Trailer Titles

[Starcraftguy1]

Why is it that here in Arizona no one selling a boat has a title for the trailer.I got a real good deal on a boat,project boat that is,I had looked at 10 others,and not a one had a title for the trailer.So, I bought it anyway.I have the title for the boat,through Game and Fish,but nothing on the trailer.I guess that I will go spend the day down at the D.O.T. Just seems funny to me that no one has a title.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trailer Titles

Florida does not title trailers, or outboard motors. Georgia does not title boats either.

 

[AZMinyard]

Re: Trailer Titles

Most trailers get perm tags here in AZ - people loose the title over time and are not willing to go through the whole process of getting the title replaced. The other thing that happens is that they purchase a trailer without a title and because of the perm tags, they never need to get the title unless they are pulled over and the tags are run on the trailer. This is not something I suggest, as you may very well find out that you have a trailer which has been reported stolen as you are sitting on the side of the road. The boat has to come off the trailer at that point or get impounded with the trailer.

Be sure to get a bill of sale on the trailer. Good luck on the day at MVD, make some calls first or check out the website to make sure you have all the documentation necessary. They may even want to do a physical inspection of the trailer.

 

[winfan]

Re: Trailer Titles

Trailers here in CA do not require titles either. When I registered and titled the boat here, DMV told me that the title for the trailer was not required because of the permanent plates, but for $15 they would issue a title if I wanted one. So I paid the $15 for it.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Trailer Titles

Well, after a telephone call,first is a physical inspection of the trailer.Hopefully there are numbers somewhere on it.Or they just run the plate to make sure it is the right trailer for the right plate.Then a wait to make sure that is'nt stolen.Permanat plates are only good for the person that purchased them.Then if all goes well,you get an abandoned title.Maybe a month,if you are lucky,and about $145.00.Keep my fingers crossed.Will never do that again.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Trailer Titles

NJ don't title trailers either, the only proof of ownership is a past registration. Most go the homemade route. It's just not worth the hassle to track and deal with lost titles on a used trailer.
I occasionally get a used trailer with a title from another state, if I take that to motor vehicles here, they take that title, do not issue me a replacement, only a current registration card. Keeping the title as is, provides me with more proof of ownership than does a state issued registration card, especially if I sell it to someone in a state that needs a title down the road.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: Trailer Titles

Hell, my BOAT doesn't even have a title.

It never did.

 

[arboldt]

Re: Trailer Titles

As you read this forum, you'll find that state laws and practices vary greatly.

Michigan does not title trailers, but does register them. They switched to "permanent" plates a few years ago, but I still need to keep that registration card.

 

[witenite0560]

Re: Trailer Titles

Boats are only recently required to be titled in Idaho. Trailers are only required to be registered, not titled. Outboard motors are neither.

 

[D.spencer]

Re: Trailer Titles

Oklahoma does not require trailers to be titled or registered or tagged. used to be boats only had to be tagged and titled. motors were titled. but about 10 years ago,+/- they started requiring motors to be tagged yearly, just like the boat. just another way to get more money for the gub-ment. The bad thing about the motor tags, is they are UGLY! they make a nice looking motor look bad. (IMHO, any decals on the motor cover detracts from the appearance) Strange thing is, I bought a 45' semi trailer and it did not require to be tagged! I went ahead and tagged it anyway with a permanent plate (tagging yearly not required on it).

 

[mthieme]

Re: Trailer Titles

It's not uncommon here in Maryland.
It's also not uncommon for an owner to have one tag between multiple trailers.
But, I have four trailers, 6 titles, and one (legal) tag.
The boat ramp is all off 100 yards away.

Before everyone cries insurance...
I recently switched to GEICO, they told me anything you tow is covered by the vehicle.

 

[greggholmes]

Re: Trailer Titles

In Washington boats and trailers are titled and tagged engines are not. My boat and trailer are insured. Also you can't apply for a lost title unless you are the owner on the title.

 

[dr.livingston]

Re: Trailer Titles

What about Texas?

I had one agent tell me that boat trailers under 4400# EMPTY weight did not need a title. Another agent couple of days later told me it was the GROSS weight that mattered. In other words if the VIN placard says it is rated more than 4400# gross then it needs a title.

I suppose I could register it as homebuilt and rate it at less than 4400#.

 

[getoffmyass]

Re: Trailer Titles

This answers my question about buying a trailer here in my state of California from another resident of California, and why it should be alright for him to provide a PTI certificate, and no title (PTI = Permanent Trailer Identification).

It sure would be nice if there was information about this on the DMV website. It might be there, but it isn't assembled in a way that's useful. There ought to be something along the lines of "How to buy a used trailer". I went to "How to register a trailer" and the first thing it says is a title is needed. I don't remember if it was DMV.org which is a private site.

Stephanie
PS. The owner wants cash.

Trailers here in CA do not require titles either. When I registered and titled the boat here, DMV told me that the title for the trailer was not required because of the permanent plates, but for $15 they would issue a title if I wanted one. So I paid the $15 for it.

 

[jsb91010]

Re: Trailer Titles

in texas i had no problem at all saying i just built my trailer and it was brand new, never titled...walked outta there in 10 minutes with my plate! that was after being turned down at the other location because i tried to do it "legally" by havin the sellers info and stuff on there...never again..homeade all day

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Trailer Titles

in louisiana there is no title of boat unless ya want it,
but the trailer is titled like and auto,but does not require proof of insurance
to title .like autos do ,motors do not require anything here ,except that the serial numbers do not match a stolen motor when checked ,