Florida Governor Signs Boat Owner Consumer Protection Bill

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Uniform Certificate of Title Act (HB 475/S 676), that offers recreational boat owners consumer protections. The legislation protects consumers from unwittingly purchasing a stolen or storm-tossed boat that has suffered significant hurricane damage. The legislation will create a uniform boat titling system that is recognized nationwide as well by the U.S. Coast Guard. Boats that are repaired and later put up for sale will now have titles clearly labeled as such.

BoatUS advocated for the new law, which is based on model legislation developed by the Uniform Law Commission. Currently, 10 states still do not issue vessel titles, making it easier for thieves to sell a stolen boat using a fraudulent bill of sale or forged registration document.

“While all states have motor vehicle title laws, these do not apply to recreational boats,” BoatUS Manager of Government Affairs David Kennedy said. “This legislation institutionalizes several consumer protection mechanisms that are already commonplace for motor vehicles. These include clear labeling of significant structural damage on vessel titles, creating a uniform system to identify legitimate vessel owners/lien-holders, and better ways to prevent the sale of stolen boats.”

Kennedy added, “By ‘branding’ the titles of vessels that suffer significant damage, buyers will be made aware of material information that could affect a vessel’s condition. It’s not designed to stop a sale. It’s to give buyers the true condition of the vessel they are interested in purchasing and helps them make smart purchases.”

While the legislation offers benefits to boaters residing in Florida due to the high number of boats there, it also has repercussions beyond the state’s borders. According to U.S. Coast Guard data, Florida has the highest number of recreational boat registrations in the nation. “With a boat registered in Florida that’s later moved to another titled state and sold, the new owner will also benefit from knowing the boat’s history,” Kennedy said. “And it will be much harder to unload boats that are stolen in Florida and later fraudulently sold out of state.”