AI-assisted research summary: This section requires timely applications for certificates of title for vessels and outboard motors, with different deadlines and duties for purchasers, owners, manufacturers, dealers, and dealers on resale.
Sec. 31.046. APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF TITLE. Text of subsection effective until January 01, 2028 (a) Except as provided in Subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the purchaser of a vessel or an outboard motor shall apply to the department or to a county tax assessor-collector for a certificate of title not later than the 45th day after the date of the sale of the vessel or outboard motor. Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2028 (a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), the owner of a vessel or outboard motor for which this state is the state of principal use shall deliver to the department or to a county tax assessor-collector an application for a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor, with the applicable fee, not later than the 20th day after the later of: (1) the date of purchase or transfer of ownership; or (2) the date that this state becomes the state of principal use. Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2028 (a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a), the state of principal use of a vessel or outboard motor is the state on whose waters a vessel or outboard motor is or will be used, operated, navigated, or employed more than on the waters of any other state during a calendar year. Text of subsection effective until January 01, 2028 (b) A manufacturer or a dealer who sells a vessel or an outboard motor to a person other than a manufacturer or a dealer shall apply to the department or to a county tax assessor-collector for a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor in the name of the purchaser not later than the 45th day after the date of the sale. Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2028 (b) A manufacturer or a dealer who sells a vessel or an outboard motor to a person other than a manufacturer or a dealer shall apply to the department or to a county tax assessor-collector for a certificate of title for the vessel or outboard motor in the name of the purchaser not later than the 20th day after the date of the sale. (c) A dealer who acquires a vessel or an outboard motor, other than a new vessel or outboard motor, is not required to apply for a certificate of title in the name of the dealer, but on resale of the vessel or outboard motor shall apply for the subsequent purchaser under Subsection (b) of this section and shall submit to the department or to a county tax assessor-collector the endorsed certificate of title acquired by the dealer. (d) The department or county tax assessor-collector may not issue a certificate of title unless the tax due on the vessel or outboard motor under Chapter 160, Tax Code, is paid. Added by Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 1253, ch. 484, Sec. 1(e), eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 1353, ch. 607, Sec. 4, eff. Aug. 27, 1979; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 5, Sec. 7.06, eff. Oct. 1, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 450, Sec. 16, eff. Sept. 1, 1993. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1249 (H.B. 4032), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 185 (S.B. 1267), Sec. 10, eff. January 1, 2028.