Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

[ScrewPull]

Greetings, All!

I'm new to the forum here and decided to join as I was looking for some answers about trailer title transfers in Texas. My Google search led me to a very informative thread and, after reading through it and conducting an additional search, I am still "in the dark."

Most forums to which I belong request that new members introduce themselves, so I'll say a few words about myself. I live in Houston and have a 1979 Mastercraft Stars & Stripes (inboard) that I keep in Austin. I spend a great deal of my summer weekends on Lake Austin, which is great, 'cause my brother lives there. I purchased my boat a few years back from a gentleman in Mississippi and it's been a gem of a boat and has cost me next to nothing to own and operate. I love it.

Okay, so I bought the boat and had the title transferred, etc. I made the fatal mistake of telling myself I'd handle the trailer title in short order, but never did.

So here is where I sit...

A little Background - Wayne (original owner of boat and trailer in Mississippi) sold the boat with trailer to Joe (also a Mississippi resident). I bought the boat with trailer from Joe (I live in Texas). Not that it matters, but the trailer is the original trailer that came with the boat.

Okay, so I have the (clear) title to the trailer with the original owner's name (Wayne), who signed the "Seller" line on the back of the title. The Buyer line is signed by Joe, as well.

I also have a Bill of Sale signed by Wayne, selling said trailer to Joe.

I have the Bill of Sale signed by Joe selling the trailer to me.

So, essentially, I have all the necessary documentation, but Joe (second owner) never registered the trailer, so the title is still in Wayne's name. My question is that I'm wondering if I'll run into any snags. I apologize for my ignorance on this (I ought to know as I've bought and sold a number of classic cars and motorcycles), but I've never run into this particular situation.

Any insight would be awesome and greatly appreciated. Also, is there anything else I need with which to accompany all the above referenced documentation?

Thanks so much!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

It is interesting that Joe never got a title to the trailer. It is still wayne's trailer.

Was the boat the same way as this? or did Joe get a title in his name, but not the trailer (same as you did)?

You *might* be able to get this through the red tape maze, but you should expect that you will have to have joe get title (in Missisippi) and then sign that title over to you.

 

[ScrewPull]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

T,

Thanks so much for the response. I figured it wouldn't be easy.

To answer your question, Joe just never transferred title on the trailer. Had all the ducks in a row, but just he just never pulled the trigger. He did on the boat, which was as simple as A-B-C.

Should I just register it as a "home-made" trailer?

Thanks again!

 

[beezee28]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

Should I just register it as a "home-made" trailer?

Go to the county office and get a form to register your trailer as a 'home -made' trailer like you said. There are a few quiestions that you would need but pretty easy for you to answer. One of the question is 'what is the weight of the trailer'. It took me all of 15 minutes to get my trailer registered and cost around $40.00 if I am not mistaken, but might have gone up now. Hope this help.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

add another vote for the home-built idea... The way that title is right now, it would have to be registered in Joe's name first, then he would have to sign the title as seller, and you as buyer, then transfer it to your name....

Here's how I had to handle my trailer, not sure how Texas DMV is, but here is what happened to me in WV.... Bought my boat (actually, I did some home networking for the guy, he couldn't afford to pay me so he offered me his 16' tri-hull in lieu of the work). The boat was fully titled and registered in his name, HOWEVER, he lives in Ohio, and in Ohio any trailer under 2,000lbs does not have to be registered, just have to have a weight slip.. So, once I got it home, I was able to take the boat title which he signed as seller and myself as buyer, to the DMV, pay the fee's and got it registered in my name and the title transferred.. Now, the trailer ended up being a bit of a fiasco..In order to get a registration & title for any road-use vehicle, trailer, etc., you MUST have a registration and title signed by the previous owner, as well as a bill of sale, so I thought I was pretty much up THAT creek with no paddle. After going rounds with the lady (no use arguing with a woman, let alone one that works for the DMV!), I came home, sat down and thought it out...

At first, I had planned on finding a cheap, junk trailer on craigslist with a title, and just transfer that title as a boat trailer.. However, I had a better idea... the serial number of my boat trailer was just a sticker, no engraving in the steel. So, after a good bit of sanding, painting, new lights and tires, I called up a buddy of mine who happens to be a deputy sheriff... he came out and did the routine inspection they have to do here on home-built trailers, signed the paperwork stating there was no VIN on it... took it to the DMV, paid $28 and got a three-year plate AND a title, registering it as a home-built trailer. In the mail about 2 weeks later I received my permanent registration papers and a little metal plate with a VIN on it, issued by the state of WV, that is now riveted to the tongue.

Sorry for being so long-winded, but figured I'd include the important details on how I went about doing this.. hopefully Texas is similar in that you can do the same I did. Good Luck friend.

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

Go to the county office and get a form to register your trailer as a 'home -made' trailer like you said. There are a few quiestions that you would need but pretty easy for you to answer. One of the question is 'what is the weight of the trailer'. It took me all of 15 minutes to get my trailer registered and cost around $40.00 if I am not mistaken, but might have gone up now. Hope this help.

I'm an idiot... lol somehow I missed your post before I wrote my novel on the home-built thing.... :facepalm:

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

I had more or less the same hassle, mine was out of KY and their not tittle as well, but I did get a bill of sale and had a cop verifie the numbers and got a WV tittle.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

How lenient is Texas on enforcing private trailers? In my state as long as you have a tag hanging on it they don't care. I have multiple trailers but only one tag that I move to whatever trailer I'm using.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

How lenient is Texas on enforcing private trailers? In my state as long as you have a tag hanging on it they don't care. I have multiple trailers but only one tag that I move to whatever trailer I'm using.

That is the same in any state.
You can put any plate on any similar vehicle/trailer/RV and the police will never notice.
That is, until you get stopped and they actually check it!

 

[countryboy26047]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

That is the same in any state.
You can put any plate on any similar vehicle/trailer/RV and the police will never notice.
That is, until you get stopped and they actually check it!

Wish WV was this way... they actually have different type plates for diff. style trailers.. for example, my camper license plate is labeled like this: R3 - 943 (made up #'s but regardless), my boat trailer looks different, and has a small T over a small 3 on the left of the plate, and has 4 #'s together, then, my carhauler/backhoe trailer/whatever is big and needs towed lol.. is a permanent plate that has an endorsement # on it... now, with that being said, I highly doubt most cops know the difference in what plate is for what type/weight trailer, but I don't think I'd chance finding that one county cop that takes his job WAY to seriously.. lol

 

[bsaylors]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

This may help, took me quite a bit of time on Google to find this.

http://www.txdmv.gov/vehicles/drivers/trailers.htm
http://www.txdot.gov/txdoteforms/Ge...eportError.jsp&configFile=WFServletConfig.xml

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Trailer Title Transfer/Registration - Texas

How lenient is Texas on enforcing private trailers? In my state as long as you have a tag hanging on it they don't care. I have multiple trailers but only one tag that I move to whatever trailer I'm using.

I do the same- If the cops have reason to check a trailer tag there is a much bigger problem - If the trailer is close to what the tag is registored to they can't really tell----