Sec. 31.053.  TRANSFERS OF VESSELS AND OUTBOARD MOTORS.  (a)  No person may sell, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of an interest in a vessel or an outboard motor without:
(1)  if the transferee is not a manufacturer or a dealer and the vessel or outboard motor is new, delivering to the department a manufacturer's or importer's certificate showing the endorsement of the manufacturer and all intervening owners;
(2)  if the transferee is a manufacturer or a dealer and the vessel or outboard motor is new, delivering to the transferee a manufacturer's or importer's certificate showing the endorsement of the manufacturer and all intervening owners;
(3)  if the vessel or outboard motor is not covered by a certificate of title or a manufacturer's or importer's certificate and if the transferor is a manufacturer or dealer, delivering to the department sufficient evidence of title or other information to permit the issuance of a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor in the name of the transferee;
(4)  if the vessel or outboard motor is not covered by a certificate of title or a manufacturer's or importer's certificate and if the transferor is not a manufacturer or dealer, delivering to the transferee sufficient evidence of title or other information to permit the transferee to apply for and receive a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor in the name of the transferee;  or
(5)  delivering to the transferee a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor in the name of the transferor and properly endorsed to show the transfer or evidence of an involuntary transfer.
(b)  For the purposes of Subsection (a)(5) of this section an involuntary transfer shall mean the transfer of ownership pursuant to a contractual or statutory lien which confers the power or right to the transfer.  The evidence shall reflect the proper exercise of the right conferred pursuant to the lien.
(c)  The transferor shall provide the documents or evidence required by Subsection (a) of this section to the department or the transferee, as appropriate, in sufficient time to allow the transferee to register and obtain a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor not later than the 45th day after the date of the sale.
(d)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a) of this section, a buyer of a new vessel or a new outboard motor in the ordinary course of business as provided in Section 9.320(a), Business & Commerce Code, takes the interest free of security interests as provided in that section.  A buyer of a vessel or outboard motor that is not new shall be governed by Subsection (a) of this section.
(e)  The transferee shall provide the department with sufficient evidence of ownership for transfer of a vessel or outboard motor if the transferee:
(1)  failed to obtain the title from the transferor or the title was lost, stolen, or mutilated before the transfer was made;  and
(2)  has made reasonable efforts to contact the transferor to obtain the required documentation.
(f)  A person who is not licensed as a dealer, distributor, or manufacturer under this chapter must obtain a certificate of number or certificate of title to a vessel or outboard motor in the person's name before transferring the certificate of number or certificate of title.
Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 1253, ch. 484, Sec. 1(e), eff. Sept. 1, 1977.  Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 4063, ch. 636, Sec. 4, eff. Aug. 29, 1983;  Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 283, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 450, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1993;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 414, Sec. 2.33, eff. July 1, 2001;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 200, Sec. 8(l), eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1133, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by: 
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1249 (H.B. 4032), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2019.