In most jurisdictions, state law stipulates that you have thirty days from the purchase to title and register your trailer. Use this as a guideline and not a rule, because state laws always vary.
Be aware that not every state titles and registers trailers; however, not titling and registering a trailer in a state that does require it will result in a penalty, which grows more severe the longer the trailer goes untitled.
What's a Trailer?
A trailer is any unit carrying property or passengers, attached to and towed by a motorized vehicle.
Typical examples of trailers include:
- Farm wagons
- Boat trailers
- Flat beds
- Semi-trailers
- Livestock trailers
- Campers
Check your state's trailer definitions; if you're still unsure, contact your DMV.
Trailer Title and Registration Requirements
To title and register a trailer, the owner will normally have to submit:
- The properly signed title. Sometimes you can use other proofs of ownership, such as a bill of sale or a Manufacturer's Statement of Origin (MSO).
- A signed application for title and license.
- Receipts of paid personal property taxes.
- Proof of trailer insurance, depending on the state.
- All applicable title and registration fees.
Do you own and travel with a trailer? What did you have to do to title and register it?