Need help with trailer registration - NJ

[dkuster]

Hi everyone,

First-time poster here.

I'm in NJ and I'm considering buying a used boat + trailer from a local seller.

There would be a potential problem with registering the trailer.

In NJ, the trailer serial # / VIN is tracked by computer and printed on your registration card.

If you buy a used trailer you need to present this number along with a notarized bill of sale in order to register it at the DMV.

Here's the problem. The person I'm considering buying from is not the original owner. He bought the trailer from someone else about four years ago. He has the serial / VIN number but never got a bill of sale. He ran into trouble trying to register the trailer, but by that time he had lost the contact info for original owner. So he ended up simply _not_ registering the trailer.

Now, four years later, he's trying to sell the boat and trailer. Even if he and I do everything "by the book" (notarized bill of sale, etc.) when I go to the DMV they'll punch in the serial / VIN and the seller's name won't be the one that pops up.

It will look like he stole a trailer and then sold it to me!

Any thoughts on how to proceed? Is there any way to resolve this or should I walk away from the deal?

Thanks!

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Need help with trailer registration - NJ

If the deal is attractive and you're willing to put in some time at the MVC (it's not the DMV anymore) they may be able to help you search for the previous owner. Be straight with them, tell them the situation and see if they can propose a solution.

You may also consider negotiating a new deal with the seller for just the boat, and find another trailer.

Sometimes you can try to register the trailer as homemade and avoid the need to provide past history, but NJ has been cracking down on this lately.

Good luck!

 

[dkuster]

Re: Need help with trailer registration - NJ

Thanks for the reply. As it stands now, the seller is trying to contact the original owner. If that doesn't work out I'll try and negotiate for just the boat and source my own trailer.

NJ has indeed been cracking down on "home-made trailers". In order to register one these days you need to provide a complete bill-of-materials along with receipts for all the parts used to construct it!

If the deal is attractive and you're willing to put in some time at the MVC (it's not the DMV anymore) they may be able to help you search for the previous owner. Be straight with them, tell them the situation and see if they can propose a solution.

You may also consider negotiating a new deal with the seller for just the boat, and find another trailer.

Sometimes you can try to register the trailer as homemade and avoid the need to provide past history, but NJ has been cracking down on this lately.

Good luck!

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Need help with trailer registration - NJ

I have nothing to useful to add but requiring a complete bill for materials, that's getting hardcore.

 

[dkuster]

Re: Need help with trailer registration - NJ

Yes, it's definitely hardcore.

I guess the state felt that the "homemade trailer" registration process contained a loophole that needed to be closed. People with lost paperwork, or trailers with missing serial numbers, or worse yet stolen trailers could legally register them just by claiming they were home made...