VA Helps Stolen Trailers

AznDrgn · #1 01-03-2012, 02:02 AM

Been a while since I've posted here but I am trying to do something that I hope someone here might have experience with. I am looking at buying a bigger utility trailer (6x14) for doing odd jobs around the house and hauling my toys but it has no title. I've looked around and officially without a title it can't be registered in my name in Va, however I have seen some people say that I could apply for a homemade trailer title. Has anyone successfully registered a trailer that is obviously not homemade as a homemade trailer? Is it worth the trouble or should I just keep on looking?

Thanks in advance for the help!
-Danny

Lucky · #2 01-03-2012, 07:00 AM

To title & register a new trailer in VA, you need a certificate of origin plus a bill of sale (can be a sale receipt). Just make sure you get a COO with the trailer and you won't have a problem.

Cliff Claven · #3 01-03-2012, 10:31 AM

put a farm use tag on it and drive it that way. you don't need a title for a farm use tag. buy one at tractor supply. save on registration fee and vehicle tax.

bigger question is, why doesn't it have a title?

AznDrgn · #4 01-03-2012, 10:40 AM

No COO it's not a new trailer.

I asked about the title and was told that the previous owner didn't have it and now this guy doesn't have it either. I just asked about the VIN numbers and was told that there were none either. It looks to be a newer trailer so I would think it should have one. If I were still living in a farming area I wouldn't hesitate to get a farm tag or even just hand write one but around NOVA there aren't too many farms and I don't think that would fly too well. Technically you do need a DMV "Farm Use" tag but most people just use the red and white ones you get a tractor supply and the police leave them alone.

Cliff Claven · #5 01-03-2012, 10:47 AM

looks like newer trailer + no title + no VIN = wtf!

Lucky · #6 01-03-2012, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Claven

looks like newer trailer + no title + no VIN = wtf!

X2. WTF?

Hopefully it is priced to reflect the hassle/risk you are taking on. If so, buy it.

I have no doubt you'll be able to register it in VA. It just may need to be inspected and assigned a VIN plate... I had to do that in Maryland with a boat trailer I bought. PO painted over the VIN sticker, so I had to get the state to issue one as a home-built. If you can do it in MD (as I did), then I expect VA will be even easier.

-- JB

Cliff Claven · #7 01-03-2012, 07:03 PM

or find a guy who has had his trailer stolen and had no insurance, buy his title and tap the numbers in on your trailer to match the title. i heard that's how it's done. doesn't seem worth it to me.

tdatk · #8 01-03-2012, 07:23 PM

Hey now, you're giving us WNY'ers a bad rap.
Those were all legit bikes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cliff Claven

oh wait, i know. there was a guy i knew of back in the late 70's when i was working at the chevy plant up in tonawanda, he drove a trans am and every few months he had a brand new harley with no title that he used to auction off. and the way it worked, the winner would find some poor schmo who'd had a harley stolen and had no insurance, and so he'd buy that guy's title for a few hundred, and then there was a guy in cheektowaga with a set of the correct harley VIN dies, with the funny 2 that looks like a Z and all, and for a hundred he would grind off the vin on the frame and motor and tap in one to match the title. just sayin....

AznDrgn · #9 01-03-2012, 09:59 PM

That's the thing I'm trying to figure out how difficult the home made trailer process is so I can weigh my options and see if it's worth buying the trailer. I'm trying to somewhat follow the rules on this one and actually register/tag it or else I would just grab a tag from another trailer, slap it on there, and go about my business.

BlackTalon · #10 01-03-2012, 10:09 PM

Danny -- did you look here http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa22.pdf ?

Seems pretty straightforward, other then the part about lying that you built it

AznDrgn · #11 01-03-2012, 10:23 PM

Yes I did read through that. The paperwork part is straight forward, it's the part where a cop comes to inspect it that would pose a problem. It's going to be pretty obvious that I didn't build it. This is why I'm trying to see if there is anyone here that has gone through the process and has successfully had a trailer retitled as home built that was obviously not home built.

BlackTalon · #12 01-04-2012, 12:05 AM

go to Riley's and lay some bad welds over the some of the factory ones

AznDrgn · #13 01-04-2012, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blacktalon

go to riley's and lay somw bad welds over the some of the factory ones

hahahahahaha

KFJ · #14 01-04-2012, 01:31 AM

How old is it? You can register it in Maine if it is old enough,or, as homemade...

http://www.mainetrailerregistrations.com/

Trak Ratt · #15 01-04-2012, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackTalon

go to Riley's and lay some bad welds over the some of the factory ones

Quote:

Originally Posted by AznDrgn

hahahahahaha

That's what I was thinking too. Or at least add some stake brackets,

Quote:

Originally Posted by KFJ

How old is it? You can register it in Maine if it is old enough,or, as homemade...

http://www.mainetrailerregistrations.com/

That's what I was thinking too.

Cliff Claven · #16 01-04-2012, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdatk

Those were all legit bikes.

Yes, I didnt mean to imply that they weren't legit. They must have been legit. After all they were still in the original shipping crates. They just fell off a truck so couldn't be sold by a dealer. That's why Vincent was selling them. He was a good family man. He would never do anything wrong.