Florida passes boat titling law

Published On: May 9, 2019Categories: Industry News

The Florida Legislature approved the Uniform Certificate of Title Act (HB 475/S 676) and sent the bill to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) heralded the legislation’s passage, calling titling a vital tool in the effort to protect consumers from buying damaged, destroyed, or stolen boats.

 “The consumer benefits from boat titles are clear and incontrovertible,” stated NMMA vice president of state government relations, David Dickerson. “Just like Carfax identifies if a car has been in an accident and who the rightful owner is, the improvements to titles created by this legislation add significant consumer protection, helping boaters avoid unwittingly purchasing a stolen or previously damaged vessel. Additionally, titles create more confidence in the marketplace, leading to more reasonable financing options for boat owners. Plus, this legislation helps protect all dealers – including the small, family-owned businesses – from being saddled with an unsellable craft.

“Today, Florida’s collective recreational boating ecosystem – which generates an annual economic impact of $23.3 billion in the state, supporting more than 6,000 businesses and 92,000 jobs – has good reason to celebrate.” Dickerson said.