1. The owner of a snowmobile acquired on or after January 1, 1998, or an all-terrain vehicle acquired on or after January 1, 2000, other than a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle used exclusively as a farm implement, shall apply to the county recorder of the county in which the owner resides for a certificate of title for the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. The owner of a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle used exclusively as a farm implement may obtain a certificate of title. A person who owns a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle that is not required to have a certificate of title may apply for and receive a certificate of title for the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle and, subsequently, the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter as if the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle were required to be titled. All snowmobiles or all-terrain vehicles that are titled shall be registered.
2. A certificate of title shall contain the information and shall be issued on a form the department prescribes.
3. An owner of a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle shall apply to the county recorder for issuance of a certificate of title within thirty days after acquisition. The application shall be on forms the department prescribes and accompanied by the required fee. The application shall be signed and sworn to before a notary public or other person who administers oaths, or shall include a certification signed in writing containing substantially the representation that statements made are true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge, information, and belief, under penalty of perjury. The application shall contain the date of sale and gross price of the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle or the fair market value if no sale immediately preceded the transfer and any additional information the department requires. If the application is made for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle last previously registered or titled in another state or foreign country, the application shall contain this information and any other information the department requires.
4. If a dealer buys or acquires a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle for resale, the dealer shall report the acquisition to the county recorder on forms provided by the department and may apply for and obtain a certificate of title as provided in this chapter. If a dealer buys or acquires a used snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, the dealer may apply for a certificate of title in the dealer's name within thirty days. If a dealer buys or acquires a new snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle for resale, the dealer may apply for a certificate of title in the dealer's name.
5. A manufacturer or dealer shall not transfer ownership of a new snowmobile or new all-terrain vehicle without supplying the transferee with the manufacturer's or importer's certificate of origin signed by the manufacturer's or importer's authorized agent. The certificate shall contain information the department requires. The department may adopt rules providing for the issuance of a certificate of origin for a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle by the department upon good cause shown by the owner.
6. A dealer transferring ownership of a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle under this chapter shall assign the title to the new owner, or in the case of a new snowmobile or new all-terrain vehicle, assign the certificate of origin. Within fifteen days the dealer shall forward all moneys and applications to the county recorder.
7. The county recorder shall maintain a record of any certificate of title which the county recorder issues and shall keep each certificate of title on record until the certificate of title has been inactive for five years. When issuing a title for a new snowmobile or new all-terrain vehicle, the county recorder shall obtain and keep on file the certificate of origin. When issuing a title and registration for a used snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle for which there is no title or registration, the county recorder shall obtain and keep on file the affidavit for the unregistered and untitled snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle.
8. Once titled, a person shall not sell or transfer ownership of a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle without delivering to the purchaser or transferee a certificate of title with an assignment on it showing title in the purchaser or transferee. A person shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle without obtaining a certificate of title for it in that person's name.
9. If the county recorder is not satisfied as to the ownership of the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle or that there are no undisclosed security interests in the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, the county recorder may issue a certificate of title for the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle but, as a condition of such issuance, may require the applicant to file with the department a bond in the form prescribed by the department and executed by the applicant, and also executed by a person authorized to conduct a surety business in this state. The form and amount of the bond shall be established by rule of the department. The bond shall be conditioned to indemnify any prior owner and secured party and any subsequent purchaser of the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle or person acquiring any security interest in the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle, and their respective successors in interest, against any expense, loss, or damage, including reasonable attorney fees, by reason of the issuance of the certificate of title of the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle or on account of any defect in or undisclosed security interest upon the right, title, and interest of the applicant in and to the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle. Any such interested person has a right of action to recover on the bond for any breach of its conditions, but the aggregate liability of the surety to all persons shall not exceed the amount of the bond. The bond shall be returned at the end of three years or prior thereto if the snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle is no longer registered in this state and the certificate of title is surrendered to the department, unless the department has been notified of the pendency of an action to recover on the bond.
10. The county recorder shall transmit a copy of the certificate of title to the department, which shall be the central repository of title information for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.
97 Acts, ch 148, §1, 9; 99 Acts, ch 113, §4; 2002 Acts, ch 1027, §10; 2002 Acts, ch 1113, §3
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