Boat Title Database Search Lookups
A comprehensive listing of searchable boat title databases available to the boating public.
Bringing together all searchable boat databases related to state registration, titling and USCG vessel documentation. This includes historical data on boats that have been stolen, damaged, destroyed, submerged, salvaged, or recalled. Learn how to access these must-have resources, what they can provide and whether available as free or paid subscriptions.
Proprietary Boat Database Searches
Proprietary database searches are those maintained and administered within our own website. This includes several of the most popular free resources available to the boating public. We also offer our premier BoatScope subscription database which brings these and several others together under a single interface with additional search and options.
BoatScope Premier
Database: Search for boat records from eight master databases all rolled into one.
Detailed reports on multiple search criteria for Coast Guard documented vessels.
Unique cross-checking feature for hull numbers, documentation numbers, and state registration numbers.
Identify vessels that have been stolen, damaged, destroyed, submerged, salvaged, or recalled.
Boating Accident Reports: Our
free boating accident history database contains records of casualties,
injuries, vessel damages and property damages. These represent incidents as
reported to state enforcement agencies throughout the country which have in
turn been registered with the Coast Guard's Boating Accident Report
Database.
Boat Manufacturers:
A free listing of boat manufacturers that have been
assigned a Manufacturer's Identification Code (MIC) by the USCG. Included
detailed information about the company along with contact information.
Lien Claims Registry: The boat lien claims searchable registry is a free
service designed for lenders, boatyards, marinas, suppliers, tax agencies,
and individual claimants. It affords a unique opportunity for exposing
maritime liens or claims to all interested parties. This is exactly what
thousands of our readers are searching for each and every day.
Stolen
Boat Registry: The stolen boat searchable registry is a free
service designed for the general pubic, insurance companies, and law
enforcement agencies. It affords a unique opportunity for exposing stolen
boats of all types to interested parties. This is exactly what thousands of
our readers are searching for each and every day.
Vessel Documentation: Our
free Coast Guard vessel database search is designed as a public resource for anyone looking to view the documentation aspects of a particular vessel.
This service will provide readers with a basic idea of what the Coast Guard has on file with regard to a vessel's status.
It serves as a starting point for more in-depth research with respect to ownership, mortgages, and lien claims.
Government Boat Database Searches
Bringing together all known government vessel databases that are available to the boating public. These cover state registrations, vessel documentation, foreign registries, historical data and operational information.
Alaska
Fisheries Database: The Alaska fisheries vessel database is
maintained by the Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission and contains
information about commercial fishing boats with permits. Although of limited
usage for most recreational boaters, it may prove helpful for special
interest parties.
Approved Equipment Search: The approved equipment search database
contains listings of equipment and materials certified by the USCG for use
on commercial and recreational vessels. It is available online from the
USCG Information Exchange website.
Casualty
Reports: The U.S. Coast Guard prepares and publishes reports of investigations in accordance with Federal statute and regulation. These reports publish the findings of fact, results of analysis, conclusions, and recommendations of the Coast Guard's investigation of marine casualties, outer continental shelf (OCS) casualties, and commercial diving casualties.
Customs
Ports of Entry: The ports of entry lookup search is provided by the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service. It is of importance to
boaters that are entering the United States by water from a foreign
destination and parties that are importing a foreign boat for sale or
private usage. The lookup search is immediately available online at no cost
and does not require an account setup or login procedure.
Endorsement
Rulings: The vessel documentation endorsement rulings database will
allow interested parties to search for official trade endorsement rulings
from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection division. This includes those
for coastwise trade and the fisheries. It may prove helpful in determining
the applicability of such endorsements under specific circumstances
FCC Licensing:
The FCC is responsible for managing and licensing the electromagnetic
spectrum for commercial users and for non-commercial users including: state,
county and local governments. It maintains a database showing details about
such licenses and licensees. This can be useful in locating information
about certain boat owners.
Incident Investigations:
The USCG incident investigations online database provides information about
closed investigations of marine casualties from 2002 to present. This
service is available online from the USCG Maritime Information Exchange
website and is free of charge.
Foreign Registry Databases: A
yacht registry database search guide for the most popular foreign countries. Includes information on what they provide, contact information along with how to conduct searches and obtain records.
Manufacturer Identification: This boat manufacturer's
database is presented by the United States Coast Guard's Safety Division. It
contains basically the same information as our proprietary databases which
have more convenient search options.
Manufacturer Recalls: The U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division publishes an online database with up to date information about manufacturer recalls. These are mostly related to safety defects and contain information about the manufacturer, the problem, and most recent date of the respective recall. This is a great source for in-general information about certain models etc., but does not
always pertain to a specific hull identification number.
Merchant Vessel Database: The U.S. Coast Guard publishes a periodic listing of all currently documented vessels. It is available to the general public for download from the Home Port website.
However, the data is provided in raw format and difficult to use without
converting into a searchable media. This is exactly what our
proprietary databases have done which also contain historical data on
vessels no longer in active documentation.
National Crime Information Bureau: The National Crime
Information Center (NCIC) is a data system managed by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. In addition to stolen boats, it includes criminal record
history information, fugitives, other stolen properties, and missing
persons. Such information is provided by the FBI, federal, state, local and
foreign criminal justice agencies, and authorized courts. However is
only
available to government and law enforcement officials. You will need to
contact a local agency for a search lookup.
NOAA Fisheries:
This searchable vessel documentation database is provided by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It offers preliminary details about
currently documented vessels. The database is searchable by the official
documentation number, hull identification number, and the vessel's name.
Although somewhat cumbersome and limited in search options, this site does
provide reasonably current data.
Port
State Information Exchange: The U.S. Coast Guard Port State Information Exchange (PSIX) vessel database is an often-overlooked resource for those seeking basic details about U.S. Coast Guard documented vessels and certain state-registered vessels. Although limited in the scope of information provided, PSIX can serve as a starting point for gathering background data on a particular vessel before pursuing more detailed records.
State by State Registration Databases:
A comprehensive boat registration database search guide for every state and
territory in the nation. Includes information on what they provide, contact
information along with how to conduct searches and obtain records.
Vessel Documentation
Archives: This website offers data on documented vessels ranging from the years of 1895 through 1965. They are based on the older Merchant Vessel Publications from the Department of Commerce.
Although they are difficult to peruse and contain minimal information, they
may be of interest to researchers and historians.
Vessel
Identification System: The Vessel Identification System
(VIS) is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Coast Guard and most states to share vessel documentation and boat registration data. This includes both current and historical information. It is administered by the Coast Guard's Maritime Information Exchange with input from the participating states.
It is unfortunately restricted to general public and may be accessed only by
enforcement and other government agencies. You will need to contact a local
office to request a search lookup for a particular vessel.
Enterprise Boat Database Searches
Enterprise databases are privately owned and operated business websites offering database searches that may be helpful to the boating public. Although mostly by subscription, some offer limited preliminary searches that may indicate whether a particular boat can be found in their systems.
Annual Credit Report: Annual Credit Report.com can provide a
useful tool in determining whether a boat owner or seller can make good on
any representations of title. It is sponsored free of charge by the nations three major
credit reporting institutions. It offers two online yearly credit
reports as a public service and at no charge, although only accessible by
the subject individual.
Been Verified Owner Check: Knowing the owner is an important element of any boat transaction. There is no title insurance in the marine industry, therefore such party must typically make good on any deficiencies or misrepresentations. BeenVerified
is one of the nations foremost providers of personal data such as court
records, criminal records, assets, properties, and other personal details.
BoatFax: BoatFax is an online boat history report service based in the United Kingdom. Although their website is almost completely devoid of any descriptive or company information, its theme indicates a knock-off of the CarFax history report service for vehicles. BoatFax
was until recently a classified boats for sale website and is now oriented
toward boat history reports and boat evaluations. It does offer a free
teaser list of stolen boats, but does not otherwise produce any search
results or details without paying for a subscription
Boat Info World: BoatInfoWorld
is an online service for gathering information about USCG documented
vessels. Although the website is still active it has not been updated since
November of 2017. There is some preliminary data available that provides basic information and statistics without a membership.
The extent and type of data provided upon subscribing is unknown.
National Insurance
Crime Bureau: The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) offers a free (VinCheck)
lookup service provided for the general public. This will assist in
determining if a boat may have a record of an insurance theft claim and has
not been recovered. It will also expose whether a boat has been salvaged.
This database is designed primarily for vehicles, but also contains boats
and is responsive to hull identification number searches.
Public Record
Retrievers: Public records in the nature of court
recordings, UCC recordings, tax liens, and vital records can often be found
online. However, this can sometimes be a hit and miss proposition. The most
accurate way of doing this is through the services of a professional public
records provider located near the respective jurisdiction. Of course this
will entail some additional fees. This database will afford nationwide
access to a list of accredited search professionals.
Title Check US: TitleCheck
is a product of Auto Data Direct (ADD), a long time provider of NMVTIS state
registration information for vehicles. Although vehicle oriented, their
reports also include boats for those states that integrate vehicle and
vessel records into the same database. There is a free preliminary search
available by entering a boat hull identification number in place of that for
vehicles. If there is a positive hit, you will be able to download the
respective report at a minimal fee.
Boat History
Report: Boat History Report is a private service that offers background
data with an emphasis on damages and salvage. Their home page contains a
lookup feature that may identify whether a vessel is USCG documented or has
been registered in a particular state. Any further details are subject to
the payment of subscription fees.
Vessel
Finder: This is a privately owned yacht and ship global tracking
system. It can be searched by a vessel's name, its IMO number, or MMSI
number or by category. Data Provided is limited but may offer some clues in
conducting further searches.
Lists and Directories
There are a number of various listings and directories available that identify important boat titling and transaction resources. Although not searchable as actual databases, they do provide valuable referrals and references.
American Vessel Documentation Association: The American Vessel Documentation Association (AVDA) is an organization of professional vessel documentation companies located throughout the United States.
The site provides a list of members by location, name, and a generic search
option.
Customs Broker Listings: The boat customs broker listings
provides the names and contact for all licensed customs brokers in the
United States and its territories. It is a searchable database provided by
the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) service.
Hague Authorities:
A listing of countries that subscribe to the Hague Convention and can issue
internationally recognized notarization Apostilles. These are required by the U.S. Coast Guard for recordable vessel documentation instruments when signed abroad.
FindLaw Attorney
Listings: A state-by state searchable listing of attorneys and their various areas of practice.
HG.Org: An excellent resource for locating Maritime Attorneys both nationwide and throughout the world.
NADA Guides:
NADA Guides is a price evaluation website that covers boats and vehicles of
all kinds. It is one of the industry's more popular resources and is
utilized by most lenders, dealers, brokers, insurance companies and the
boating community in general.
State Boating Law
Administrators: Boating Law Administrators play critical roles in the formation or
boating laws while ensuring safe and pleasurable recreational boating. This
listing will provide state-by-state contact information
Conclusion
The resources provided herein will prove helpful in determining the ownership, title, lien or historical status of a particular boat. Some of which may, however, be inconclusive, inaccurate or outdated. You should always consider the source, contact the appropriate agency or consult with a legal expert before acting on such data.
References
Comments - Suggestions - Corrections
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