Trailer Registration Woes
- Thread starter yeahmag
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And....now that you have it located, you should stamp the number into the frame near the winch riser so that if the sticker should become defaced in the future and the title is misplaced, the problem never arises again, with either yourself or whoever you may sell it to.
If purchasing any vehicle to include trailer, always get a notarizaed bill of sale with the vin number on it. If it does not contain one, then expect issues. In the case of another person's name on the registration/title versus the seller, I would hold up the sale and keep monies in escrow as the broker. I would then call the previous owner to the seller and advise the problem. Here is what I would tell them. First, if in a state with tax liability for example personal property tax, then they are still subject to paying. That usually got them to send you a bill of sale of course notarized resolving that issue. If they are reluctant, then I told them if the trailer was involved in an accident, they would be liable as they are legally the owner of the trailer, not the seller. That usually got their attention.
crazy dave condon
crazy dave condon
Good idea about inquiring about a title.
About 10 years ago I aquired a utility trailer for free that was abandon in the bushes behind my cousins house. Repacked the bearings, redecked and rewired it and the trailer serves me well even now. Had no Vin so I registered it home built.
Since then I have had 2 boat trailers come and go through my posession without a title. I just put my home built tag on whatever I am towing at the time. Never had an issue as I don't speed and I make sure my lights work. This weekend I will be going to check out a C22 and trailer, will bring my tag along in case I buy it.
About 10 years ago I aquired a utility trailer for free that was abandon in the bushes behind my cousins house. Repacked the bearings, redecked and rewired it and the trailer serves me well even now. Had no Vin so I registered it home built.
Since then I have had 2 boat trailers come and go through my posession without a title. I just put my home built tag on whatever I am towing at the time. Never had an issue as I don't speed and I make sure my lights work. This weekend I will be going to check out a C22 and trailer, will bring my tag along in case I buy it.
I've been this route also one license plate for four trailers for about 20 years,never had a problem
All of us trailer sailors have probably done this at least once (guilty). I always wonder though...
would my insurance company baulk if I got in an accident with an illegally tagged trailer and damaged or injured someone in an accident?
... getting away with driving is not the hard part I'm thinking.
Something to ponder.
As a former adjuster and sailboat dealer, I think I can answer the insurance question. If the trailer/boat has a seperate policy or if the trailer attached to the tow vehicle is insured for liabiltiy up to a certain point, insurance follows the trailer which you have protection up to the liabiltiy limits. If the former and only liabililty under a towed vehicle, usually comprehension is not covered. As for an illegal tag, that makes no difference regarding insurance but it may be an issue with the police.
possibly in an east coast metro area or NYC,but out west most trailers, construction and agriculture do require any regulation or registration so the police don't really even notice an unlicensed trailer or if it has any kind of plate at all it would never be checked for authenticity,there mostly happy if the person and vehicle doing the towing have a license or insureance.with all the illegals and economically poor these days in AZ the DMV says more than 30% of drivers have no license insurance or registration anyway.
Monkeybars;
Insurance and proper tagging are two distinct differnt items. As you pointed out in Airzona without tags for example is iniviting the police to stop you. However, this is different if that trailer was involved in an accident which if your fault is not an issue with the plate but simply the cause of the accident. I was involved with many trailer accident investigations over the years and even had adjusters to include one from Arizona for advice.
Insurance and proper tagging are two distinct differnt items. As you pointed out in Airzona without tags for example is iniviting the police to stop you. However, this is different if that trailer was involved in an accident which if your fault is not an issue with the plate but simply the cause of the accident. I was involved with many trailer accident investigations over the years and even had adjusters to include one from Arizona for advice.
Sorry for bad spelling,I meant to say most trailer do NOT require registration or insurance. Yes two seperate issues, Other then a tractor trailer 18wheeler, in several decades I've never seen an accident where a trailer was a liability issue as far as causing damage to another.In fact the only trailer accidents I've ever seen were single vehicle accidents usually do to bad tow vehicle handling or driver inexperience in an evasive manuver. so yes it could be an insurance issue, but highly unlikely.
SOUTH CAROLINA DOES NOT TITLE TRAILERS I say that because I bought one from a guy in SC I live in NC it took me three years on and off trying to get as title in order to get a tag.I got the bills of sale from IL GA SC then NC ...then jumped through hoops and hoops and well you get the idea. I was later told to claim it as a home made trailer.I finally waited at DMV for a couple of hours one day while they called the HOME OFFICE and finally I paid got a tag but they took the paper work and shreaded it. I got a letter from the state saying they were not going to send me the title for 3 months in case there was outstanding debt on the trailer (it was a 1988 trailer) LOL I had the tag so I didn't care. Anyway I got the title .....Good luck
Yep...
I purchased a Coronado 23' on an EZ-Tilt trailer from a guy in SC. When I tried to tag it with the bill of sale at my local DMV a very sweet elderly lady at the counter told me (in a soft voice) that I should go home, spray paint over any manufacturers decals and claim it as homemade. Otherwise it could be very difficult... I couldn't believe it.... a DMV official telling me to lie to her... LOL... well it sounds like you found "otherwise". Sorry about that....
She handed me a VIN tag and some paper work. Told me I had to have a police officer witness me attaching the VIN. So I went to the store and got some goo gone to remove the decals, and a few cans of rustoleum. Then I contacted this cop friend I knew and he watched me put the VIN on the trailer and signed the paperwork.
I took the trailer to the DMV, where they "inspected" it... and I had tags.
Now there's your tax dollars at work for you.... :naughty:
FL also does not normally title trailers. you take the trailer to a certified truck scale, get the weight, and go to the dmv and pay your registration and you get the tag.
have done this many times.
have done this many times.
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