their money & be happy too. If you "traded" something for the motor to someone from a state that doesn't title their motors (LA), then all you will pay is a title application fee ($49 I think, but you can research the prices @ http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us). Same goes for the boat hull, if you traded something plus cash, you only have to pay tax on the cash + title app fees. When I registerred my rig, it was less than $250 out the door for brand new boat & $9k motor.

SMelvin the state of texas doesn't care what you paid for the motor they now tax on whats it worth, if you bought a car for 200 bucks and nada says it worth 2500, then your paying taxes on the 2500.

Just a little in your window!

^^^True on cars & trucks, don't think it applies to boats & motors though.

It doesn't apply to boats and motors. I have done this before because the lady at the local tpw office told me to do it that way to save money

If you are transfering from another state, be sure you have something showing where you paid the taxes. The crazy bitch at the Co. tax office wanted me to pay $649 late fees for my Gator Trax boat. JUST THE BOAT! I told her that my 22.5' Blazer Bay and Yam 250 was only $150 total. Thats when I asked her to give me all my paperwork back, hit cancel on her computer and I would drive to Austin or somewhere that they had a clue what to do. Most aggravating thing I have had to fool w/ since moving to TX. It was easier to buy land, home, get ag exempt than register a dang boat. Good Luck

they do it on boats also but the trade is the way to go.

And this is why I am happy living in the great state of wisconsin. Only the boat needs a title, they don't give a shart about anything else. Registered my new boat and it cost me 63 bucks for 2 years.

you could always re-register the boat from the state it was from in the origanal name. or a relitive from another state. no says you cant barrow a boat from another person.

Louisiana..... Title on the trailer, and Register the boat. Unless all that changed since 08

One thing you never mentioned, what state did the boat & motor come from? That could actually make a difference.

[quote="HUNT4DEER"]you could always re-register the boat from the state it was from in the origanal name. or a relitive from another state. no says you cant barrow a boat from another person.[/quote

If u hunt or fish the same areas much that May or may not work. Warden on Tx coast asked me the 2nd time he saw me fishing n same area bout 3 weeks apart when i was planning to register My Ms boat n Tx. I have since become legal. These guys arent stupid & let us get by w/ a lot of foolishness but they will get you if you keep poking them.

Good job camo...

I've done it once or twice.

Be real careful if you dont register the motor the gw can confinscate your motor until you can prove its yours....I am sure that wouldnt happen unless you were really acting a fool.

OK got it done today. For a 15ft Flatbottom and a 16 hp Go devil the price to get it legal was $342.00 all said and done. Not sure why the original estimate was off. When you buy a boat and Motor you have to pay sales tax to the state. I paid $1000.00 for the Boat and $3400.00 for the Motor.

I did not read ALL of the answers above due to time limit but if you wait over 4 years the tax on the motor is null and void......btw it was a gift from a friend....!

i would for sure!!!!! it seems everywhere i hunt there is a GW waiting at the launch or check staiton... Take'em can walk right by them and they wont do chit but when i come by i cant even put my truck in park and there all in my koolade... just cause i always limit out they gotta hate!