Outboard motors are the things that make us get the job done (boating). Having an outboard motor isn’t enough. You need to have a title for it as well. Generally, you need a title for a boat and trailer, but do you need a title for an outboard motor?
Outboard motors also need or have titles, as boats and trailers do. But, not all the states are required to have a title for an outboard motor. Many states don’t require a title for an outboard motor; only a few of them need a title for an outboard motor.
Applying for an outboard motor title will vary for each state. Each state requires different types of requirements or documents that needed to be submitted while titling. You can’t use a title in your state, which is titled in other states. So, make sure you are using the title that is issued in the state where you are living.
Why do you need a title for an outboard motor?
You need a title for an outboard motor because it is like the proof of the outboard motor that belongs to you. If you don’t have one, then you can’t prove to others that the outboard motor belongs to you. But, only a few states require a title for an outboard motor.
If you are selling the outboard motor to others, some buyers will buy it if it has a title. Generally, if you are living in a state where it does not require to title an outboard motor, then you don’t need to title it at all.
What happens if you don’t have a title for an outboard motor?
If you don’t have a title for an outboard motor, then you can’t prove that it belongs to you. While selling it, you may get any problems. If you are living in a state where it requires a title, then you should have it. Otherwise, you may face any issues if the coast guard inspects your boat.
But, only a few states in the USA require a title for an outboard motor. The problems of not having a title for an outboard motor are listed below. All of them apply to the people who are living in the states where it requires a title, rest, no need to worry.
- You might get any problems while selling the outboard motor to others. Some people won’t buy an outboard motor if it doesn’t have a title.
- If you are living in a state where you require a title for an outboard motor and if you don’t have one, then you need to pay the fine to the coast guards if they inspect your boat.
- If you don’t have a title for an outboard motor, then anyone can come and argue that the outboard motor belongs to him (don’t worry, no one will argue like that). Still, they can, because you don’t have any proof that the outboard motor belongs to you. So, it is good to have a title for an outboard motor if you are living in a state where it requires a title.
States in the USA that require a title for an outboard motor
There are some states in the USA that require your outboard motor to be titled as well. The states in the USA that require a title for an outboard motor are listed below.
- LOUISIANA (Title is required for an outboard motor with 25 hp or more in the state of Louisiana).
- MISSISSIPPI (Title for an outboard motor in the state of Mississippi is optional).
- MISSOURI (Title is required for all outboard motors in the state of Missouri).
- OHIO (Title is required for an outboard motor with 10 hp or more in the state of Ohio).
- OKLAHOMA (Title is required for an outboard motor with 10 hp or more in the state of Oklahoma).
- SOUTH CAROLINA (Title is required for an outboard motor with 5 hp or more in the state of South Carolina).
- TEXAS (Title is required for all outboard motors in the state of Texas).
- UTAH (Title is required for an outboard motor with 25 hp or more in the state of South Carolina).
All the states mentioned above require a title for an outboard motor.
States in the USA that don’t require a title for an outboard motor
The states in the USA that don’t require a title for an outboard motor are listed below.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
All the states listed above require a title for an outboard motor. Check my article on Title requirements for boat trailer (don’t worry, it will open in new tab). Check my article on Title requirements for boats (don’t worry, it will open in new tab).
Outboard motor title requirements for all the states in the USA
In the below table, I listed the outboard motor title requirements for all states in the USA.
| STATE | Need a title for an outboard motor? |
| ALABAMA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Alabama) |
| ALASKA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Alaska) |
| ARIZONA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Arizona) |
| ARKANSAS | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Arkansas) |
| CALIFORNIA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of California) |
| COLORADO | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Colorado) |
| CONNECTICUT | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Connecticut) |
| DELAWARE | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Delaware) |
| FLORIDA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Florida) |
| GEORGIA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Georgia) |
| HAWAII | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Hawaii) |
| IDAHO | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Idaho) |
| ILLINOIS | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Illinois) |
| INDIANA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Indiana) |
| IOWA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Iowa) |
| KANSAS | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Kansas) |
| KENTUCKY | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Kentucky) |
| LOUISIANA | YES (Title is required for an outboard motor with 25 hp or more in the state of Louisiana) |
| MAINE | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Maine) |
| MARYLAND | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Maryland) |
| MASSACHUSETTS | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Massachusetts) |
| MICHIGAN | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Michigan) |
| MINNESOTA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Minnesota) |
| MISSISSIPPI | OPTIONAL (Title for an outboard motor in the state of Mississippi is optional) |
| MISSOURI | YES (Title is required for all outboard motors in the state of Missouri) |
| MONTANA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Montana) |
| NEBRASKA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Nebraska) |
| NEVADA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Nevada) |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of New Hampshire) |
| NEW JERSEY | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of New Jersey) |
| NEW MEXICO | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of New Mexico) |
| NEW YORK | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of New York) |
| NORTH CAROLINA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of North Carolina) |
| NORTH DAKOTA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of North Dakota) |
| OHIO | YES (Title is required for an outboard motor with 10 hp or more in the state of Ohio) |
| OKLAHOMA | YES (Title is required for an outboard motor with 10 hp or more in the state of Oklahoma) |
| OREGON | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Oregon) |
| PENNSYLVANIA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Pennsylvania) |
| RHODE ISLAND | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Rhod Island) |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | YES (Title is required for an outboard motor with 5 hp or more in the state of South Carolina) |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of South Dakota) |
| TENNESSEE | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Tennessee) |
| TEXAS | YES (Title is required for all outboard motors in the state of Texas) |
| UTAH | YES (Title is required for an outboard motor with 25 hp or more in the state of Utah) |
| VERMONT | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Vermont) |
| VIRGINIA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Virginia) |
| WASHINGTON | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Washington) |
| WEST VIRGINIA | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of West Virginia) |
| WISCONSIN | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Wisconsin) |
| WYOMING | NO (No title is required for an outboard motor in the state of Wyoming) |
Bottom line
If you are living in a state where the state requires a title for an outboard motor, then title your outboard motor to prevent any problems in the future.