Does your state require a title to register?

[waywardho]

In NY a title is not required to register a vintage travel trailer. I believe this is due to age. If I remember correctly they do not even give out titles prior to a certain date. We have been able to register with bill of sale, transferable registration. I think that you do not need a title in VT, Maine or Mass as well. I am just curious about this whole title thing so thought I'd ask what state do you live in and do you NEED a title?

[mary1960]

Nebraska and yes!

[effierover]

Hmmmm ... I just registered in NY and they are sending me a title for a '66. I didn't need one to register because I bought it in RI where they don't have titles for trailers under a certain weight, only registration. I think if I sell it, though, it has to have a title because it's over 1000#.

[diamondrelics]

I live in Idaho and yes you need a title to register.

[hoppydawg]

I am looking at a trailer in the catskills with no title or paperwork. Based on your post, this will not be an issue upon registration, but they will send you a title upon registration? Thanks for the clarification.

[LittleVintageTrailer]

In MI you need a title or Bill of sale. You also need the VIN number off of the trailer. If you can't find it or it's not there it's a hassle from what I've been told as you have to go through some hoops.

[effierover]

Found it: "Trailers with an unladen weight of 999 lbs. or less and all non-commercial trailers are exempt from the Insurance ID Card requirement. Also, the proof of ownership for a trailer with an unladen weight of 999 lbs. or less is a transferable registration. You will not receive a title certificate. All trailers are subject to an annual safety inspection. With these exceptions, the procedure to register a light-duty trailer is the same as the procedure to register a motor vehicle."

From this page: www.nydmv.state.ny.us/register.htm ... it appears to be weight, not years, that matter.

[cowcharge]

I haven't registered mine here in Maine yet, but you don't need a title for a car beyond something like 10 or 15 years, so I've always assumed I wouldn't need one for a 36 year-old camper.

Funny, the PO's NH registration calls it a "utility" trailer... Also got the year wrong.

[cowcharge]

Found it on Maine.gov, the Shasta age of consent is sweet 16, and no insurance card, woohoo:

How to Register a Private Sale Purchased Camper Trailer:

1. Pay excise tax to your town office. Excise tax is a municipal tax. Please contact your local municipal office for additional information.
2. Documents Needed:
1. Signed bill of sale
2. Title signed over to new owner (if camper is 15 years old or newer and is over 3,000 lbs. net weight).
3. If your municipality does not participate in our registration program, you will need to visit a BMV branch office with the documents listed above. Please contact your local municipal office to find out if they participate in our registration program.
4. Pay sales tax (5% of the purchase price).
5. Pay the registration fee. Camper trailers may only be registered for one year.
6. Vanity plates are available for an additional annual fee of $25.00. You may check the availability of a vanity plate online.

[safetybruce]

Mississippi does not require a Title to get Registration papers and a tag for both out-of state and in-state purchased trailers. They "prefer" a notorized Bill of Sale but I have had no problem with a very simple non-notorized written BoS, so far.

[Red Dirt]

In OK we have to have the title for one purchased in OK or in a state that titles trailers. If you purchase one from a state that doesn't have titles, it is still tricky, as most DMV folks around here tend to go into a tailspin if it is out of the norm. If you should have a title but don't, it gets very tricky. Fresh baked cookies can grease the skids though.

Red Dirt

[cupcakehussy]

Hi all. I'm looking at the purchase of a Shasta in NJ and it comes with zero paperwork and zero title. Any idea what I can do about this? Bill of sale?

[65callie]

GEORGIA Information links:

Requirements to register a vehicle or trailer:

motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/registration/regrequirements.asp

Is a Georgia title required for my vehicle?

motor.etax.dor.ga.gov/motor/TitleSection/ts_NeedAGATitle.aspx

[Hamlet]

Washington State, no title, but a bill of sale or other proof of ownership. After three years of untitled registration, the state will issue a title.

[vikx]

Washington also requires the VIN number, at least in our county. I had to write a letter to the last known owner's address and when it came back, applied with the state for the 3 year registration. We also had to send pictures of the VIN and a pencil tracing.

Also, if you begin repairs on a registered only trailer and the original owner wants it, you are out of luck. There may be some required payment of repairs already made, but not always.

[lamacki1]

Illinois

Titles

How do I apply for license plates?
You must submit a copy of the Illinois Certificate of Title for the vehicle in your name along with a completed Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190) to the Secretary of State. The fee is determined by license plate category or by the weight of the vehicle. Submit documents to:
Secretary of State
Vehicle Records Processing Division
501 S. 2nd. St., Room 424
Springfield, IL 62756-6666
Or go to your nearest Secretary of State facility.

What type of vehicle must be titled and registered?
Off-road motorcycles and ATVs are titled but are not registered.

Pop-up campers and all other kinds of campers that are pulled behind a vehicle are both titled and registered. Slide-in campers or pop-up campers that are affixed to the vehicle or part of the vehicle are neither titled or registered. Anything that is driven (cars, trucks, RV's, motorcycles, mopeds, motorized bicycles) or anything that is pulled (RT's, pop-ups, 5th wheels, trailers of all kinds and sizes) on the roads is titled and licensed.


It doesn't make it clear what the exact process is if you buy a trailer from out of state without a title. Guess I should check; in case....

[sodashoponwheels]

In Massachusetts you don't need a title if it is under 3000 lbs. I didn't have a previous registration for our Compact and was able to register it. I was told that I just needed to have a police officer verify the VIN, took that to the Registry and amazingly walked out with a new registration.

[lopo]

Florida requires a title only if the originating state issued one - so if I bought a trailer in Michigan which, for example (I don't know) required one, then I'd have to have it to transfer it, but if their big fat book says the originating state doesn't require/issue one, then they don't require it. And Florida does issue a title on a travel trailer no matter what the size, but not on our small cargo trailer.

[sparky]

I'm in Colorado and my Shasta came without a title. There are a number of hoops to jump through. The first step is to have a certified VIN inspection and then, there is a bunch of paperwork to send in to request a search for title to see if there is a lein on the trailer. A bill of sale is required for the certified VIN inspection. Not fun in my opinion since the ladies at the local DMV are very unehlpful. But with a lot of online investigation it can be done! Keep your fingers crossed for me