Trailer registration problems. Any help?

6BangBronk

6BangBronk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Location
Durham
Figured this was general tech?

Anyway, bought a bobcat last summer and it came with a trailer. Trailer was more less a freebie but dude finally found the title. We went to DMV and since he never had it registered in his name and since it was straight from the manufacturer, DMV won't register it without the original Bill of Sale. This trailer is 17 years old and dude I bought it from just never ran a tag and never registered it. He mainly just used it on his father's farm. He said he was fortunate to have the title but the bill of sale is history.
Trailers are being built every day. Even home made. Would there be any way to re-register a trailer under a different vin? Anybody else ever encounter this issue? I called Kaufman Trailer Sales where he bought it from and they changed software and the dude's name is no longer in the records so they won't issue another one and had no answer for me, basically that I was S-O-L. The trailer is a 16' tag-a-long. I've been putting my tag from my other trailer on it to transport the bobcat but I know that is illegal and have been just taking my chances. Sure would be nice to get it registered. Would be easier to sell later on.
 
If the dmv inspector is worth half a shit, he's going to call you out on it being a homebuilt then probably find the vin you didn't see, and take the trailer. Just saying.
 
braxton357 said:
If the dmv inspector is worth half a shit, he's going to call you out on it being a homebuilt then probably find the vin you didn't see, and take the trailer. Just saying.
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vin near tounge if anywhere. You talking about the police (dmv inspector)?
 
I built a trailer a few years ago and just met one of the local HP and he signed off on my home built trailer form that I got from DMV. He mainly checked the lights and made sure the vin was on the tongue and the axle. He asked me a few questions but it was a simple inspection.
 
When I bought a trailer 5 years ago guy had never had it inspected (bout 10yr old trailer) titles been gone & bill of sale forget about it. So I just went to Harbor Freight bought some metal stamps & restamped new VIN I got from tag place. Registered as home built. VIN's stamped on tongue & a plate usually tack welded to axle some where.
 
altoids said:
When I bought a trailer 5 years ago guy had never had it inspected (bout 10yr old trailer) titles been gone & bill of sale forget about it. So I just went to Harbor Freight bought some metal stamps & restamped new VIN I got from tag place. Registered as home built. VIN's stamped on tongue & a plate usually tack welded to axle some where.
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I did the same thing with a 3/4 ton military trailer. I politely argued that it was homemade. Nothing homemade at all on it. I told the inspector that I had to piece the thing together from different trailers and thus it was homemade. I got a vin issued to me, stamped it on a plate and welded the plate to tongue. Lots of "Yes Sir' and "No Sir" should get you through if you stick to your guns.
 
If you make any "structural" changes to a factory built trailer, you can get a new VIN for it. I have done some sneaky stuff before (2 trailers with 1 vin). I am not going to sell either trailer and both are the same size.
 
Be careful about welding a plate on the axle. There is/was a DMV inspector in Conover that made a buddy remove a plate because the vin is supposed to be stamped directly on the axle. Of course most inspectors are not going to crawl under a trailer to look. They'll check the lights and check for the vin on the tongue.
 
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