Legal Advice: Trailer Title

[TwoWatt]

Hi. Its been a while since I've been around iboats as I sold my last boat/headache.<br />A couple days ago, my friend tells me about a boat for sale. Long story short, I really like it and its a steal at $1k.<br />Now for the bad, the boat has the registration & stickers that are current (expires Sept.04), but I found out today the seller cannot find the title for the trailer. <br />What do I need to take to the DMV to transfer ownership & re-title the trailer in my name?<br />I found on my states DMV website the only thing listed is for the boat stating if I wish to re-title it, I would need a police inspection & bill of sale with the HIN on it. <br />Is it the same for the trailer?<br />(I live Indiana if it helps) <br />What should I do, I don't want to have any problems getting it legal. <br />Wish me luck. =)

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

Call up the DMV first thing Monday am and ask them...that way you'll get the answer you're looking for.....not our guesses.<br /><br />good luck

 

[Seaboo2]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

I agree with KeltonKrew totally. In most (well alot) of states IF you and the regestered owner of the trailer come in together you can fill out and apply for a lost title (they will issue you a tempory title and you will recieve the real title after a wait). This is more expensive than a simple title transfer (although not much). If you are forced to do this or something similiar I would make SURE I could get with the seller at the DMV before you buy. It is hard to get up with someone once they have your money (no incentive for them). It is hard to get a title without them (in my state at least). I'd hate for you to buy a boat and not be able to tow it to the water.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

Hello.<br />There is one other way of doing things.You can go to the DMV and register this trailer as a home build trailer with no previous history.At least up here in NY all they require you to do is fill out the papers and this gives you a ten day window to have it inspected and you are completely legal if it passes inspection.When I bought my trailer I was actually advised to go this route by a DMV employee because it circumvents a lot of red tape.<br />It may work where you live.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

If you can't wait, just go to their website and I'm sure you will find everything you need including any forms.

 

[catfish1]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

assuming the seller had the title to the trailer at one time! he could go to the DMV and get a duplicate title then sign it over to you. i hope it works out for ya! i struggled with mine for over a year, the numbers were unreadable, and the trailer came from another state and had changed owners twice without ever being registered before i got it. it can be a real pain in the you know what!

 

[wvit100]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

South Carolina doesn't title trailers, only the boat has a title. Trailers in this state don't even have tags.

 

[catfish1]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

yep! thats where mine came from, i got lucky and got the guys name that had the trailer titled in NC, but the boat was registered in SC. i then did extensive searching until i finally found this guys phone # and i gave him a call & he ended up getting a duplicate title for me, after 10 or so years later

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

same in jersey. no title for trailers, bill of sale will do.

 

[JB]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

Moving to Trailers.

 

[TwoWatt]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

Well. All good news from me.<br />I contacted the seller. He had a bill of sale for the boat & a bill of sale for the trailer. <br />What I didnt know it the seller ALREADY had a police check form in hand for the missing trailer title. <br />Went to the DMV & everything is now legally mine.<br />We had to file the trailer as homemade. They will send me new #'s which I have to stamp in the trailer frame, then a police check to verify the numbers, register the trailer & I am all set. <br />So I am now a boat owner. Keep an eye out for my stupid questions. Just because I'm #5000 something to register here, doesnt mean I know squat about boats

 

[johnnybigrigger]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

[rjarreau]

Re: Legal Advice: Trailer Title

I live in Louisiana, And recently went through the same thing. I bought a boat on Ebay and went to go pick it up . Now the state where I purchased it up does not have trailer titles, only the boat is titled. In louisiana the boat must be registered by the dept of wildlife and fisheries and the trailer must be titled through the dept. of motor vehicles. I had to bring the trailer and boat to the state police and get #'s stamped on the trailer and bring the slip of paper that the state police game me to the dmv in order to get a title. man what a pain took a whole day off work but woth the trouble if you are getting a excellent deal on a boat !!!! GOOD LUCK !!!!