Boat Title Loans

A boat title loan lets you borrow against the equity in a boat you already own. The title is used as collateral while you keep using your boat during the loan. Once the loan is paid in full, the lien is removed and the title is returned to you.

If you own your boat outright and need cash quickly, this can be a fast option when other lenders aren’t available.

5 Star Car Title Loans™ offers boat title loans across 13 states for short-term needs like emergency expenses or time-sensitive bills.

Be aware that title loans come with higher costs than a bank or credit union loan, and you can lose your boat if you can’t repay.

We want you to understand both sides before you apply, so here’s what to know before getting a free estimate.

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Loan Amounts and Costs:

How Loan Amounts Are Calculated

The loan offer is based on three things: appraised vessel value, the state’s maximum loan size or rate cap, and your documented ability to repay.

Appraised value. The appraisal looks at year, make, model, hull condition, engine hours, and current market comparables. A 2018 vessel in well-maintained condition with current registration appraises differently from the same vessel with hull damage or expired registration.

Loan-to-value range. 5 Star Loans offers boat title loans at 25% to 50% of appraised vessel value. Where in that range your offer falls depends on vessel category, vessel age, hull condition, and the rules of your state.

Maximum loan amount. Up to $50,000 in states where state law allows it. Some states cap consumer loan amounts below this amount. For example, Florida’s Consumer Finance Act caps loans at $25,000. Where the state cap is lower, the state cap controls. Your state hub publishes the limit that applies where you live.

What This Looks Like in Practice

The table below shows approximate market values for several common recreational vessel categories, drawn from public valuation guides (J.D. Power, BoatTrader, NADA Boats), and the corresponding loan ranges at our 25%–50% LTV.

These are illustrative ranges to help you set expectations.

Vessel category	Year range	Approximate market value	Loan range at 25%–50% LTV
Bayliner bowrider, 18–20 ft	2015–2019	$12,000–$25,000	$3,000–$12,500
Sea-Doo / Yamaha personal watercraft	2017–2021	$7,000–$15,000	$1,750–$7,500
Pontoon boat, 22–24 ft	2016–2020	$20,000–$45,000	$5,000–$22,500
Center console fishing boat, 21–24 ft	2014–2018	$25,000–$60,000	$6,250–$30,000
Sterndrive cruiser, 24–28 ft	2012–2016	$30,000–$70,000	$7,500–$35,000

Disclaimer: Market value ranges are approximate and reflect public valuation data at the time this page was published. Actual appraisals depend on hull condition, engine hours, equipment, and regional market factors. Loan amounts are subject to your state’s maximum loan cap and to your documented ability to repay.

APR and Term

The cost of your loan is reflected in the APR. The APR you qualify for depends on your state, loan amount, loan term, and your ability to repay. Each state page outlines the APR ranges and term limits that apply where you live.

In general, title loan APRs are high. We encourage you to look into lower-cost loan options if you wish to avoid high costs and the risk of repossession.

Choose a title loan only if your situation calls for emergency funds, you are aware of the cost, and you are able to repay the loan as agreed.

What 5 Star Loans Can Fund

Vessel Types We Can Accept

Outboard motorboats with a HIN, registered with the state
Inboard and sterndrive motorboats with a HIN, registered with the state
Personal watercraft (Jet Ski, WaveRunner, Sea-Doo) with a HIN
Sailboats within underwriting size limits

Vessel Types We Do Not Fund

Vessels without a HIN, or with a HIN that does not match the title
USCG-documented vessels above our oversize threshold (these typically use marine mortgages, not title loans)
Houseboats used as a primary residence
Vessels with an existing lien on the title
Vessels titled in a name other than the applicant’s

Trailer Titling

The boat trailer is titled separately from the boat in most states. We do not require the trailer title to fund the loan, but if the trailer is included in the appraisal value, the trailer title must also be lien-free.

Hull Insurance

Your boat must remain insured for the entire loan period. We’ll need a copy of your insurance declarations page when you apply, and you should notify us if you change carriers or policies during the loan.

How a Boat Title Loan Works at 5 Star Loans

When your loan is approved, a lien is recorded on your boat’s title. We hold that lien for the duration of the loan, which can be up to 60 months.

Unlike a pawn loan, you do not give up possession of your boat. It stays with you the entire time for daily use.

If you make every payment as agreed, the lien is released and the title comes back to you. If you fall behind and can’t catch up, the boat can be repossessed and sold under your state’s law to recover what’s owed.

That’s the honest trade-off for getting cash quickly without a credit check: you keep your boat through the loan, but it’s on the line if things go wrong.

Risks and Costs You Need to Understand

A boat title loan isn’t right for everyone. Before you apply, take a few minutes to understand what you’re agreeing to. If after reading this you decide a different option is better for your situation, that’s a good outcome too.

The Loan Is Secured by Your Boat

If you fall behind on payments, your boat can be repossessed under your state’s law. Every state handles this differently: how much notice you get, whether you can cure the default and reinstate the loan, and whether you’re entitled to any surplus if the boat sells for more than you owe. The specifics for your state are on your state hub.

APR Is High Relative to Other Forms of Credit

Title loan APRs run higher than what you’d pay on a personal loan from a bank, a credit union loan, or a credit card balance transfer.

If any of those are realistically available to you, use them first. We’d rather you save money than borrow from us at a higher rate.

Late or Missed Payments May Be Reported to Consumer Reporting Agencies

This can hurt your credit score and make it harder to borrow in the future. If you think you might miss a payment, call us before the due date so we can talk through your options.

What You’ll Need to Apply

Applying is two steps and free, with no obligation. Fill out a short web form to see if you’re pre-approved. Then a 5 Star agent calls you back to complete the application over the phone. Most calls take 10 to 15 minutes.

Identification

Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)

Date of birth

Current street address

Boat Documentation

Boat title: must be lien-free and in your name

Hull Identification Number (HIN): the 12-character code on the starboard side of the transom

Year, make, model, trim, color, length, hull material

Current state registration

Trailer Documentation (If Your Trailer Is Part of the Appraisal)

Trailer title: must be lien-free

Trailer VIN, year, make, model

Motor Documentation

Motor make, model, year

Motor serial number

Engine hours

Horsepower

Type (inboard, outboard, sterndrive)

Insurance

Active hull insurance declarations page

Income and Housing

Source of income (employment, self-employment, Social Security, disability, pension, or other)

Combined monthly household income

Whether you rent or own, and your monthly housing payment

Common Application Issues and How to Fix Them Before You Apply

These are the operational reasons applications get held up at 5 Star Car Title Loans™. Every one of them is fixable before you apply, and fixing them in advance is the difference between funding in one business day and funding in a few days.

“My Boat Doesn’t Have a State Title, It Has a USCG Document”

USCG-documented vessels follow a different lien process. The lien is recorded with the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Vessel Documentation Center as a preferred ship’s mortgage rather than on a state title.

Before applying, locate your most recent Certificate of Documentation and confirm there is no existing lien recorded against the vessel.

“There’s Still a Lienholder Listed on My Title”

Most boat title loan applications are declined due to an existing lien. The title must be lien-free and in your name.

If a prior loan is paid off but the lien is still recorded, it must be cleared first. Contact the lienholder for a lien release and file it with your state titling agency to update the title.

“I Can’t Find the HIN”

The Hull Identification Number is a 12-character code assigned to every recreational boat manufactured after 1972. The most common locations are:

The starboard side of the transom, upper right corner outside the hull

On the certificate of origin or title document

Stamped on a metal plate inside the boat for some models

“My Boat Is in Storage Out of State”

We can offer loans where you live in one of the 13 states we operate in and the vessel is stored elsewhere, but the appraisal still has to be completed on the vessel itself.

Tell us at application where the vessel is, and we will tell you whether a remote appraisal is workable.

Boat Title Loans by State

How State Law Treats Boat Title Loans

Most states don’t have a specific law just for boat title loans, so these loans are made under each state’s general consumer lending laws.

What this means for you: your interest rate cap, loan term, prepayment rights, and repossession process are set by your state’s law, not by what kind of vehicle secures the loan.

The rules are the same whether the collateral is a car or a boat. What changes is which state statute applies to your loan.

Three Examples Show How This Varies:

California. Boat title loans are made under the California Financing Law. A loan of $2,500 to $10,000 is capped at 36% plus the Federal Funds Rate under the Fair Access to Credit Act (AB 539). Loans above $10,000 are not subject to the rate cap and may carry a higher APR.

Florida. Florida’s Title Loan Act (Chapter 537) applies only to motor vehicles. Boat title loans in Florida are made under the Florida Consumer Finance Act (Chapter 516), which sets its own tiered rate structure for loans up to $25,000.

Washington. Boat title loans are made under the Washington Consumer Loan Act, which caps the rate at 25% per year.

For exact rates, terms, and borrower protections in your state, see your state page below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Pay Off the Loan Early Without a Penalty?

Yes. You can pay off your loan early with no prepayment penalty. Doing so can save you a lot in interest and is recommended to reduce the overall cost.

Why Are Boat Title Loan APRs Higher Than Personal Loan APRs?

Title loans are short-term, available to borrowers without strong credit, and require no traditional underwriting of the borrower’s full financial picture.

The collateral mitigates default risk for the lender, but origination costs and servicing costs are spread over a smaller principal and shorter term, which raises the APR.

How Fast Can I Actually Get Funded?

For a state-titled vessel with a clean title, complete documentation, and a workable appraisal, funding typically completes within 1–2 business days8.

Do Engine Hours Affect My Loan Amount?

Yes. Engine hours are one of the factors that affect a boat’s appraised value.

Boats with higher hours than typical for their age may appraise lower, which can reduce the loan amount you qualify for.

The exact impact depends on how the appraisal weighs hours against other factors like hull condition, maintenance history, and current market comparables.

How Do I Find the “Blue Book” Value of My Boat?

There isn’t a single “Kelley Blue Book” for boats.

Two reliable sources to check are J.D. Power (formerly NADA Guides) for a baseline retail price, and BUC Used Boat Price Guide for a price adjusted to your specific region.