Re: homebuilt and converted trailers Wa state registration
Not sure how much info you got yet but here is some for ya. You have a few options
1: If the trailer has a vin # on it fill out form
http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420531.pdf This is a public disclousre forum send it to olympia, you will get a letter back from them, if it has the peoples name you got it from take this form
http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420040.pdf release of interest and have them fill it out, sign and notorize, take to DOL with bill of sale and register it in your name you'll get a title in the mail.
If the people you got the trailer from are not on your public disclosure sheet you must send them a certified letter addressee only with return receipt, with the form above and get them to sign and send it back, i like to include a note to explain whats going on and what the risks are if they refuse to sign (trailer abandment, high fees for abandaning etc) most likely the last known registerd owners arent around. Since its addresee only no one but them can pick it up. Anytime while your waiting for the paperwork to come back make an appointment for a vin inspection and have the trailer inspected, this cost $50 but you pay it when you register and the trailer goes into a 3 year title ownership in doubt, you will get a registration and you can sell it you just have to take the buyer in and have the dol do a change. When the letter comes back from the post office DO NOT open it, take it unopened to DOL. If letter was delivered successfully to the last registered owner and they did the right thing and filled it out and sent it back then open it and take it in and you can get your title in the mail no vin inspection required.
If public disclosure comes back with no results, take trailer in for inspection, take no result letter to dol, it goes through 3 year title.
Option 2: if trailer is truly homemade or you scratched the vin off etcc. Then take it in a be sure to save all recepts you put in for parts (steel, weld, lights, wire, paint, axles, bearing etc.) if they approve you will get a new vin and you can then go on for a title.
Sorry for such a long post, if you have any questions contact me.
The forms you can fill out in adobe and print them so you dont have to hand write them out, there is no fee for public disclosure but there is a $50 vin inspection and i think a custom built trailer fee might be the same or higher
On the affidavit of loss form remember the person selling the item fills out the release of interest portion and notorizes in the release of interest spot. You fill out the affidavit of loss on the top portion and bring into your DOL.
These forms need to be notorized, most banks offer this service for free, i know most BECU branches do.
but what if I need to sell it down the line ? also it was an idea of mine to do a few of these for sale as there is a need for cheap boat trailers here in WA and a plentifull supply of cheap or free unregistered camper trailers .