NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

[freeisforme]

I found a boat and trailer I want to buy in NJ, I live in PA. Here in PA we have titles for trailers but not boats. Apparently in NJ they title boats but not trailers?
The boat hasn't seen the water in many years, he has the last registration for the boat and trailer. The trailer has NJ state assigned VIN numbers, and only a registration card.
What do I need to do to register the trailer here in PA, being rather new to PA, I'm still not real familiar with the way this system works here.
What will PA need for me to register this trailer here? It's an old Shoreline trailer, and clearly marked as such. I inquired with the DMV in NJ, near where the boat is, and was told that it's normal to just register a trailer as home made since there's no title, and in most cases, they would require that all former registration fees be paid up to keep the original VIN number and registration fees valid. They showed no records of the oringinal vin number ever being registered and I was even told that the hold number should be removed and the NJ assigned number be affixed or stamped into the tongue?

Do I simply take the old registration to my PA notary and get a trailer tag?
Or do I register it here in PA as home made as well?

 

[timdan94]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

Well good luck. My dad was trying to get one from new york and they dont title them either. to get it done it would cost $300 for an inspection and title. Plus its a pain.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

Why can't I just use the NJ registration and a bill of sale to get it registered here?
A lot of states don't title boats or trailers yet I'm sure there's intercommerce between them?

Don't PA have home made trailer titles or registration?

I really don't want to pass on the boat, I've been looking for one for a long time. What will I have to do, junk the trailer or leave it there? It comes with the boat.

 

[timdan94]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

I'd just call and see what they'll do for you but no one would do it for my dad without an inspection.

 

[crackedglass]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

I just bought a boat trailer in NJ, the price was right so I bought it. The trailer had a NJ assigned VIN and the guy had the last registration, he gave me a notarized bill of sale, and I took that to my nearest notary where I get my tags and that was it. The NJ registration don't say Home Made, it just shows the assigned VIN. Just use that and have a notarized bill of sale in hand and all should be fine.
After all, they can't just refuse to register a trailer just because it came from a non title state. Here in PA, we don't title our boats, if that was the case, we could never sell a boat from PA to a title state.

 

[timdan94]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

actually they have started titling boats in pa... my 1985 was bought and sold in pa and has a title.

 

[crackedglass]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

Penn Dot told me that they don't title boats older than 1997, I just bought a 1987, all it had was a registration card which the owner signed over to me along with a notarized bill of sale.
I was told I could opt for a title for a fee but it's not needed. I couldn't see spending any more money for something that won't make the boat run any better.

Another source initially told me 1994 and newer got titles but Penn Dot told me other wise. Either way, PA registers boats through the Div. of Fish and Game, and trailers are registered through Penn Dot just like your car is.

 

[freeisforme]

Re: NJ to PA boat and trailer transfer?

Well, I bought the boat and trailer, got it for even less than I thought I would. Registering the boat here in PA was no problem, they told me I could have a title for it if I wanted to but I had to pay more for it. So I opted for the cheapest route and just registered the boat. I turned in the NJ title and got a new PA registration card and new boat numbers.
For the trailer, PA wanted a signed, third party notarized receipt, plus the NJ registration. The notarized bill of sale I had for the trailer from the seller was notarized by his wife, and PA would not recognize it as a valid notarized document since the notary had the same last name as the seller.
I went back, we went to a bank and got a new bill of sale.
While I was there, I noticed that there was a NJ MVS office right there, I figured I'd ask there about what I needed to be legal, and was told that if I was to use the trailer in NJ, or launch in NJ I could just register it here. I showed her the old registration, the notarized bill of sale, and all was fine, it cost me $21.50 and I got my tags and new registration, from NJ.
Next year, if I choose to register it in PA, all I need to do is transfer it here, since it's already in my name. It really don't matter to me which state is on my tags, its going to be used mostly in NJ anyhow.