Vermont § 3816 - Transfer of interest in vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle

§ 3816. Transfer of interest in vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle

• (a) If an owner transfers his or her interest in a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain
  vehicle, other than by the creation of a security interest, he or she shall, at the
  time of delivery of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, execute an assignment
  and warranty of title to the transferee in the space provided on the certificate or
  as the Commissioner prescribes, and cause the certificate and assignment to be mailed
  or delivered to the transferee or to the Commissioner. Where title to a vessel, snowmobile,
  or all-terrain vehicle is in the name of more than one person, the nature of the ownership
  must be indicated by one of the following on the certificate of title: (1) TEN ENT (tenants by the entirety); (2) JTEN (joint tenants); (3) TEN COM (tenants in common); or (4) PTNRS (partners). (b) Upon request of the owner or transferee, a lienholder in possession of the certificate
  of title shall, unless the transfer was a breach of his or her security agreement,
  either deliver the certificate to the transferee for delivery to the Commissioner
  or, upon receipt from the transferee of the owner’s assignment, the transferee’s application
  for a new certificate, and the required fee, mail or deliver them to the Commissioner.
  The delivery of the certificate does not affect the rights of the lienholder under
  his or her security agreement. (c) If a security interest is reserved or created at the time of the transfer, the certificate
  of title shall be retained by or delivered to the person who becomes the lienholder,
  and the parties shall comply with the provisions of section 3824 of this title. (d) Except as provided in section 3817 of this title and as between the parties, a transfer by an owner is not effective until the provisions
  of this section and section 3819 of this title have been complied with; however, an owner who has delivered possession of the vessel,
  snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle to the transferee and has complied with the provisions
  of this section and section 3819 of this title requiring action by him or her is not liable as owner for any damages thereafter
  resulting from operation of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle. (e)(1) Pursuant to the provisions of 14 V.S.A. § 313, whenever the estate of an individual who dies intestate consists principally of
  a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, the surviving spouse shall be deemed
  to be the owner of the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle and title to the
  vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle shall automatically pass to the surviving
  spouse. Upon request, the Department shall register and title the vessel, snowmobile,
  or all-terrain vehicle in the name of the surviving spouse, and no fee shall be assessed. (2) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, and except as provided in subdivision
  (3) of this subsection, whenever the estate of an individual consists in whole or
  in part of a vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle, and the person’s will or
  other testamentary document does not specifically address disposition of the same,
  the surviving spouse shall be deemed to be the owner and title to the vessel, snowmobile,
  or all-terrain vehicle shall automatically pass to the surviving spouse. Upon request,
  the Department shall register and title the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle
  in the name of the surviving spouse, and no fee shall be assessed. (3) This subsection shall not apply if the vessel, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle
  is titled in the name of one or more persons other than the decedent and the surviving
  spouse. (Added 1987, No. 152 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2001, No. 107 (Adj. Sess.), § 13; 2009, No. 55, § 7; 2017, No. 71, § 17.)