mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,885 
Likes: 3,810
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 22, 2013 20:16:51 GMT -8
I've registered over 100 trailers in the state of California and have been through just about every type of problem with the registration process ever known to man. I thought I would pass along just a little info that may save you some time and possibly money and even keep you out of trouble because you could actually lose your drivers license and be prosecuted as a criminal if you do something wrong.
My greatest gift of information that I could possibly pass on to you is this. Never EVER buy a trailer with only a bill of sale.... UNLESS you can get the seller to go down with you to the DMV and help you go through the process before you pay for the trailer. In California, there is now a new law that adds an automatic $200 to the entire process just because there is no title. Matters not the reason. Also you will have to pay 3 years back fees and penalties which can add up to several hundred dollars all by itself. If you are purchasing a $600 trailer and have to pay $700 just to get it registered, it better damn well be the trailer you want.
The reason to have the seller go with you, and on condition that if the registration process does not succeed that you don't have to buy the trailer is because the trailer may turn up as salvaged or junked beyond repair for the road. It could even come up stolen. All of this has happened to myself and my friends. I just went through that last week and lost about $1000 total plus got threatened by the DMV to take my DL away. I was able to explain that I was the victim and not the perp....
Most of the time a bill of sale transaction can work out just fine. All I'm saying is make the seller responsible for a good legal transaction with licensing guaranteed before final payment. Go to the DMV together with everything you can. Have your license plate already off the trailer so you can carry it into the DMV, have the VIN exposed so it is readable. Do that with a wire wheel brush on a drill motor to clean away rust and paint. Make everything as easy on the DMV inspector as possible. Be friendly and ready to answer any and all questions about how and where you got the trailer and what you paid for it. Get all your stories straight before you go.
There are lots of other horror stories out there and you are all welcome to describe your particular DMV woes here in this thread. All the states differ in policies so this would be a great place to let others know how it works in your particular state.
It's also always good to deal with a seller who knows the history of a trailer. Original owners, son of original owner, friend of original owner..... The more you know of the history of the trailer the better idea you can get of what it's going to take to fix it up.
So good luck on your hunt and try to come out a winner.
|
|
cowcharge
1K Member
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 328
Currently Offline
|
Post by cowcharge on Oct 24, 2013 11:39:43 GMT -8
I don't care how nice the weather is, California's gov't ensures I'll never move there. Thankfully, in Maine it's so easy to register trailers that people from other states register them here, truckers and such.
|
|
chukar52
New Member
Posts: 11
Likes: 3
Currently Offline
|
Post by chukar52 on Oct 24, 2013 13:20:16 GMT -8
A couple of other tips in California. The DMV offices at AAA are much more user friendly, and can do these transfers. Also, if your trailer iinlets than 15 ft., you can get what they cal a "permanent" plate for a lot less than what they call a "motor home" plate. You are best off having a copy of the regs with you, and highlight areas that apply for quick reference. Saved me about $500 total on my last trailer.
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,885
Likes: 3,810
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 24, 2013 14:33:44 GMT -8
OK.... I just calculated the registration fees for my 1959 18ft Kenskill SC. for here in Riverside, California. Now keep in mind that this was the result of some trading and no cash ever exchanged hands for this trailer. I basically traded an old aluminum boat, motor and trailer for this Kenny. I value the Kenny at $300 as is. Nothing worked in it when I got it.
I got this trailer with a bill of sale only but that wasn't the deal. The original deal was for the person I got it from to take care of the registration but now has backed out of that part of the deal and they have already sold the boat. So I'm stuck with all the fees which total out to a nice $664 to register this trailer including lots of fees and penalties. I not only pay penalties to the state of CA but also to the CA Highway Patrol. $180 to those idiots for what reason I do not know.
Once registered I will have approximately $1150 invested in the trailer so that's not really too bad. But I had not planned on having anything invested in it from a cash out of pocket point of view at this time. Right now I should be starting at zero.
Live and learn I suppose. 
|
|
Ten
3K Member
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 1,467
70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by Ten on Oct 24, 2013 15:41:14 GMT -8
On a lighter note...it is a 1959 Kenskill....  |
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,885
Likes: 3,810
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 24, 2013 15:45:37 GMT -8
On a lighter note...it is a 1959 Kenskill.... Yes it is. And I made ICE CUBES in it last week remember? Man that was the biggest charge I've had in months. I should have saved them. They cost over $1100...... |
|
Ten
3K Member
Posts: 3,432
Likes: 1,467
70 Shasta 16SC + 1964 Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by Ten on Oct 24, 2013 16:06:16 GMT -8
Hey, I have priced ice-makers lately...they don't come cheap!
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,885
Likes: 3,810
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Oct 24, 2013 17:36:11 GMT -8
I stole this Norcold. 59 inches tall, gas/elect never used 2006 model $380. |
|
tomkopman
New Member
Posts: 7
Currently Offline
|
Post by tomkopman on May 5, 2014 13:09:23 GMT -8
I've read what I could here and online about California registration, so please forgive me if this has been answered somewhere I didn't find.
I got two trailers for free, and as they were junk, have completely stripped them to the metal trailer frame. Neither has a title. One has the full VIN and a license plate, the other has no plate and part of the VIN was ground of when a previous owner installed a new hitch.
What are my options? on the one with no plate and half a VIN, how morally unethical would it be to grind off the rest of the VIN and claim that it's a homemade trailer?
Should I even attempt registration on the one with plate and VIN? Are there options I'm not thinking of? I will have no trouble getting the "seller" to go with me to the DMV, etc.
Please, any suggestions, options will be appreciated! I'd really like to use these two frames to build stuff on, but definitely won't start building until they're registered.
|
|
azshastanut
Active Member
Posts: 279
Likes: 82
1957 Kenskill 16T
Currently Offline
|
Post by azshastanut on May 5, 2014 15:12:19 GMT -8
You can get a title from the State of Maine for $99.00 as I recall. You get it thru a private agency and it takes about 3 weeks. Their information is on line. Download their bill of sale and power of attorney and mail them together with payment. It's a snap, and you can then re title in your state.
|
|
bmxovich
Active Member
Posts: 187
Likes: 69
1952 Airfloat Skipper
Currently Offline
|
Post by bmxovich on May 8, 2014 18:56:19 GMT -8
You can get a title from the State of Maine for $99.00 as I recall. You get it thru a private agency and it takes about 3 weeks. Their information is on line. Download their bill of sale and power of attorney and mail them together with payment. It's a snap, and you can then re title in your state. I did this through a middle man of sorts some 10 years ago on a vintage car. Didn't want to wait the 3 years in WA state over a lost title situation. I took the gamble, cost me $90, and received a title from Maine. I transferred it to WA, paid sales tax etc, end of story. I was surprised it worked, and very happy. That being said I wouldn't want to have to try it again. Things have gotten a lot tougher here where I live. |
|
diymom
Active Member
enthralled with my 1969 Terry, problem is it keeps me awake at night planning
Posts: 323 
Likes: 51
1969 terry 18'
Currently Offline
|
Post by diymom on May 24, 2014 21:00:09 GMT -8
geeeze, wish I would have read this BEFORE I paid for my trailer. The guy who sold it to us said he registers trailers all the time for about 100 bucks through a place like AAA in his neighborhood. And we believed him... My Dad did the selling his car out of state deal about 15 years ago so he could legally register his cobra kit car as pre 73 so it didnt need smog equipment...it worked well and cost him about 300 with the fees the guy charged... we are thinking it may be a good idea to sell the trailer to our cousin in AZ who can register it there and then we can buy it back and register it here in money grubbing California. I had no idea about back taxes being applied to the regular fees..and highway patrol costs?  -what a joke! We are definitely not going to the dmv to attempt to register on our own. |
|
John Palmer
Leading Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
Posts: 1,772
Likes: 625
Currently Offline
|
Post by John Palmer on May 25, 2014 10:28:09 GMT -8
Find a local INDEPENDANT DMV company to handle all aspects of your registration. They charge you about $75 as a fee, and come out to your vehicle for the VIN# inspection. It's well worth the extra cost to go this way anytime you have something special that is not able to be handled by your AAA office.
I've seen them "work magic", on old hot rods.
|
|
agent99
Member
Posts: 44
Likes: 12
Currently Offline
|
Post by agent99 on Jun 4, 2014 9:02:03 GMT -8
I would not say never buy a trailer with only a bill of sale but EDUCATE yourself on what is required in the state in which you live. There are lots of trailers out there that you are only going to get with a bill of sale and I never shy away from them, although I would prefer to have a transferable reg.
Every state is different. Some require next to nothing and others require you to jump through hoops of fire. In NY, if you only have a bill of sale a buyer can get the trailer registered if the seller fills out a few forms: Statement of transaction and Statement of ownership for non-titled vehicles. There is also a certification of sale or transfer of 1972 or older vehicles (NY did not title them prior to this). You will need a bill of sale that includes description and vin number. The forms aren't complicated. Just need to fill out what it is you are selling/buying and then both buyer and seller have to sign them. Buyer has to pay the lovely taxes on the selling price and then about $28 to register it. It's really pretty easy here and NY isn't real easy on anything!
|
|
lakewoodgirl
Active Member
Posts: 270
Likes: 92
1954 Lakewood
Currently Offline
|
Post by lakewoodgirl on Jun 4, 2014 9:12:38 GMT -8
Great advise! I got a bill of sale for mine, checked out with DMV that it was no longer in the system so I was good to go. But, I also found during demo the last pink! An unsigned pink. My DMV guy confirmed I was now golden. Thank goodness for my time capsule!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
|
|
-what a joke! We are definitely not going to the dmv to attempt to register on our own.
