Florida Implements "Carfax for Boats" Law to Enhance Transparency and Safety

Did you know that Florida has recently implemented a law that can impose hefty fines of up to $25,000 per occurrence on boat owners and businesses? Dubbed the "Carfax for Boats" law, it came into effect today! According to FL HB475, all boats classified as "Hull Damaged" are now required to have a hull damaged brand added to their title. This law introduces an additional layer of transparency and security when purchasing pre-owned boats in Florida, similar to the information consumers receive when buying used cars.

Starting July 1, 2023, if you are a boat owner, commercial business, or insurance agency operating in Florida and you damage a vessel without applying for a hull damaged title before transferring the ownership, you could face fines of up to $25,000 per occurrence!

The passing of this law in Florida was influenced by several key stakeholders, including Boat History Report, David Kennedy from BoatUS, David Dickerson from the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), as well as members of the Uniform Law Commission and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

Caroline Mantel, our Director of Business Development, expressed her thoughts on the matter, stating, "The goal is to make boating safer; this includes boat buying and selling, being out on the water, laws that protect boaters, etc. Anything that makes boating safer helps the boating industry and other businesses associated with it."

While running a Boat History Report remains the best way to obtain the complete history of a boat, this new law represents a significant step forward for boating in Florida.
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For more information or any inquiries regarding this law, please contact Caroline Mantel at [email protected].
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