Trailer title issues
 

I live in Illinois.... And they are a title trailer state. I bought my boat and trailer from a guy in Iowa. I guess over there they don't use titles. I have the Reg. Signed in the spot that says to sign for sales. Well my state claimed they don't accept that. I have tried everything I got one place to agree to refinish it and issue me a title.... But they wanted $7500. That's not gonna happen. At this point I don't know what to do any recomndations ? I'm almost at the point where I might buy a junk trailer just to get a plate so I'm not rolling dirty. My worst fear is not getting a fine. It's that they will impound the trailer... And what's on it. And nit let me pick it up till I produce a title..... And there is not one. This is getting very frustrating

Have you tried calling the manufacturer? Otherwise try calling R.A. Adams in McHenry Il. They are a big trailer dealer in our area, they might be able to help.
R.A. Adams 815-385-2600

See if the previous owner of the trailer can get you a Letter of Verification from the DMV. -That's what we do in Maine for vehicles that are not titled. If he can provide one, it should assist in obtaining a title in your state.

Move to Michigan. All you need is a weight slip and we have some great lakes.

Mike- I went through the same thing many years ago with a jet ski trailer, and then again with the trailer for my Powerquest, which I bought in MI. In both cases, I went through a Currency Exchange, and they issued me a "homemade trailer" title. This is going back quite a few years, and things may have changed in the interim, but its definitely worth a try.

Have you tried contacting the manufacturer and requesting a duplicate of the MSO? That is what would be issued prior to any state issued title

I just went through this process a month ago and didn't have any issues, well that I'm aware of yet. I purchased the boat and trailer from a private seller in Ohio. Ohio doesn't require a trailer title so the previous owner didn't have one. The DMV just wanted a bill of sale and price of the trailer with VIN. They said the state would mail me a title. I haven't seen the title yet but they gave me a license plate and sticker on the spot. The DMV location this happened in isn't that from you. Trying calling the Bradley DMV and see if you get a different response. DMV's in general raise my blood pressure. Good luck!

I did the same thing as 2ndwind. I bought a boat and trailer from Ohio (non title trailer state) and brought it back to NYS I made a few trips to the dmv each time I was told something different. Register as a home-made but I needed to get it weighed without the boat on the trailer. But could not launch the boat with out a trailer plate. Once I got it weighed they said it was to heavy to register as homemade ???. I contacted the manufacture and they sent me a new sticker with the vin, as the VIN was never permanently attached to the trailer?????. In the end I was able to register it by having a weight slip of the trailer only and a bill of sale a few months later I received a NYS title for my trailer....... Don't give up it will workout in the end.

Mike I went through this when I bought the fountain. I ended up having to get a copy of the previous owners registration from his state. I have also used the homemade trailer route for the jet boat trailer prior to that.

Try selling a boat to someone in Canada without a trailer title... I wish all the states would regulate this somehow! Such a PITA

Thats what I~ve always done with trailers that had no title. Several of my current trailers have "homemade" titles.
For the boat plan on taking a trip to Michigan one of these days and registering my current trailer there.
Michigan you pay $300 for a LIFETIME plate here in this Commie state they want $150 EVERY year. only issue I have is they want the weight, not sure how I can prove that. Maybe Kattanna can shed some light on that?

This is exactly what I would suggest that you do. These Illinois clowns in the DMV are a joke. Call them up and say that you are building a trailer what documentation do you need to get this registered. You may need to generate some traceability of components used but I'm sure that will not be a stumbling block to get this done.

Then to add insult to injury. I purchased a boat and trailer in Illinois in August 2013. I just got the title for the boat last week-- that is how far backed the state is. I've been stopped by the Michigan State Police and DNR about the registrations. What I did was copy and carry along all of the email correspondence - bill of sale to show that I've made a good faith effort getting the documentation thru the state of Illinois. All of this satisfied them. I guess to some this is common knowledge.

Good Luck - and safe boating


3pointstar

Had the same problem with my Fountain trailer from Michigan, they do not title trailers in that state. When I got back to Jersey all I had was a bill of sale. Motor vehicle would not accept it. As lick would have it my friend knew the manager in the MV office and made a phone call and they titled my Manning triple axle trailer as being homemade. Good luck

I just registered a trailer in VA last week via the original MSO...
...from 1976
...handwritten.

The VIN was 6 digits.

I would have been easier to have bought a junk trailer with a title and registered that trailer. I hate to say that; but it's either that or go with homemade, which is often a PITA as well. In VA, we have trailer inspections. To do home made, the trailer would have to be weighed & certified as above or below the line that requires yearly inspections.

http://staabagency.com
Titled, registered and plates in my hand in 24 hours. And before a bunch of people jump on the "that's not legal" train this is how I got my trailer back from being impounded by mass state police.

New laws for homemade title. Must have receipts for the axles.... And they want detailed pics if the construction process. I guess state police have to inspect it and if they dong feel you made it in your garage they flag you. Just called that place in Maine.... They made it sound easy and informed it it was perfectly legal.... Cost to register for 5 years $88!!

I had to have notarized bill of sale, copy of registration and copy of prev owners license proving he was a resident out of state.

I had all but the copy of prev owners license, one title place prick wouldn't do it, but then I found another and flashed my notarized bill of sale for boat that had prev owners address and notary from va and acted like I had my crap together and then changed the subject and started flirting with the slightly older woman... She was cute too!, lol didn't hurt as much.

That Staab agency whats that all about.. can I register the trailer there and stop getting raped by Illinois?

Yes. I did it for my daughters Checkmate trailer. MD sucks too.

I will never register a trailer in taxachusetts again. Even if it was the same price, it's way easier to call them

From what they said yes.... $88 for 5 years.....I think they said 250 something for 15 years. Give them a call.... Chick had a sweet accent!!

Wow, well thanx Lil Red !
Mine might be more due to weight but I bet still a better deal...I`ll give them a call

Michigan requires a weight ticket if you don't have a title/registration for your trailer from previous owner. That is the weight of the trailer only Without Boat! I have taken my snowmobile trailer to the scale had it weighed then taken that weight ticket to the secretary of state and passed it off as my boat trailer. They accept it.

I did the same as Mike my trailer never had a title either. Homemade trailer title now.

Mark

Been there, call Iowa DMV, they can issue you a title even though they are not a title state, it's done all the time not a big deal really. You will have to fax them proof of the sale etc

MR Cig have you been pulled over what did the cop say about home built title on a 38' trailer.
You can build anything with a chop saw and a welder.