South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

[1960 Starflite]

I want to purchase an older pontoon trailer in S.C. from a privite person. The trailer has been thru several owners. No title, No registration, No plates in S.C.

The trailer has a plastic tag on the tounge, however, after many years the information is faded away. I called Wesco trailers (name on tounge) in Columbia and asked if there was a stamped VIN number any where on the trailer. Reply "it may be on the bottom side of the rear cross member". I crawled front to rear looking for it, no luck.

Questions:
(1) How do I tow this thing back to Ohio without any registration or tag?
(2) Bill of sale, good enough?
(3) How do I get it registered in Ohio without a VIN? (home built?)

 

[captain zac]

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

If your towing vehicle is SC registered then you can go ahead and tow it.
If your car is OH tagged then
find a friend in OH and get a tag off his trailer and tow it up there
Just make sure the trailer and lights are working properly
When you get to OH you just need a bill of sale and a weight slip to get a tag

Harry

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

short term--most states (and cops) won't ticket you if you have a recent purchase--your bill of sale dated within the past 2 weeks or so.
Long term--all states are different and most are very difficult. Show up 4 states away with an unmarked trailer, no title, and a Bill of sale--why should DMV buy it?
And if you claim it's home made--clearly it's not--you are lying on government documents. Personally, I don;t think that's morally wrong, but nowadays, the consequences are more serious.

I "know people" who used to switch tags around all the time. As a teenager, there was a trailer tag stashed at the ramp/marina in case someone had to go on the road. I recently looked at the Virginia statute. The consequences are huge. Not pretty.

Short term--tell your insurance company before you start the trip. Maybe you can get by without the VIN, etc until you get home (but that is risky, too). Long term, without good registration, you won't get insurance.

If you plan to use the trailer on the road after you get home, I'd skip it. If it's just for the yard and private ramp, go for it. Although I have a hard time seeing the economics of that much travel for a used trailer.

 

[captain zac]

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

In the state of OH all you need to get a registration is a bill of sale and a weigh slip
They will issue a registration and tag

 

[1960 Starflite]

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

Thanks for the feedbacks! I spend my winters in SC, so long trip isn't a problem. I've registered trailers in Ohio before, but never without a VIN.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

I would get a set of number stamps and give it a stamp a number in the frame.

 

[Augoose]

Re: South Carolina trailer to Ohio, no title

As said, go on your way to Ohio towing the SC trailer w/out a tag with a bill of sale and you are fine. Swapping tags or stamping a madeup number etc will only get you into hot water if you are pulled over and when it comes time to register.
SC is a non-titling state when it comes to trailers and according to Ohio DMV, boat trailers under 4,000 pounds are not required to be titled anyway, so they won't ask you for one. Only the license and registration are needed for the trailer which you can get in Ohio. I'd keep looking for a stamped number on the trailer though, might take a wire wheel to find it....