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To my neighbors to the north.......I just purchased a boat, motor and trailer from someone in Wilmington NC. They owed money on the rig. They paid off the loan after the sale. The lender sent me 1. A NC title for watercraft & 2. A NC title for the boat trailer.
No title for the motor. In SC we title boats and motors. Trailers are not normally titled.
What documentation do you guys use for outboard motors?
The titling agency should know about this, just jot down the model and serial number and give that to the SC titling agency when they ask for it. I don't have a title for my motor either, just trailer and boat.
I sold a boat to a guy in Fort Mill. The sale almost failed because he was skeptical due to the fact I did not have a title for the motor. We called DNR and they gave him instructions on how to proceed. I saw him 2 months later and he was sporting registration stickers on the motor.
Thanks for the replies. Yes, the title is a big deal for the O/B in SC. Several years ago I sold a Proline to a Dr. who was in town attending a confrence here in Chas. We trial ran the boat, negotiated a price and struck a deal. We went to my house to take care of the paperwork. He just about backed out of the deal because I had no title to the trailer (not required in SC). I wrote a notarized statement on who I bought the boat from and what dealership he purchased the trailer from. Rhe original purchasor found a certificate of origin from the trailer manufacturer....it established a chain that satisfied the NC titling folks.
SC does require titling for boat trailers if over 2500lbs. A lot of trailers on larger boats weigh that much.... To register your motor when coming from a non-titling state (most states) you need: 1. A pencil tracing or photo of serial# on outboard motor, 2. Bill of sale, signed and notorized, 3. Title application.
I previously bought a boat/motor that was titled in NC and had to go through the same process. It was pretty simple.
Had to do the same as you. Give the SC Wildlife folks the Make, Model & Serial#, should be on your bill of sale. They can then title the motor, and you're right, no need title the trailer. SC figured out the motor is usually worth more than the trailer, so they title the motor to collect more property tax funds (just my suspicion).
I lived in SC for 3 years and trailered my boat to NC for a week at the beach. Got pulled for not having a license tag on the trailer. Took me over 1/2 an hour to get it resolved with the NC Highway Patrolman that being an SC resident, I didn't have to license the trailer. Guy was actually fairly nice, but wouldn't let me go until he was sure it was OK not to have a licensed trailer. Having said that, if you plan on trailering between states, you can get the trailer titled in SC to avoid this issue later.
Had to do the same as you. Give the SC Wildlife folks the Make, Model & Serial#, should be on your bill of sale. They can then title the motor, and you're right, no need title the trailer. SC figured out the motor is usually worth more than the trailer, so they title the motor to collect more property tax funds (just my suspicion).
I lived in SC for 3 years and trailered my boat to NC for a week at the beach. Got pulled for not having a license tag on the trailer. Took me over 1/2 an hour to get it resolved with the NC Highway Patrolman that being an SC resident, I didn't have to license the trailer. Guy was actually fairly nice, but wouldn't let me go until he was sure it was OK not to have a licensed trailer. Having said that, if you plan on trailering between states, you can get the trailer titled in SC to avoid this issue later.
One final thought, you should be able to do a UCC Search on the NC Secretary of States website, enter the previous owners name and find the UCC filing the lender should have placed on the boat & motor.
Had the same thing happen to me with a unlicensed Trailer being driven in NC. You were lucky, as the Judge put it to me, as soon as you crossed the state lines you were under our rules and we required licenses on trailers. According to a magazine article last year, if you trailer your boat between states your trailer has to meet that states requirements, be it for brakes, lights, tags etc. If you plan on staying in SC don't worry about getting tags for the trailer, if you paln on going around, at the least get a SC title for the trailer, (What $10 taxes per year?) and then if you have to go it will take 5 minutes at DMV to get a tag. Just my 2 cents worth1
South Carolina folks beware. There is a move afoot.( Sanford's penny pinching) to put boat titling and registration in the hands of the Department of Public Safety (DMV) instead of DNR. What a nightmare! Please, let's don't let this happen.
Man I wish I would have checked this three weeks ago, I bought my first boat with trailer in FLA and did not know I would need so much info in NC. I did not check with the DOT so I still do not have tags yet because I am waiting on the owner to send me a Notorized letter saying how he came to own and sell me the trailer and Then I have to fill out some MVR-1 form, Man what a pain in the I understand that they want to make sure that is it legit but stupid me. I guess there should be a standard from state to state or something. just my 2cents worth.
Boat Motor titling for NC residents?? 
I understand that they want to make sure that is it legit but stupid me. I guess there should be a standard from state to state or something. just my 2cents worth. 
