I purchased a H23 1985 with trailer in VA. I brought the boat and trailer back to MD. We found out that the trailer was only titled in MD, and the last owner never registered it in VA. Motor vehicles tells us that the former owner must title it in VA, pay tax then transfer the title to us. The problem is he is a NAvy Seal in Iraq right now, and the last thing he wants to deal with is this. Has anyone had a similar problem? Does anyone have a trailer they want to sell cheap? Dave
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this worked for me
treat your trailer as if it were brand new. in ny state i had the same problem with a previously titled trailer in michigan AND ny. the guy who sold it to me moved to germany!motor vehicles "suggested" i get a notarized bill of sale, which i had done before he moved, then get it weighed and get the vehicle id number and fill out paperwork as if it was a new trailer. all went well and i got it registered. state laws are different but it may work.
treat your trailer as if it were brand new. in ny state i had the same problem with a previously titled trailer in michigan AND ny. the guy who sold it to me moved to germany!motor vehicles "suggested" i get a notarized bill of sale, which i had done before he moved, then get it weighed and get the vehicle id number and fill out paperwork as if it was a new trailer. all went well and i got it registered. state laws are different but it may work.
A Friend Had Similar ..
A friend had a similar problem: trailer was from S.C., which (reportedly) does not title trailers. He used the 'homemade' ruse and it worked! Just tell Md. DMV it is a homemade trailer. Good luck, Joe
A friend had a similar problem: trailer was from S.C., which (reportedly) does not title trailers. He used the 'homemade' ruse and it worked! Just tell Md. DMV it is a homemade trailer. Good luck, Joe
Homemade
Lady behind the desk at my DMV also suggested that I register the trailer as being a home built, when my paperwork wasn't in order. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
Lady behind the desk at my DMV also suggested that I register the trailer as being a home built, when my paperwork wasn't in order. Ron Mehringer H26 Hydro-Therapy
Wait a minute...
if the trailer was never titled in VA, how does MD know that it's anything more than a trailer with an expired registration that's being sold to you (except what you've told them)? What I mean is take VA out of the picture. The problem is you're buying a MD trailer that has an expired MD registration. Somehow the military must have a way for soliders to sign or have someone sign on their behalf, and you will need the MD title signed over to you. This can't be the only case where a soldier has to sign something. Don't they routinely sing a power of attorney before shipping out? Not to be a wet rag here, but if you do the homemade trailer route you are: (1) lying on an offical document and (2) possibly hurting resale value. Both could catch you down the road.
if the trailer was never titled in VA, how does MD know that it's anything more than a trailer with an expired registration that's being sold to you (except what you've told them)? What I mean is take VA out of the picture. The problem is you're buying a MD trailer that has an expired MD registration. Somehow the military must have a way for soliders to sign or have someone sign on their behalf, and you will need the MD title signed over to you. This can't be the only case where a soldier has to sign something. Don't they routinely sing a power of attorney before shipping out? Not to be a wet rag here, but if you do the homemade trailer route you are: (1) lying on an offical document and (2) possibly hurting resale value. Both could catch you down the road.
Response to Wait a minute
The problem is that the soldier is not on the MD title, the original owner is. We can't get a hold of the original owner. It was signed over to the soldier, and he never registered it. We were told the original owner would have to get a duplicate, and then sign it over to us. Thanks for everyones suggestions. It seems to be a pretty comnmon problem. Dave
The problem is that the soldier is not on the MD title, the original owner is. We can't get a hold of the original owner. It was signed over to the soldier, and he never registered it. We were told the original owner would have to get a duplicate, and then sign it over to us. Thanks for everyones suggestions. It seems to be a pretty comnmon problem. Dave
Go by one of the powerboat dealers
like down Rt 2. I bet for $50 they could make the problem go away. OTOH, with (1) a properly endorsed MD title to the sailor from the previous owner, and (2) a bill of sale from the sailor to you, the MD DMV should title the trailer to you. It's like an endorsed check that has been signed over to you. Leave the VA issue out of the mix. If the clerk at the counter won't do it, ask for a supervisor. Also, Navy Federal Credit Union (I use the one at the Academy) has been helpful to me on these kinds of things in the past.
like down Rt 2. I bet for $50 they could make the problem go away. OTOH, with (1) a properly endorsed MD title to the sailor from the previous owner, and (2) a bill of sale from the sailor to you, the MD DMV should title the trailer to you. It's like an endorsed check that has been signed over to you. Leave the VA issue out of the mix. If the clerk at the counter won't do it, ask for a supervisor. Also, Navy Federal Credit Union (I use the one at the Academy) has been helpful to me on these kinds of things in the past.
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