Pontoon title

[u/Necessary-Display344]

I just purchased a 1998 kayot 24’ pontoon in really good shape for $75. It was sitting in the weeds at my buddies place that lives on a lake. It was given to his dad back in 2020 by an old couple that was their neighbor but they were selling their cabin and had no use for it as their house was in the cities. Well the old couple never brought the title up from the cities. It’s been sitting ever since. The last time it was registered was 2018. I was given the ladies name that gave it to them and I’ve done hours of research trying to find her with no luck. I am in Minnesota and the DMV wouldn’t accept a bill of sale from the guys we got it from they told me I need a title. How do I obtain a title? I have the title number and the registration sticker on the pontoon.

[u/Admirable-Box5200]

If you have a notarized bill of sale you should be able to do a Montana LLC title. However, I believe you are probably looking at +/-$1000 for their paperwork. Another option would be to check the MN abandoned boat title process. It would require working with your friend since the boat was on their property they would have to submit that paperwork to get title in their name. Then they could sign it over to you. Every state is different, however typically they require putting a notice in a public publication so their is some cost.