I was recently given an old jon boat from a farmer who harvests across the street from my parents, and I am not entirely sure how to get it registered. The farmer bought the land this year, and he found the old boat on the property. He knew that I was a fisherman and he had no use for it, so he gave the boat to me. I want to get this boat in the water, but the BMV website is as clear as mud. I can't seem to find a hull number on it anywhere, so I am not sure that the boat has ever been registered. I have no idea of knowing who the previous owner is either, so there is no way to track down a title. if anyone has suggestions please let me hear them. I called  the BMV already, and they were limited help as well.

It probably never held a title. You will have to apply for a missing title. I'm not sure but I think you can make your own hull ID. I think you can have something engraved, but I'd definitely ask the bmv first. 

I just looked over the boat again, and I couldn't find a hull. it does however has some old remnants of stickers for registration numbers. this makes this mystery all the more complicated.  

You need a police inspection and a bill of sale.  If there are registration numbers on it the bmv can sometimes use them to find the boat in their system.  Take pictures of both sides of the boat with you. Sometimes they want them sometimes not.  Good luck.

Did you find out what to do? I find myself in the same situation...no Hull ID# just old registration numbers. BMV is telling me I need to get a court order to apply for a title?

I’m in the same boat.   My father had an old boat no hull number or title bought back in the 60s.   They weren’t required then.   It hasn’t been reregistered in many yrs.    he’s dead now I’d like to try and get it set up but wonder if it’s worth the red tape.    Any advise ?    It’s an old 12 ft alum   Maybe it’s just to much hassle and need to scrape it .

On 6/5/2020 at 2:03 PM, dbecker15 said:

Did you find out what to do? I find myself in the same situation...no Hull ID# just old registration numbers. BMV is telling me I need to get a court order to apply for a title?

I never got into it any farther: I just left it at my parents house. I think they put it in the bottom of their pond.