Registering a trailer without serial numbers

pafisher1234

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
46
I boat a boat and a trailer. They have not been on the road or the water since 97 and, I need to register the trailer with a PA title. The previous title was lost. Also there are no serial numbers on the trailer. How do I go about registering it?
 

HappierWet

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
839
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

You mean without perjuring yourself?

Have the previous owner apply for a replacement title.

If there's anything else that's legal I don't know it.:cool:
 

ebentraywick

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
39
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

i did this with my old treailer sey that its home made. all i had 2 do was go 2 the dmv with the treailer get them 2 check it out and u get a pink slip. pretty easy and if u do have a license plat throw it away bechase they will charge every year it wasnt rejisterd comes out 2 a lot of money if u dont...
 

HappierWet

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
839
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

i did this with my old treailer sey that its home made. all i had 2 do was go 2 the dmv with the treailer get them 2 check it out and u get a pink slip. pretty easy and if u do have a license plat throw it away bechase they will charge every year it wasnt rejisterd comes out 2 a lot of money if u dont...

Was this recently?

Or is it really that easy in Cali?
 
Last edited:

gsyfishy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 25, 2008
Messages
173
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

In Florida, if you can show the last registration, or even have the last tag # that was on there, they should be able to verify what the vin # is. Then you can make your own ID plate with said vin # punched on it, and mount it.
 

seaboo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
300
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

Was this recently?

Or is it really that easy in Cali?

In NC this is also fairly common (although alot of times it depends on the Highyway patrol man that has to (legally) "inspect" the trailer), alot of times this just means watching you stamp the vin # they assign you on the tounge.

I have taken (an obviously factory built trailer) that I had to replace the tounge on and called it homebuilt (it passed and they gave me a title).


Also (while not the legal way to do it), if the trailer has NO #'s on it, if you own another trailer you could use it's regestration/tag when you tow the boat... Again, this is NOT a legal way to do it.
 

Knightgang

Lieutenant
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
1,428
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

Register as homebuilt... they will give you a VIN for it...
 

Fisherball

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
470
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

In Ohio all they need is a weight slip. I have a friend that used his old trailer's slip (after he sold the trailer) to get tags for his new trailer cuz he didn't want to go through the hassle of unloading boat (& keeping it safe), driving to scale & picking boat back up. This guy been using it for years, the state just wants their money.
 

ebentraywick

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
39
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

yep it is.. cost me 45 dollars 4 the pink slip and tags and 40 for the plates
 

jdsgrog

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 19, 2007
Messages
480
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

In Illinois, I simply took off any decals of the name brand and then registered it as homebuilt. They then assigned a VIN number that you stick onto the trailer. If it is under 3000 lb load capacity, they don't even check it. Over 3000 pounds you have to get it inspected.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,043
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

Trailers without titles or home made trailers are a PITA in PA.
You can either treat it as homemade; http://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/other-types-of-vehicles.php, or go over to NJ and register is there. NJ will assign it a VIN # and issue a title as homemade without a ton of BS. When I lived in PA I did it all the time. If they ask, just say you plan to fish or boat in NJ. Either way it gets you a legal tag.
 

goingagain

Cadet
Joined
Mar 11, 2007
Messages
24
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

if u try to register it in pa as a homemade make u may have to take it to a special inspection station, take pictures etc. like they said a real pita in pa.
all axels need breaks if (i think) over 3000lbs.

john
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

I live in Pa , and yes , its a PITA. I posted an ad on Craigs list for broken down trailer with Pa title....offered $25.00 and removal. Got a reply about a broken down trailer , offered the guy $25.00 and cut his rusty old trailer up in 1/2 an hour and he handed me the signed title... good enough for me....
 

pafisher1234

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
46
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

Thanks for the advice. I figured I would have to register as homemade. It is for over 3,000 and does have breaks on the axles.
 

HappierWet

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 11, 2008
Messages
839
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

I live in Pa , and yes , its a PITA. I posted an ad on Craigs list for broken down trailer with Pa title....offered $25.00 and removal. Got a reply about a broken down trailer , offered the guy $25.00 and cut his rusty old trailer up in 1/2 an hour and he handed me the signed title... good enough for me....

I like that idea although I know tampering with a vin is a felony.....even on a trailer.
 

Stachi

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 14, 2009
Messages
1,671
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

not exactly tampering with the vin,...I'll agree its a bit shady....but its done more often than you may think here in PA...:D
 

surge006

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 25, 2009
Messages
100
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

I just had this prob with my escort trailor. im mass if you register it as a trailor under 3000lbs you do not need a title even if it was titled already and has aq outstanding title. Or if you say it was bout in NH which does not need a vin or title you are all set depending where you live. My boss buys and sells boats constantly and every trailor he says he got from NH.
 

reelfishin

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
3,043
Re: Registering a trailer without serial numbers

I like that idea although I know tampering with a vin is a felony.....even on a trailer.

Correct, but the way PA DMV laws are on homemade trailers, they force many of us to become felons. So many states have such simple homemade trailer laws, why not in PA? His best bet is to just run over to NJ and register it, he can register it as a PA resident as a homemade trailer with no problem. If they do ask, but I doubt they will, just say you boat in NJ.

I've been through this over and over with PA trailers. There is a way to get a new VIN but it requires an inspection of the trailer and some money.
If it were me, I'd buy a junk trailer, use it's title, or just register it out of state.
Here in NJ, I'd venture to guess that more than half of the trailers on the road are registered as home made with no VIN. They assign it a new VIN at the time of registration, most people just register one trailer as home made and use the tag on any trailer. Right or wrong, it works, and anyhow, it's just a trailer. There's probably just as many people here running around with no tags or long expired tags. They just don't bother to check. I towed one trailer for years before finally renewing the tag, it was over 10 years out of date, I got pulled over several times, only once did I have an officer say that I'd best get that trailer renewed, the tags are expired.
 
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