(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Trailer Title

D

DRussell

Well-known Member
I found a trailer on Facebook Marketplace that I was interested in buying. Problem is it is in New Jersey and the owner has not title for it and has never registered it. He also cannot locate a manufacturer's sticker on the trailer at all. I live in PA. To be legal in PA it must be titled, licensed and inspected. I called Penndot and asked about whether it could be titled as a home built trailer. Answer, is it homemade? Reply, the current owner states it does appear to be homemade, but he can't locate a manufacturer's sticker on it. Answer, if it is not homemade then it can't be titled as homemade. I then asked whether it is possible to title it in PA. Answer, if the current owner does not have a title, certificate of registration, or the manufacturer's certificate of origin then it is not possible to title it in PA without a court order.
 
Homemade may be proven as having been built from Standard trailer components. With good welding and fitment, it might be indistinguishable from manufactured. With no numbers, I would have no compelling reason not to call it Homemade. I have moved a very nice homemade through 7 states with no numbers except the registration from the prior state, and that was barely looked at. Jim
 
Exactly. I went through that a year ago. There was a single axle pop up camper abandoned on some property I bought. Turned out to have a decent frame/hitch/axle/suspension. Even has brakes! I tore off the superstructure, welded on some stake pockets, built side racks, went over the wheel bearings, installed new tires, rewired new lights, etc, I even re-purposed the winch so it could be used to pull something onto the trailer. Then I called the local DMV and asked about how to register it and got a similar song and dance. I went out, hoping I didn't get the same person as I did on the phone, and registered it as homemade. As I recall the rules for doing so were available on the state website.
 
Ask your state DMV.

In MN I had a very nice factory built boat trailer that was titled as homemade because the title was lost.
 
yea,.. home built is the way to go, i know a guy that has done it several times....if you know what i mean. just make sure there are no serial numbers anywhere..
 
I'm unsure if this helps since it applies to Virginia. I bought a '65 Stephens 1/4 ton military trailer years ago. I had a bill of sale. DMV wanted old title; none existed. DMV wanted a build sheet; none survived from '65. Eventually DMV issued me a title that said " no title". That got me plates and insurance. Eventually it was sold on and the old title sufficed.
 
Scratched out serial numbers and missing manufacturer's plates could look suspicious and hurt the resale value more than the homemade title.

It may depend on the state, but my trailer had the manufacturer's emblems, manufacturer's plate, capacity and serial number intact. It was only titled homemade because the original title was lost. I had confidence in the trailer because all the manufacture's information was intact, including a sales catalog.
 
If the guy in NJ really wants to sell it, just have him get a title for it in NJ. It is easier to do that in NJ then in PA. He can get a title issued, then sell it to you, and then I assume PA will accept it as long as the transaction is notarized.

I found out the hard way that PA demands motor vehicle transfers be notarized.
 
I remember a few years back i bought an old honda motor cyle. they said the title was out of state and would get it for me. never did happen, wouldn't answer phone calls. right then i made a promise to my self. never buy something that should have a title but they don't have it. i have seen several trailers around here that is listed no title. I just figure why should i have to create a problem for myself. if i sell is that's the first question thy will ask. just my take on anything without a title that should have one. besides it probably would never happen with a trailer but you all have read stories where someone lost a nice car because it was stolen like the guy in cal last year when they found a older corvette getting ready to be shipped over seas that had been reported stolen in i think in 1970 and the car was returned to the first owner. he had bought the car brand new. the car had been restored so i bet he was a happy camper to say the least. every state is different. as usual its the buyers choice. good luck
 
JDEM, that sounds very reasonable, and is the least amount of risk and hassle for the buyer.
 
Titling it as homemade is a process and requires an enhanced inspection by a Penndot certified inspection station, forms completed by a certified inspection mechanic, plus a detailed description of how the vehicle was configured and assembled. It's not quite as simple as just telling them it is homemade from used parts.

It used to be a lot easier to title as homemade in PA, but the law was changed a few years ago to a much more restrictive process.
 
I agree, the current owner getting a title in NJ then transferring it to PA would be the simplest solution. Unfortunately, he is not willing to do that.
 
My understanding is that the manufacturer's emblems, plate, capacity and serial number would stand in for the manufacturer's certificate of origin. With those, it could be titled without a problem. The problem is that those can't be found on the trailer. I don't know if that means it is homemade and never had them, or if they have been lost off of it over time.
 
(quoted from post at 11:27:47 09/27/19) I agree, the current owner getting a title in NJ then transferring it to PA would be the simplest solution. Unfortunately, he is not willing to do that.
Click to expand...

Of course he isn't. He wants to sell the trailer now, not dink around for 6 months trying to get a title for you. In that time he'd be able to sell the trailer several times over to other people who either don't care or will do the legwork themselves.

If there's nothing on the trailer that identifies it as a factory built trailer there is no reason it cannot be registered as homemade.
 
Think I'd just let it go unless he can produce a title.

If it's really cheap, could be a good reason.

Good way to loose everything if it turned up stolen.
 
Factor in the value of a half day to a full day of your time to get it titled in your state.
 
That's unfortunate. Believe it or not, here in NY, a year ago, I went in with a weight slip, copies of parts invoices I had purchased, and a notarized letter describing "building" the trailer. I was issued a serial number and registration quite quickly, as the documentation I took in wasn't even looked at!
 
Some states don?t require a trailer to have a title. Maybe he bought it out of state. In ohio if it?s under 4000 pounds you don?t need a title. Some states don?t even require trailer tags.
 
Here in KY most trailers don't require a tag but tow vehicle must be tagged for the weight of trailer also.
 
This is different in different states...???.

First in "SOME" states the current owner can apply for a duplicate title in the event he ever had one that is and lost it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Or even apply for a new title if he never had any in the first place

AT LEAST GET A BILL OF SALE

In "SOME" states the current owner can apply for a title to a HOME MADE (even if its not he can make OUT AS SUCH ) trailer Here it takes a police inspection and you engrave MVIN on the trailer, police inspects it and signs a paper, take it to BMV and apply for a MVIN title.

In "SOME" states you could even go to the BMV and say you built it or even bought it for salvage with NO title then apply for a home made trailer title similar to the above where you live

In "SOME" states if you buy an untitled trailer the BMV still requires a Bill of Sale (the dude could give you one) and with that and a police inspection you can then still apply for a new title in your state

I would have him check with his BMV to get their requirements,,,,,,,,,,,,you check with YOUR BMV to see their requirements,,,,,,,TAKE THE EASIEST ROUTE

Theres a chance you will get better info from the BMV (his and yours) then you will get on here SO I SUGEGST YOU TALK TO BOTH

I bet theres a way to get it done, either by home made,,,,,,,,,,,or lost prior title,,,,,,,,,,,or bill of sale then have inspection engrave a new MVIN and go to BMV

ASK BOTH OF THE BMV's

John T
 
With no title, no previous registration to prove ownership?

Walk away and by one with at least one of the above.

If you do buy it, maybe it was not stolen, maybe it was hence the lack of any papers.
 
You didn't mention the weight of the trailer. Many states, including New Jersey and where I live in Michigan will not give titles to trailers that weigh less then 2500 lbs. empty. So, e.g. here in Michigan - none of smaller trailers that are owned legally and registered have titles and seems New Jersey is also that way. That being the case, I kind of wonder how a state like Pennsylvania handles and out of state trailer? Sounds to me like they never let you put plates on them.

If it IS over 2500 lbs. empty, then the present owner should be able to get a new title in NJ even if has no paperwork at all. I did it with several when I lived in NJ although that was over 40 years ago.

I just bought a brand new trailer here in Michigan. 6000 lb. total capacity and Weighs 1800 lbs. empty and I got no title with it, brand new.
 
If there is that much red tape why fight it. If you tried to get it inspected the inspector would call it shop made right off. Let the seller clean up the red tape or pass on the deal.

In texas unless it's like a cargo trailer or horse trailer it's not titled. I could steal a 16' utility trailer and have it licensed in my name before I got home with it. I have had two such trailers and neither had a title. One is about 30 years old and I don't even have a receipt for it.
 
Several years ago, I bought a trailer from New Jersey that did not have a title. Like you, I live in PA, and had to go through getting a title and registration. The seller did provide a certificate of origin and a hand written bill of sale. That was the only paperwork he had. It was enough to get a PS title and get it registered.

Trailers under 3000 lbs. GVW do not require inspection in PA. They also do not require brakes.
 
I would tell the seller to come up with a replacement certificate of origin, or no deal. My guess is he will pass on the deal and sell it to somebody else.
 
I'm not going to buy it. It is a triple axle, 20 feet long so PA requires it to be titled, registered and inspected every year. I'm sure all the rules are in place to prevent a stolen trailer from easily being re-registered to someone else.
 
You can easily transfer an out of state trailer to get a PA title and registration. As long as you have the title from the other state.
 
Penndot said a certificate of origin would be enough to get a title. This one is a triple axle. Well over 3000 lbs.
 
Again, some states do not title trailers under 2500 lbs. empty weight. So if you have an under 2500 lb. trailer from a state like New Jersey or Michigan with no title, how are you going to transfer to a state like Pennsylvania that demands a title for all trailers?
 
Can't be sure for your state but odds are you will be driven nuts without a title. If factory built there should be a s/n somewhere on the tongue. Some have hidden s/n's too depending on the age. The seller should do the legwork to obtain a title.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
knowledge is worth sharing but.....
2 3
Replies
49
Views
3K
Steven Allen
S
B
Lawn mower tractor.
Replies
14
Views
1K
hd6gtom
H
P
Decided on the Cub Loboy
Replies
9
Views
570
Jim Becker
J
M
deatailed how the generator and voltage regulator functi
Replies
13
Views
629
Jim.ME
J
B
Hydraulic Pressure
Replies
5
Views
606
TheOldHokie
TheOldHokie
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top