Trailer Title

Hello everyone,
Yes, I'm new here, I posted an introduction up in the newbie's section last weekend. I'm struggling with what to do with a boat trailer and I'm hoping for some advice. I have read all the posts saying that when buying a trailer, if there's no title, run the other way. I agree with that advice, but the trailer is already in the yard. My father got the trailer from a buddy. Now my father and the buddy have both passed away, so a title or even a bill of sale is a dead end. The galvanized trailer is in great shape, but it needs a lot of minor work like new carpet on the runners and it is sitting on dry-rotted flat tires. And it's in Texas. I'll have to put new tires on it and some temporary tail lights just to get it back over here, but I need to know if there is any hope of getting it titled before I invest in it. All I can think to do is go to the State Police office in Baton Rouge, but with the trailer still in Texas, I don't expect to get much from them.

Thanks in advance for your advice,

David

I know with an automobile that gets towed off the side of the road. The tow company has to keep it for a certain amount of time. Then they have to run an ad in the newspaper about the vehicle. Once all that is done a title can be issued. I would think that there should be a path to get a title for the trailer

Let us know what you find out. I'm in need of a trailer and the ones I can afford don't seam to have titles.

Not quite on the up ans up, but sometimes you can find someone with a title to a trailer that has be junked or abandoned. They might sell you the title for a few dollars and you'll be good to go. People do it all the time. As I said, not legal but as long as you didn't steal it.......
PPG

Lots of folks in Texas list their trailers as "shop-built" and get them registered that way.

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Originally Posted by Gone Fishin'

Lots of folks in Texas list their trailers as "shop-built" and get them registered that way.

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That is certainly a thought.

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Originally Posted by Shakey Dave

Hello everyone,
Yes, I'm new here, I posted an introduction up in the newbie's section last weekend. I'm struggling with what to do with a boat trailer and I'm hoping for some advice. I have read all the posts saying that when buying a trailer, if there's no title, run the other way. I agree with that advice, but the trailer is already in the yard. My father got the trailer from a buddy. Now my father and the buddy have both passed away, so a title or even a bill of sale is a dead end. The galvanized trailer is in great shape, but it needs a lot of minor work like new carpet on the runners and it is sitting on dry-rotted flat tires. And it's in Texas. I'll have to put new tires on it and some temporary tail lights just to get it back over here, but I need to know if there is any hope of getting it titled before I invest in it. All I can think to do is go to the State Police office in Baton Rouge, but with the trailer still in Texas, I don't expect to get much from them.

Thanks in advance for your advice,

David

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Where was it last titled? Check with your local DMV. There's a process.

My father got the trailer from a buddy, they are both passed away now. There's no telling where it was last titled. I looked for a serial number but didn't find it; I'm going back to Texas to visit my mother this weekend, I'll look it over top to bottom for that doggone serial number. A friend in Texas told me to make some improvements on it and go to the courthouse, and I could get a title. It seems a little to me like baking a cake. You can buy one store-bought, or you can bake one at home. If you bake one at home, it can be made from scratch, or it can come from a premixed box that you bought at the store. It sounds like a "home built" trailer can be made from scratch, or from factory made parts. I just don't know how much of an improvement has to be made to call it home built. It would be good if I could get it titled here in Louisiana, but I'll get it in Texas if I have to and then transfer it to Louisiana.

David

If there isn’t a serial number you can get it inspected as home built by the State Police and get it registered and titled that way.

This post is from a long while back, can you believe I'm still fighting with this? I talked to LSP and the man told me that if the trailer is homemade, bring it on down and he'll help me get a title. If it is obviously factory built, that's a different matter. He said that I would have to contact the manufacturer, give them the serial number, and ask them to give me some info on who the trailer was originally sold to. Basically working the paper trail from the front end to figure out who owned it and if it was stolen. In my case, the tag (really a white sticker) is completely faded and I can't read a single letter on it. There's no telling who the manufacturer is or what the serial number ever was. In my case, the man said that he preferred that I not bring my trailer down there and waste his time. And by the way, his time is Monday through Thursday 8-4. You have to be retired or a shift worker to go see him. Or maybe take a vacation day. I thought I might try getting a title in Texas but I just haven't had time to deal with it. My retirement date is only a few weeks away (Dec 1), so maybe I can pick up the mantle next year and try again.

David

What a headache. Hopefully it can get straightened out soon.

Here in Kentucky, I was able to apply for a new S/N & then a new title. Took a few weeks. My county clerk was extremely helpful. I didn't even realize I needed it till I was in the process of turning my old boat in on a trade. Had that boat for years with no issues.

Check to see if there is a serial number on it, it is usually up front on the tongue and usually by the ball hitch. If not, I would make sure there are no factory stickers on it and then bring it to the LSP and tell them you have a home made trailer that you need to get titled. Let me tell you from experience though, make sure you have safety chains on it before you bring it up there. I had to make a couple of trips before I was able to get mine titled. If everything goes well with them, the will stencil you new #'s on the tongue and issue you a title.

Got to love dealing with things such as this

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

Got to love dealing with things such as this

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It is an issue because thieves steal trailers. I have a utility trailer and was warned that if stolen, the theif could get a title by claiming they built it. There are no serial numbers on my trailer. The manufacturer said numbers can get removed so he doesn’t bother.

I think everyone is going to be suspicious of the OP and make him work for it.

The trailer is obviously "store bought" so it's really hard for me to believe there's no serial number on it, but I have looked. I have looked three times and asked three other people to look, thinking maybe I'm just blind. There is a white tag on the side of the tongue, it looks like there used to be writing on it but it is long since faded to nothing. I'm not making any headway yet, but I'll gnaw this bone a little longer before I give up on it.

David