Can I Take My New Boat to the Lake?

[user 15101]

I failed to call Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and ask this question during business hours Friday, so I'm hoping someone here can help me out. Can I take my new boat out to the lake this weekend even though it's not technically registered yet? (The dealership is handling the registration.) If so, what documentation would I need to have with me in case I got checked by a Game Warden?

Thanks.

 

[richg99]

I don't know the official answer, but, if I bought a boat from a dealer, I'd carry the recent bill of sale and go fishing.

richg99

 

[2sac]

They didn't give you a copy of the registration application?

 

[lovedr79]

In va. You cant take it out until you have the stickers and paper work back from them. But you can buy a temporary registration online or from anywhere that sells fishing license s.

 

[Tallpine]

In Oregon the receipt that you have applied is your temporary registration. It doesn't make sense that if you buy a new boat or one that has expired tags that you should have to wait to use your boat. If you buy a new car do you have to wait until the title comes to drive it? No.

 

[user 15101]

So I ended up calling my local Game Warden to ask this question. Turns out the dealership was supposed to give me temporary tags (just like on a car) until my registration is processed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. He said, however, that on the lake that he was patrolling today (which is where I was planning on going anyway), he would be fine with me just showing a copy of the bill of sale. He did mention that other Game Wardens may not be so flexible, though.

Anyway, we took the boat out and played around a bit. Wife wanted to do some fishing, so we hung out in a cove near the boat launch and didn't even hardly see any other boats.