Transporting newly purchased used trailer from private sale

[kari13]

If a thread or resource like this already exists somewhere, please just point me in the right direction.

We are looking to buy a used trailer, likely direct from owner and out of state since stock in our state (NH) seems pretty rare. We have bought pre-owned cars and motorcycles before via private sale (its been a while though), but we've never had to transport them more than a couple hours at most, and certainly not over multiple state lines.

So you inspect the trailer, decide you want to buy it, fork over money (via cashier's/bank check, wire transfer, or direct transfer at a local bank branch of either buyer or seller), sign a bill of sale, received the title (if applicable), and obtain the VIN. Call your insurance company to activate insurance (if desired and required). Now how do you legally drive it home?

Do you drive it without plates and use the bill of sale and title to prove new ownership? Do you attempt to obtain a temporary plate same day in the state where the trailer was sold? If so, how do you manage that in states that don't allow same day/drop in DMV appointments? Or do you just slap on any old plates you have available, drive home carefully, and hope you don't get pulled over like many people do when buying a used car?

If we are driving any significant distance to see and purchase a trailer, doing two round trips to see it, buy it and get the appropriate paperwork, go home to register it, and go back to pick it up is just not feasible.

[mary and bob]

I have used a plate from another trailer a few times, but of course that is illegal as you won't have a registration form that matches the plate to the trailer. Probably better to take it home with no plate, and if stopped by a cop explain that you just bought it and show him what paperwork you have. Be sure that all the lights work.

[Jon in AZ]

Most people do as Bob says- just pull it home without a plate and carry the purchase documents. I’ve never heard of a problem.

It’d be worth asking an agent at your local motor vehicle office. Things change, as I discovered when I sold a motorhome recently. In my state you now leave the plate on the vehicle and report the sale using the registration document (or online for immediate liability protection). Who knows- maybe there’s a way to get a temporary permit online now.

You probably already know that insurance is not required, because mandatory liability coverage extends from your tow vehicle. However, if you want to have full coverage on the trailer for the trip home, talk to your insurer.

[Escapeesinmo]

The seller of my used trailer kindly left his plate on the trailer.

[mary and bob]

Originally Posted by Escapeesinmo

The seller of my used trailer kindly left his plate on the trailer.

Your trailer at that point with his plate is probably not legal. I did the same when I sold a boat and trailer, and had an awful time trying to get my plate back. Then much later found that the guy was using the boat with my registration sticker on it.

[jerrybob]

States differ as to what they do...in our state...Washington....you can obtain a trip permit which is good for only a certain period....once you have the trailer home....you must get it licensed and put on plates. Good luck.

[Bill in Pittsburgh]

I would not allow someone access to my plate. Recently had a situation where I sold a vehicle. I transferred everything legally at a notary. The new owner wanted classic plates of which in Pa takes several weeks to get with no temporary. The new owner stole my plate to use that I had already removed from the vehicle.
Long story short, I began to receive parking tickets and turnpike fees in the mail.
I won the case in front of a magistrate but big hassles.

[kari13]

Yes I certainly wouldn't ask to take a seller's plate. Its one thing to borrow plates from a friend (who knows you, is familiar with how safe you drive, can show up at your house to claim their plate back) but another to use the plates of someone you've just met for a one-time transaction.

If most people just drive home without plates and that seems to suffice we would probably go that route unless the state we buy in has some easy option for a temporary/transport plate we could obtain immediately. New Hampshire doesn't appear to offer temporary transportation plates (well they offer temp plates but you can only get them in NH after the sale is complete so that does nothing to help us get a trailer home that same day).

[Engine2]

In Minnesota the plate goes with the vehicle. Seller keeps the bottom 1/4 of the title with the buyers name and date of sale.

[mary and bob]

In the 60 years that I've been towing various types of trailers I have never been asked by a police officer for the trailer registration. A couple times I went through a temporary inspection stop where they are checking registration and inspection stickers on the windshield and I was towing a trailer and was not asked anything about the trailer. In one of those stops the trailer was not registered and had a plate from another trailer. So no plate will be noticed, and a plate from another trailer is more illegal than none at all, but you are less likely to be stopped with a plate on the trailer. Here's another story: 15 or so years ago we were at a campground in Vermont with our teardrop and got to talking with another couple that also had a teardrop. They were from Wisconsin and said their state did not require a small trailer to have a license plate. But while in Vermont a "small town Barney Fife cop" (the lady's description) stopped them and made them get a Vermont plate, or get a ticket. The woman was very annoyed with that situation. So no plate would be noticed, wrong plate would probably never be questioned.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by mary and bob

I have used a plate from another trailer a few times, but of course that is illegal as you won't have a registration form that matches the plate to the trailer. Probably better to take it home with no plate, and if stopped by a cop explain that you just bought it and show him what paperwork you have. Be sure that all the lights work.

I've done a few trailers. Not campers but trailers but it's kind of the same thing in this case. I've had the bearings go out a few too many times on the trip. And boy is that a bitch. :-(. And getting the bearings packed is generally pretty cheap. I would see if you could identify a good mechanic in that area who would make an appointment to have the bearings packed that day. Or maybe you can actually make that part of this sale deal that he gets done before you pick it up. But it's really up big problem if you got it unplated trailer with just a bill of sale and it's broke down on the side of the road.

I'm kind of with the agreement that trying to fake it with illegal plates is not a good idea. Now with my work I regularly run into the situation where I have law enforcement engaged with me and needing to immediately see paperwork. And so I keep that paperwork together all on a clipboard. And that's one thing I think I would do would be either get an envelope and keep all the bill of sale and everything else in that envelope or get a clipboard and put it on the clipboard don't just have the paperwork floating around in the vehicle.

Then I just get it home and get it plated at home.

[BizCrate]

You are going to carry the released title (if that state has them) and a signed and notarized Bill of Sale to bring your newly purchased trailer home. Make an appt (if visual inspection is required in your state) to get the trailer title issued in your name, plates and registration processed. DMV will give you the temp plate if one is necessary.
There may be a few states that offer transit or temporary plates but, frankly, I don't know that I'd bother even if my state did offer them. You've got to be doing something squirrely to get pulled over towing a camper. Besides, the docs mentioned are pretty standard in a used purchase. Cops can check VIN and determine previous owner name matches pretty easily.
Notify your insurance company ahead of time so you can be sure of your coverage.
As far as traveling twice to inspect, pick up and bring home your trailer... You can always arrange for a qualified RV Tech to do the initial inspection for you. Several hundred bucks, I imagine, but could be less than the time and expense of your travels. I did this when buying a motorhome located in Lousianna. The sale was contingent on RV inspection and then my final walk thru and drive test once I got there. I consider myself a competent RVer but I felt most comfortable having a tech test all of the systems, take pictures and make recommendations before I put my money down.
You don't necessariily ask but I'll add that we closed the deal at the seller's bank. Lots of cameras, notary is often on site and we were able to initaite an interbank wire transfer for payment (cost under $50). Seller had his $$$ by the time we handed over keys and shook hands.

[JaxDan]

A lot of good suggestions here. My purchase was a 250 mile trip home. One of the first things I did was drive about 40 miles on the freeway then at a rest stop (which was about that distance) stopped and checked each axle hub. Could I hang on to it? Unfortunately, I found one warmer than the other which meant first thing to the shop for service. Since I have changed to a high lift on my 26 year old Casita 17 SD. That was 2017, have enjoyed it over the years but ready to change to a driveable RV.
If you want an older Casita I am thinking of letting go, everything works and the axle is a year old.

[Engine2]

Back in the 80's we were contracted to Morgan Drive-Away to pull RV trailers mainly from Elkhart to the rest of the country. We had a Indiana transport plate that was supposed to be attached to the trailer. Never did attach it because if you forgot it it was a hassle trying to get it sent to a location ahead of us. Was never stopped anywhere for not having a plate on the trailers.

Did the same thing when we had the semi but did get stopped in Montana. Was pulling a gov't military trailer and the Trooper told me I was supposed to have a transport plate on the trailer (I knew that). I stated that if I put my plate on a gov't trailer it would be theft of gov't property and wasn't doing that. After 10 minutes of arguing he told me to get out of here.

[computerspook]

That would be commercial transportation of the trailer though that does have different rules.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by kari13

If a thread or resource like this already exists somewhere, please just point me in the right direction.

We are looking to buy a used trailer, likely direct from owner and out of state since stock in our state (NH) seems pretty rare. We have bought pre-owned cars and motorcycles before via private sale (its been a while though), but we've never had to transport them more than a couple hours at most, and certainly not over multiple state lines.

So you inspect the trailer, decide you want to buy it, fork over money (via cashier's/bank check, wire transfer, or direct transfer at a local bank branch of either buyer or seller), sign a bill of sale, received the title (if applicable), and obtain the VIN. Call your insurance company to activate insurance (if desired and required). Now how do you legally drive it home?

Do you drive it without plates and use the bill of sale and title to prove new ownership? Do you attempt to obtain a temporary plate same day in the state where the trailer was sold? If so, how do you manage that in states that don't allow same day/drop in DMV appointments? Or do you just slap on any old plates you have available, drive home carefully, and hope you don't get pulled over like many people do when buying a used car?

If we are driving any significant distance to see and purchase a trailer, doing two round trips to see it, buy it and get the appropriate paperwork, go home to register it, and go back to pick it up is just not feasible.

Contact a used vehicle or RV dealer where you are buying the trailer from and see if they'll sell you a temporary tag for transporting just as if you had bought it from them. Or maybe they can tell you how to do it. Some states don't make a person have plates on trailers.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

Contact a used vehicle or RV dealer where you are buying the trailer from and see if they'll sell you a temporary tag for transporting just as if you had bought it from them. Or maybe they can tell you how to do it. Some states don't make a person have plates on trailers.

I'm sure this is what you meant, but for clarity, there’s a difference between a temporary tag and a transport permit. A temporary tag means you have registered the vehicle (or trailer) in the state of purchase and are waiting for a permanent plate. It requires payment of all applicable taxes and fees in the state of purchase. In some states you have to be a resident to register a vehicle in the state.

A transport permit is a short-term (3-5 days, typically) permit to operate a vehicle on public highways to move it from one place to another. That’s what's needed here.

Vehicle title companies exist in many larger communities to help with this sort of thing. Like dealers, they’re licensed with the motor vehicle department to provide certain limited services outside business hours. You could look into it, but if it gets complicated, I wouldn’t bother for a non-motorized trailer.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

I'm sure this is what you meant, but for clarity, there’s a difference between a temporary tag and a transport permit. A temporary tag means you have registered the vehicle (or trailer) in the state of purchase and are waiting for a permanent plate. It requires payment of all applicable taxes and fees in the state of purchase. In some states you have to be a resident to register a vehicle in the state.

A transport permit is a short-term (3-5 days, typically) permit to operate a vehicle on public highways to move it from one place to another. That’s what's needed here.

Vehicle title companies exist in many larger communities to help with this sort of thing. Like dealers, they’re licensed with the motor vehicle department to provide certain limited services outside business hours. You could look into it, but if it gets complicated, I wouldn’t bother for a non-motorized trailer.

We bought our RV out of state new and got a temporary tag on it. They knew we would not register it in AZ. It was good for 6 weeks and didn't cost us anything at the dealer. We didn't have to wait a year to get permanent plates either.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We bought our RV out of state new and got a temporary tag on it. They knew we would not register it in AZ. It was good for 6 weeks and didn't cost us anything at the dealer. We didn't have to wait a year to get permanent plates either.

Technically what you got was not a temporary tag. It was one of several categories of temporary use permits available in Arizona. The 45- and 90-day non-resident permits appear to be intended for winter visitors that purchase vehicles or RVs in AZ but plan to register them in their home states.
https://azdot.gov/mvd/services/vehic...ehicle-permits

Normal temporary tags are good for 45 days, within which you receive your permanent Arizona plate. I actually have a temporary tag for one of my vehicles right now because the old plate was badly weathered and I requested a new plate. But of course it is for a vehicle that was already registered in the state, and if it weren't, I would have had to do that.

It looks like the 3-day permit is available online, but I'm not sure how that works with a transfer of ownership. The seller may have to report the sale online (which is also possible) before the buyer could obtain the permit.

Every state is different.

[computerspook]

Originally Posted by Jann Todd

We bought our RV out of state new and got a temporary tag on it. They knew we would not register it in AZ. It was good for 6 weeks and didn't cost us anything at the dealer. We didn't have to wait a year to get permanent plates either.

I bought a few trailers. Well a couple and had some friends who did that I helped. And we always just drove them home without a plate even across a couple States. Just made sure we had all the paperwork. And Note my hint above about having it all on a clip board. That includes the registration and insurance for the tow vehicle kind of need that in order.

I've been stopped once. Had to cross through some weigh stations and temporary pop-up way stations about three times. And once we handed the person in charge the clipboard and they looked it all over all was good. They did check the trailer a little extra at each of the weigh stations to make sure it was road legal. Are the brakes weren't working stuff like that. I'm pretty sure we have made some problems if we have already checked it and make sure it was.

First time I bought and told a new to me trailer it was a twin axle and I went through bearing burnouts getting it across one state and into my state. Never going to do that again. Note my comment above about just having the bearings packed locally