(a) Except as otherwise provided in sections 15-214 and 15-218 to 15-221, inclusive, only an owner may apply for a certificate of title.

(b) An application for a certificate of title shall be on a form that the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles prescribes, be signed by the applicant and contain:

(1) The applicant's name, the street address of the applicant's principal residence and, if different, the applicant's mailing address;

(2) The name and mailing address of each other owner of the vessel;

(3) The hull identification number for the vessel or, if none, an application to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for the issuance of a hull identification number for the vessel;

(4) The vessel number for the vessel or, if none has been issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles, an application for a vessel number;

(5) A description of the vessel as required by the Department of Motor Vehicles, which shall include:

(A) The official number for the vessel, if any, assigned by the United States Coast Guard;

(B) The name of the manufacturer, builder or maker;

(C) The model year or the year in which the manufacture or build of the vessel was completed;

(D) The overall length of the vessel;

(E) The vessel type;

(F) The hull material;

(G) The propulsion type;

(H) The engine drive type, if any; and

(I) The fuel type, if any;

(6) An indication of all security interests in the vessel known to the applicant and the name and mailing address of each secured party;

(7) A statement that the vessel is not a documented vessel or a foreign-documented vessel;

(8) Any title brand known to the applicant and, if known, the jurisdiction under whose law the title brand was created;

(9) If the application is made in connection with a transfer of ownership, the transferor's name, street address and, if different, mailing address, the sales price, if any, and the date of the transfer;

(10) If the vessel previously was registered or titled in another jurisdiction, a statement identifying each jurisdiction known to the applicant in which the vessel was registered or titled; and

(11) Any further information the commissioner reasonably requires to identify the vessel and to enable the commissioner to determine whether the owner is entitled to a certificate of title and the existence or nonexistence of security interests in the vessel.

(c) In addition to the information required by subsection (b) of this section, an application for a certificate of title may contain an electronic communication address of the owner, transferor or secured party.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in sections 15-218 to 15-221, inclusive, an application for a certificate of title shall be accompanied by:

(1) A certificate of title signed by the owner shown on the certificate of title that:

(A) Identifies the applicant as the owner of the vessel; or

(B) Is accompanied by a record that identifies the applicant as the owner; or

(2) If there is no certificate of title:

(A) If the vessel was a documented vessel, a record issued by the United States Coast Guard which shows the vessel is no longer a documented vessel and identifies the applicant as the owner;

(B) If the vessel was a foreign-documented vessel, a record issued by the foreign country which shows the vessel is no longer a foreign-documented vessel and identifies the applicant as the owner; or

(C) In all other cases, a certificate of origin, bill of sale or other record that to the satisfaction of the department identifies the applicant as the owner.

(e) A record submitted in connection with an application is part of the application. The department shall maintain the record in its files.

(f) The department may require that an application for a certificate of title be accompanied by payment or evidence of payment of any or all fees and taxes payable by the applicant under the law of this state, other than fees paid in connection with the application or the acquisition or use of the vessel.

(P.A. 14-63, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 14-63 effective January 1, 2016.