Trailer title issues
#1
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Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Coal City ,IL
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
#3
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.
#5
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.
#7
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Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Bourbonnais, IL
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!
#8
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Buffalo, NY
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.
#9
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 734
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From: joliet, il
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.



