No title for trailer

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Re: No title for trailer

Interesting, exactly what the OP is wanting to do with his trailer, I did today with my home built trailer. I went to the tag office about a month ago to get a home built trailer ID tag so I could register it and get a licensee plate. They give you a metal plate stamped with the tag number that has to be affixed on the trailer before you can get it inspected by a Sheriff. They also gave me a two page form to give to the inspecting office upon the trailer completion and he/she has to fill them out. Well I called the Sheriff and after a few hours a deputy showed up and started filling the paper forms out. First he ask if this was the correct form. I told him it was the one the title/tag office gave me. So he filled out about half of it and didn't even look or inspect the trailer. He did call in the new tag ID plate number to verify it was new. Then handed me all the papers and drove off. My wife and I then went to the tag office again and waited another 45 minutes until our number was called. I handed the partially finished forms to the lady. They haven't been signed or notarized and were not completed like the they were supposed to be. BUT that didn't stop them from issuing me a new title and tag for that trailer. The forms were basically thrown aside. So it can be done and I am living proof of that in my state... And yes this is the same trailer I did the rebuilt thread on these iboat forums to. :D
 
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jc turtle

Seaman
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
67
Re: No title for trailer

One of my pet peeves is that the sticker that the trailer manufacturers use is
unreadable after a very short time. I think the feds should demand that a
trailer needs a vin plate of some type that is embossed so the numbers can
be read for the life of the trailer. They would never allow the car companies to
use such a flimsy tag. My 2 cents worth. John
 

bigdee

Commander
Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
2,667
Re: No title for trailer

One of my pet peeves is that the sticker that the trailer manufacturers use is
unreadable after a very short time. I think the feds should demand that a
trailer needs a vin plate of some type that is embossed so the numbers can
be read for the life of the trailer. They would never allow the car companies to
use such a flimsy tag. My 2 cents worth. John

Cars are cars and trailers are trailers. Small private trailers don't have a high theft rate and they are not tied to liability insurance. They are considered more as personal property than as a motor vehicle.
 

Royb91

Cadet
Joined
Mar 26, 2014
Messages
6
Re: No title for trailer

**** I didn't think this many people would reply. But the axle broke on the trailer 2 days ago and I'm just going to slap a new one on, do a little sanding and painting and claim the damn ole thing as "home made"
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Re: No title for trailer

**** I didn't think this many people would reply. But the axle broke on the trailer 2 days ago and I'm just going to slap a new one on, do a little sanding and painting and claim the damn ole thing as "home made"

That sounds like your best bet yet. Since you have to now change the entire axle assembly, then I'd register it as "home built" and if they needed proof of materials, hand then the receipt for the new axle assembly, wiring, bearings, seals, paint or whatever and happy trailering. It seem the only real thing most of these registrations really want is the taxes/registration fees for their time anyway. I mean who would really steel a trailer and then replace everything just to get it registered? Not a profitable business in anybody's book.
 

jayhanig

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Messages
836
Re: No title for trailer

Actually, it's illegal. Federal offense to tamper with a VIN.

Not sure why anyone would offer that up as advice here.

Who said anything about tampering with a VIN?
 

bigdee

Commander
Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
2,667
Re: No title for trailer

Who said anything about tampering with a VIN?

No one. MANY small trailers only have a mylar decal with the VIN# that is unreadable after a few years. New vin numbers can be assigned by most states if you choose to go that route. Small personal trailers do not come under the same scrutiny that large trailers (horse,commercial,box, rv,etc.)do. As long as there is a trailer tag hanging on the trailer that has a valid date and taxes have been paid my state could care less.
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,429
Re: No title for trailer

Using the VIN off one trailer to register/title another trailer is illegal. Period. But do what you want, its your federal jail time, not mine.


To the OP: I'd go the legal route, get it registered the correct way, however many hoops it may require. Or scrap it and get a legal trailer.
 

NYBo

Admiral
Joined
Oct 23, 2008
Messages
7,107
Re: No title for trailer

Who said anything about tampering with a VIN?
In essence, you did, as the implication is that the title/registration "matches" the trailer via sleight of paperwork.
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Re: No title for trailer

You don't have to do anything illegal. Just register it as home built and it will be given a VIN by the state and from that time on, it is your own home built state registered trailer. How difficult is that to understand? This surely isn't rocket surgery folks. I just took an older broken down trailer and completely rebuilt it. So I just finished registering it as home built with the state's new trailer VIN metal tag riveted to the trailer. And yes a County Sherriff did verify it as well. So it is legal and the state will get their yearly taxes and licensing money too... Which IS what all this is about anyways!
 

bigdee

Commander
Joined
Jul 27, 2006
Messages
2,667
Re: No title for trailer

You don't have to do anything illegal. Just register it as home built and it will be given a VIN by the state and from that time on, it is your own home built state registered trailer. How difficult is that to understand? This surely isn't rocket surgery folks. I just took an older broken down trailer and completely rebuilt it. So I just finished registering it as home built with the state's new trailer VIN metal tag riveted to the trailer. And yes a County Sherriff did verify it as well. So it is legal and the state will get their yearly taxes and licensing money too... Which IS what all this is about anyways!

I agree. I live in NC where we occasionally buy trailers from SC which does not require registration. A bill of sale is all that is required to get the state to issue a vin #. As long as trailer is not reported stolen or contested by the original OWNER then it is fair play,no foul. Other states may be different,that is why I live where I am!
 
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