Boat History Title Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG
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When buying a boat you need to find out as much information about it before spending any money on someone else’s problems. There are companies that can lookup the HIN number of the boat and there are brokers that can obtain a vessel title abstract using the USCG official number of the boat.
In this article we explain the main difference between Boat History Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG and which one you should get.
Do all boats have a USCG official number?
The answer is no, not all boats have USCG’s official number, except for some boats that qualify for USCG documentation. Boat owners must document their vessels with the National Vessel Documentation Centre. NVDC is the body in the United States responsible for vessel documentation.
The USCG Documentation of a vessel entails the whole process involved in the registration of a boat with the United States Coast Guard at the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). As you may have known, the state titling of the vessel occurs at the state level, whereas, the USCG vessel documentation is recorded at the national level and has advantages for international waters.
Once you have registered your vessel with the US Coast Guard, you will be issued a Certificate of Documentation (COD). The COD is very important, it allows you to use your boat either for business, for a cruise, or recreational activities on international waterways. You can check our previous article for details on the COD and renewals/ transfers. The important thing to note is that documented vessels qualify for a Vessel Title Abstract. This is a full report on the history of a boat and its mortgages.
What is in a Boat History Report?
Are you looking to buy a used boat that is not documented at the USCG? In that case your only way to find out about its history is to go with private HIN lookup companies (below).
A boat HIN history report searches for negative issues or conditions in the boats history. It also looks up state registration history. Dangerous hidden problems like theft, hull damage, hurricanes, flooding, accidents, fire, and more are searched in private databases collected by companies.
What is in a vessel abstract of title report?
The abstract of title entails all the information, or records submitted to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for a given vessel during documentation. In other words, a boat abstract contains the vessel owner information and bank details.
This helps you to know the actual owner of the boat and lookup liens. USCG Abstracts of Title offers detailed vessel lien information and a detailed history of previous owners, bill of sale, including all active and satisfactory documents:
What Are the Benefits of Getting Boat History Report or a Vessel Abstract of Title from a Reliable Broker?
The benefits of having a boat history report and vessel abstract of title from a reliable broker cannot be over-emphasized. As a used boat buyer or seller, you must know about the hidden problems and history of the boat you intend to buy in order to make an informed decision.
Here are some of the benefits why you should get one or both of these reports:
Huge Start
Since the boat history report and vessel abstract of title is a major requirement for acquiring a boat in the United State, it is important, to begin with, the right broker and the right document. Different sites would be mentioned in this article, they remained some of the foremost bodies responsible for detailing historical information regarding a purchase of a used boat.
As a used boat buyer, the first step you need to take before buying a used boat is to get the historical data of such a boat. The most reliable way to achieve this task is through a reliable boat search broker.
Efficient Buying Decision
One of the numerous benefits of having a boat history report to clients is that- it offers used boat buyers better buying decisions. Since boat history reports and vessel abstracts of title are known as one of the most trusted resource documents for boat history information. The information received would either enable boat buyers to make an efficient buying decision.
Boost Security and Confidence
With the help of the boat history report vs. Vessel abstract of title to buyers and sellers, there is an increase in security and confidence. As a vessel buyer, you will have confidence in the kind of used boat you are buying. With the help of a reliable broker, you are already aware of any prevailing issue or event surrounding the boat.
Where can you buy a Boat History Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG
Several websites sell boat history searches such as Boat-Alert.com, MarineTitle, Boathistoryreport.com, and Boatfax.com. Those sites have been compared here. But it is imperative to get a boat abstract of title from a reliable broker like Boat-abstract if your boat qualifies for one.
How much does it cost to get a Boat History Report
Most of the sites here give a comprehensive boat history report, whereas, others give a basic report. One good thing about their subscriptions is that you have access to premium membership and some free searches.
Below is a price list updated on July 2022:
- Boatfax.com; You will pay up to $20 for one basic search or $34 with some upgrades.
- MarineTitle.com; You pay $29.95 for 30 days unlimited lookups.
- Boat-Alert.com; You can get an instant report at $19.99, or you pay $39.99 for ten different searches.
- Boathistoryreport.com; This site guarantees a detailed and thorough search with a fee of $59.99.
How much does it cost to get a Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG
Here is a list of NVDC broker prices:
- https://boat-abstract.com ($50 :USD)
- https://vesseltitleservices.com ($80 USD)
- https://maritimedocumentation.us ($75 USD)
- https://unitedstatesvessel.us/abstract-of-title/ ($75 USD)
- https://www.yachtdocsonline.com/abstract-title ($75 USD)
- https://usvesseldocumentation.center/forms/abstract-of-title/ ($75 USD)
Comparing Boat History Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG
| Website | Prices | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Boatfax | $20 | You will pay up to $20 for a basic search. You can as well spend $34 for a boat history check and a basic search. The reports include hurricane checks, incident checks, manufacturer’s information, and more. |
| MarineTitle.com | $29.95 | You have access to 8 premier maritime databases. |
| Boat-Alert.com | $19.99 | Boat-Alert guarantees a 60-day refund. You can get an instant report at $19.99, or you pay $39.99 for ten different searches. Their report is versatile because they have access to 72+ public and private boat databases so you can search them all in one place. |
| Boathistoryreport.com | $59.99 | With boathistoryreport.com you get the following boat check: Accidents Collisions Fire Hurricanes Run Aground Submerged Seized Total Loss Recall Warranties |
Conclusion – which one should you get? Boat History Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG
The main difference between Boat History Report vs. Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG is that one Boat History Report relies on private databases collected from States whereas Vessel Abstract of Title from USCG comes from the NVDC. The Abstract of Title is the information or record of all the information submitted to the USCG.
Our suggestion is to get both reports since each one has different info. Your boat won’t qualify for Abstract of Title if it is not documented at the USCG.
Get the boat HIN lookup from boat-alert.com and get the USCG title abstract from boat-abstract.com.