I am thinking of buying a boat and trailer from South Carolina. However, the seller states that SC does not require a title, or plates, on boat trailers, so he has neither.
It is too late today to contact Pennsylvania DMV, so I thought I might try for some insight from the RV group.
I have never heard of trailer without a title; is this normal in SC?
If this correct, how does one get a title for Pennsylvania?
Any other words of wisdom?
--The boat does have SC numbers on the bow.
END: After a lot of phone calls, I cannot get the trailer titled in Pa without a proper title or SC registration card stating that the trailer is a "Non Titled Trailer". But he can't get that card without a title. I told him, No Title, NO DEAL! Have to look for another boat.
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Try and find the SC DMVon-line and see if you can find their requirements for titling a boat and trailer. If nothing else the boat probably needs to be registered and have a set of numbers and letters on it's bow.
I would tend to assume that a trailer with out a title is stolen. Even if SC doesn't require a title the trailer should have had one to begin with.
But, I live in VA where everything with wheels requires a title and tags.
This isn't an uncommon situation- many States don't require title/registration for trailers under a certain size, and others don't even title truckcampers.
BUT
When you bring a trailer into a State that requires titling, that's when the problems start.
In my State, what you'd need would be the "manufacturers certificate of origin" which comes with every commercially produced trailers. I'm betting that the same is true in Pennsylvania. If the seller is the original owner, he/she might still have that.
If so, that and a bill of sale should be enough to get you on the road in Pennsylvania.
" Not every mind that wanders is lost. " With apologies toJ.R.R. Tolkien
Florida doesn't issue titles for utility trailers. Tennessee accepted my trailer registration from Florida and issued a Tennessee title and plate. No problems, no hassles. It depends on the state's requirements.
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The best bet is contact the Motor Vehicle Department in PA, explain the situation, and they should be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to get the trailer licensed in PA with no title from the former owner.
Here in Montana, I could remove all identification from the trailer, state that it is "Home-Built", and the state will issue a VIN to me, I stamp that on the trailer, have it inspected, and the State will issue a title for a 2012 "HMDE" trailer.
Maybe PA has the same or a similar program for home-built trailers.
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mowermech wrote: The best bet is contact the Motor Vehicle Department in PA, explain the situation, and they should be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to get the trailer licensed in PA with no title from the former owner. Here in Montana, I could remove all identification from the trailer, state that it is "Home-Built" , and the state will issue a VIN to me, I stamp that on the trailer, have it inspected, and the State will issue a title for a 2012 "HMDE" trailer.
Maybe PA has the same or a similar program for home-built trailers.
Um...the "chop shop" approach, eh? Bet Montana has about a "zero recovery rate" on stolen trailers...
Note to self:
Double up security/insurance on trailer if headed to Montana!
To the O.P.:
Many States require records of the provenance of the parts used to make a home-built trailer, and will inspect them carefully before issuing a Title. I recommend extreme caution before venturing down that slippery slope.
"Um...the "chop shop" approach, eh? Bet Montana has about a "zero recovery rate" on stolen trailers"
I wouldn't know, I rarely hear anything about stolen trailers of any kind around here. Apparently, there is no money to be made by stealing them.
Actually, my horse trailer is a 2002 HMDE trailer, according to the title and registration. It is quite obviously a commercially built 2-horse trailer, circa 1970.
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