Title?

[Imladris]

<P>Hoew important is it to have a title for a travel trailer? If I buy one without a title, can I get in trouble for not having that?</P>

 

[Khaosinc]

A lot of that can depend on the state.&nbsp; Many older trailers were not titled at all.&nbsp; Licensing them can be a pain and (again state dependent) a bill of sale is not enough.&nbsp; If the current owner is the legal owner but just can't find the title, you should be able to transfer it in person at the DMV.&nbsp; If you are friendly with a local cop or tow yard, you might be able to get a salvage title for it that way as well.<br><br>Unless you really like/ it, or it's free I would keep looking if you ever plan to have it on the road.<br><br>

 

[CP]

In CA, If you don't get a non-op registration from the state, When you license it the next time all the back license fees plus stiff penalties are charged.<br>

 

[MargaretA]

I live in Colorado so I can speak only for the process here. I looked into this last year when someone advertised a trailer on Craigslist and said the title was lost. The trailer looked like it might be a good choice for me so I called the state office - the Department of Revenue, I think - about it. The process as described to me over the phone was so long and complicated that I gave up on the trailer. I don't remember much about it now - it didn't even sink in then - but I think there was a title search involved that needed a certain amount of time before it could be established that the trailer wasn't stolen.<br><br>I just tried a quick internet search on this subject. The official CO state site was the first on the list so I looked around there, but couldn't find the description of the process at all. I did find another site, though, that will do this for you - for a fee. Which I think is a good indication of what a pain it must be to do it yourself.<br><br>I expect this does vary from state to state so it would probably be a good idea to contact the state you plan to title the vehicle/trailer in. As for Colorado - I'm not planning to stay here but if I were there is no way I would buy anything that didn't have a clear title.<br><br>Meg<br><br>

 

[Guest]

I salvaged a trailer out of a field in Oregon in the mid seventies and had to get the field owner to file a claim for "storage fees" for all the time it had been there....then he could sell it to me with a bill of sale. I took all that to the DMV and obtained a title....In most states the trailer will have to be registered and plated to be on the highway.<br>My choice is to always have the paperwork immaculate so I can go anywhere and even cross borders if I want to....<br>I dislike limitations so will do my homework to avoid them.<br>We talk a lot about "freedom" on here and other forums so to protect your freedom of movement you have to take responsibility for crossing the T's and dotting the I's.<br>I know a guy who planned a trip around the world on a BMW motorcycle and even went to BMW mechanic's school so he knew how to fix his bike in every situation. He left NYC and got to the Mexican border and found that one number in his VIN on the registration/title was wrong and had to postpone the trip until he could return with the bike to NYC and take care of the change....<br>A big PIA in my view....<br>Bri<br><br>