Boat Alert Review
The reports that Boat Alert offers are very comprehensive and cover 72 different free and paid databases. Each report contains information such as a boat’s accident history report, whether it is a stolen boat, and whether the boat has any liens. You can purchase reports at $19.99 each or get a bundle of ten search credits for $39.99, which works out to just $4 per search. The credits also do not expire.
Pros
- An immediate search of 72 different free and paid databases, all compiled into a single convenient report
- A search of over 9000 insurance salvage companies
- Highly affordable, costing just $39.99 for ten searches
- Get all sorts of different information about a boat, including the manufacturer, model, and more
Cons
- Individual searches can be expensive, costing $19.99 each if you do not purchase the bundle of ten
- Only some lien databases are searched, and you might need to do additional research if you are concerned about a lien
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Best Boat History Report Providers
Boat History Report
Report costs $59.99 and 6 reports $99.99, which you have to use in 60 days
150+ million unique boat records, world’s largest boat history database
100% satisfaction guaranteed refund policy
Boat Alert
Priced at $19.99 for one report and $39.99 for ten boat history searches
Boat-Alert checks 72 public & private boat databases (state and federal)
Easy and long 60-day money back guarantee
Boatfax
A comprehensive Boatfax boat report with all the add-ons will cost $34
Free boat valuation is available + you can search international databases
Refund policy does not exist with Boatfax
How Does Boat Alert Work?
Boat Alert is a website that provides boat history reports on any boat in the US. As long as the boat has a hull identification number (HIN), you can look up its history on the Boat Alert Website.
You can get a boat history report just by entering the HIN for the boat you’re interested in into the search bar on the Boat Alert website. The company’s automated software will then check every public database for data on the boat, along with some private databases.
What is Included in the Boat History Report?
All of the information that you will find in a boat history report from Boat Alert are listed here:
- Accident Checks USA
- Pollution Incidents USA
- Theft Check USA & International
- Salvage & Total Loss USA
- NMVTIS Check 50 States
- NMVTIS Check 9000+ Insurance Companies
- Boat Recalls
- Year and Month of Manufacture
- Auctioned Vessels
- Abandonment or Misappropriation
- Manufacturer Data Validation
- Model Name Exact or Close
- Insurance Companies Branded Titles
- Fast 1-on-1 Customer Support by email
- HIN Validation
- USA Registration if available
- Some Lien databases
- Claims and State Issued HINs
- NMVTIS Search Salvage Yards & Auctions
- Full HIN Decoder
- Boat Value Calculator
- Previous Boat Names
- USA Documentation Numbers
- Cross Check Official numbers
- Canadian Registration (Federal)
- Canadian Licencing PCL (Provincial)
- Canadian Theft Database
- Printable PDF Report & 60-day Share Link
What is not Included in the Boat History Report?
The information that you will not find in a boat history report from Boat Alert is listed here:
- Technical information about the boats (including measurements and engine information)
- Insurance claims and warranties
- Maintenance and service records
- Boat environment liens
- Certified marine surveyors
- Boat equipment check and motor VIN
- Canadian pleasure craft licenses PCL in each province
Boat Alert History Report Samples
Here are two samples of what you can expect when you order a boat history report from Boat Alert. I’ve included an example of a history report for a salvage boat and a clean one for a boat with no issues, so you can get a clear idea of how to tell them apart.
History Report for a Salvage Boat
History Report for a Clean Boat
How Much Does a Boat Alert Report Cost?
Each search on Boat Alert costs one credit, which you can purchase on the website for $19.99 each. A bundle of ten credits for just $39.99 is a much better deal.
If you make more than two searches in your lifetime, the ten-credit bundle is the value-for-money option. Credits also do not expire, so you will not need to worry about using them before a deadline.
Boat Alert also offers a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund if you are unhappy with their services.
Does Boat Alert Offer Free Boat History Reports?
Unfortunately, Boat Alert does not offer free boat history reports. However, at just $39.99 for ten credits, that works out to just $4 per search.
Key Features of Boat Alert
In my experience, some of the features of Boat Alert that stood out to me included:
Detailed Boat History
Each time I conducted a search on Boat Alert, the website scanned dozens of databases to find information about the boat. All this information was conveniently compiled into a single report that I could access via a link or download as a PDF.
HIN Decoding and Validation
In addition to providing detailed information about the boat I wanted to buy, Boat Alert also decoded and validated the HIN I entered.
This provided me with the assurance that I was buying a legitimate boat and enabled me to check that the HIN the seller gave me matched the boat he was selling.
Auction Check
Whenever you conduct a search, Boat Alert will check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to see if the boat you are interested in has been auctioned in the past. Knowing a boat’s auction history can help you determine whether it might be a fraud or a stolen boat.
Lien Recordings
Boat Alert checks to see if there are any outstanding liens against the boat you are interested in. This can prevent you from purchasing a boat that is repossessed due to an outstanding lien.
Boat Claims Report
The report you receive will also include information about any past insurance claims made against the boat. This information can help you determine whether the boat you are interested in might have any hidden damage.
Stolen Boat Report
Boat Alert checks against databases for stolen boats to help you ensure that the boat you are interested in purchasing is not a stolen one.
Boating Accident Report
In the United States, most boating accidents are often recorded for insurance and other regulatory purposes. Boat Alert checks accident databases so you can know whether the boat you looked up has been in any accidents in the past.
State Registration
You can also use Boat Alert’s history report to help you check the state where a boat is registered. This information may be relevant for administrative issues such as insurance registrations.
Factory Recalls
The history report provided by Boat Alert will give you a comprehensive list of factory recalls for the particular boat model. You can use this knowledge to determine if there might be any issues with the boat.
Summary
The summary that Boat Alert provides essentially highlights all the most important information the website gathered from its searches. From this summary, you can quickly see if there are any issues with the boat that you should be aware of.
Accuracy and Security
The information that I got from Boat Alert was also accurate and secure. The website searches a comprehensive list of information sources for data relating to the boat to give you a clear picture of a boat’s history.
When paying for my Boat Alert orders, I was also happy to find that the company offers PayPal as a highly secure payment method. For users without PayPal accounts, Boat Alert also processes payments via credit cards using reputable service providers.
NICB Theft Check
Boat Alert also checks NICB databases to see if the boat has been stolen to help you avoid getting scammed with a stolen boat.
Is Boat Alert Legitimate or a Scam?
Overall, Boat Alert is a legitimate website that will help you search for all the publicly available data on a boat you want to buy.
While the website is not as well known as some of its counterparts and has not been rated on any reputable ratings website, Boat Alert is far from a scam. The report you receive from Boat Alert might even help you avoid getting scammed by a seller trying to pass off a damaged, defective, or stolen boat as brand new.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Boat History Report From Boat Alert
Boat Alert Pros
- An immediate search of 72 different free and paid databases, all compiled into a convenient report
- Search over 9000 insurance salvage companies
- Highly affordable, costing just $39.99 for ten searches
- Get a full refund within 60 days if you are dissatisfied with the service
Boat Alert Cons
- Individual searches can be expensive, costing $19.99 each if you do not purchase the bundle of ten
- Only some lien databases are searched, and you might need to do additional research if you are concerned about a lien
Is Boat Alert History Report Worth It?
If you want to purchase a boat and are unsure whether you are being scammed, it is worthwhile to get a boat history report from Boat Alert. They are $19.99 each, although chances are that you might be interested in more than one boat but still have not made up your mind.
If that is the case, you can get a bundle of ten search credits for $39.99, which works out to just $4 per search! Moreover, the credits do not expire, so you can use them again if you ever want to buy another boat.
Boat Alert’s reports are very comprehensive and cover 72 different free and paid databases. Thus, purchasing a report can help you save vast amounts of time and effort that you might have spent researching the boat.
The boating industry can be disorganized at times, with the existence of many different databases that each contain different information. Thus, it may be best to get boat history reports from multiple sources to ensure that all your bases are covered and that you do not miss out on any databases.
Boat Alert FAQ
What’s a HIN, and where can I find it?
A HIN, or hull identification number, is a unique 12-digit code that every boat in the US will have. You can find it on the registration paperwork for a boat you own. If you are buying a boat, you can ask the seller to provide you with the HIN.
Does a boat’s history affect its value?
There are some issues with a boat’s history which may affect its value.
Some common issues that may decrease a boat’s value include:
- Past boating accidents
- Liens on the boat
- Invalid HINs
- Past recalls
Can I find the previous owners of the boat in the report?
Some boat history reports, such as the ones the Boat Alert offers, include information about the previous owners of a boat.
How long does it take for the HIN report to run?
HIN reports generally take less than an hour to run, especially if you get them from automated search services such as Boat Alert.
Can I print the report?
Boat Alert offers fully printable boat history reports. If you prefer, you can also save the report as a PDF. The online report is only available for 60 days.
Thus, if you want to keep a copy of the report, remember to print it or save it as a PDF.
How can I pay for Boat Alert HIN report?
You can pay for a Boat Alert HIN report using a credit or debit card.
Can I get a refund from Boat Alert?
If you are unhappy with the quality of the boat history report that you have gotten from Boat Alert, you can request a refund. The company has a 60-day money-back guarantee and you can get a full refund within 60 days.
