Register of travel trailers

You need a title and registration to insure a TT.

cbshoestring wrote:

PAThwacker wrote:
IN PA: Registration, Plates, Title, and yearly state safety inspection. You can't have unsafe bricks going down the road, and prevents black market sale of products.

Ditto with one clearification. The inspection is for trailers over 3000# (they must have brakes at that point). So if you have a light-weight trailer, only the registration/plates is required. There is even a 5 yr option.

I believe the 5yr option for PA trailer registration is only available for trailers of 3001 lbs and up..

I had a 3K trailer many years ago and the 5 yr option was not available for it at that time..

Sadly, you don't get a "discount" for the 5yr but it is nice to only need to register once every 5yrs!

I have said it before and I will say it again.. If buying a trailer make sure it HAS a good legit title which is in the name of the person that you are buying from..

I will add, even IF YOUR STATE DOESN'T CARE.. Transferring ownership name on the title from seller to the buyer will make it much easier down the road for you to sell..

Buying a trailer in many states like PA a no title or improperly signed title basically makes the trailer nothing more than a hunting camp or storage box..

There "MIGHT" be a legitimate reason why a travel trailer doesn't have a title / registration, usually because the the person who is selling it is flipping it and just got it yesterday from some one else and doesn't want to wait til the legit title makes its way through the system before they sell it. Or they own a rental house, and the tenant left, or was evicted and left it behind, or they just bought a piece of property and the previous owner left it behind. From there the reasons rapidly go downhill, do you want to be the one holding the bag when it turns out to be stolen or salvage..... I'd Run not walk from a non titled travel trailer (a harbor freight 4 x 8 utility trailer maybe I'd take a chance on)

My previous experience is that if the trailer (or other type vehicle) seller does not have a title in their name it is a great idea to walk away. (Does not include buying from a dealer, only private sellers. ) The registration does not have to be current, but the title must be clear.

My brother took her my dad's 1980 Shasta for a fish camp trailer three years ago. Dad had not kept the registration current since 1995. Cost my brother 12 years of registration fees before the title could be trf to his name.

Yes, it may be possible to obtain a title after a search. But you have an equal chance of finding the trailer has a repair shop lein, is stolen, has been 'totaled' due to water damage, etc.

Hear stories about such problems all the time about purchases from Craig's list.

Beware. Be very cautious before you give anyone money.

If your state requires a title & their is not a current one with the current owner walk the other way.......

PAThwacker wrote:
IN PA: Registration, Plates, Title, and yearly state safety inspection. You can't have unsafe bricks going down the road, and prevents black market sale of products.

Ditto with one clearification. The inspection is for trailers over 3000# (they must have brakes at that point). So if you have a light-weight trailer, only the registration/plates is required. There is even a 5 yr option.

In AZ they need to be registered and have current license plates, mine also has insurance.

We live in Kansas and our pop-up trailer which was under 2,000 lbs. did not need to be titled or tagged....we did mount a Kansas under 2K plate we got at the RV dealer we stored it at......so when we traveled to Colorado and Missouri we wouldn't be stopped by the hwy patrol. But travel trailers over the 2,000 lb. limit need to be titled and licensed.

Tn does not require registration on trailers other than RV style trailers. Travel trailers, etc must be registered. I also register my 6x10 aluminum trailer because it heads out of state on occasion and I do not want to be arguing TN trailer registration law with a LEO on the side of the road. My advice , which is worth the paper it is not written on, is even if your state does not require it to be registered, register it and save yourself potential hassles when you do take it out of state. It is not unusual to find LEOs who do not know your state's motor vehicle laws, nor should they have to.
Randy

We always register it. We would definitely get a ticket without doing so. TTs are too big to miss.