Selling Ontario licensed trailer in Texas

[ramsaymike]

Two years ago, we decided to leave our trailer, licensed and made in Ontario, on our owned lot in Mission Texas. We are now considering trading it in on a new unit. The dealers are saying that it will have to be registered in Tx in order for them to take it. We are now in the process of trying to determine how to do this and not making much progress. The manufacturer of the trailer is no longer in business but we see lots of them in the area. We live in Ontario and spend about 5 months in Tx. The trailer is insured by a US insurer.

Can anyone offer any suggestions or pointers (or links)?

Much appreciated....

[69_Avion]

If it sets long enough, some states allow for abandoned titles. I don't know if that will work in this case.

[ramsaymike]

Good info. We will have to see how to work it out. I guess we will just go over to the nearest crossing and see what they say. It really is my hope that we can get the dealer to take care of it. The agent at the DMV said that it is done all the time by a dealer in the Valley.

[Retired_andLove]

We had a couple from Canada in our park last year that had a similar situation. They wanted to sell their 5th wheel and buy a unit in the park. They had sold their p/u in Canada. They had to hire someone to tow the 5th wheel to get inspected by border personnel two different times and the person that needed to sign the papers wasn't there either time. Spent a lot of money. They had to go home before they could get anything done. I'll see if they was able to get it done when I get down there after Christmas.

[ramsaymike]

We visited the county seat DMV today and got some direction. The process looks to be quite easy and low cost - get a form signed at a border crossing, get a safety inspection and another inspection at the DMV office. This should allow transfer to Texas. Sounds simple but we will have to wait and see how well it works in practice.

[Dakzuki]

Another aspect is the trailer must meet the vehicle specs for where it is newly registered. I knew somebody that bought a used race car trailer in BC, imported it, and then had to modify the braking system to comply with Washington state specs (it required brakes on all axles).

[tatest]

cpaulsen wrote:

tatest wrote:
It would be simpler maybe if you could find a buyer in a state that doesn't title or license trailers. Oklahoma is one, except most put tags on anyway to make it easier to go out of state,

Getting a title is more the buyer's problem, seller should not need a Texas title to sell it in Texas.

Import safety certifications, and duties, could be more of an issue. I don't know that trailers would fit into the same "free trade" classification as small motor vehicles.

Have never heard of any state that did not require a title for the seller to be able to sell the vehicle/trailer or whatever.

Motor vehicle yes, trailer no. Not everybody does things the California way.

[JaxDad]

lakeside013104 wrote:
All you need to do is present the RV to any CBP Officer at any U.S. border crossing, or at any airport that has international arrivals.

I'm pretty sure that's the problem. The OP said they sold their truck and have no way to move their 5'er.

I'm skeptical of the airport route, when I tried to do almost the same as the OP as a favour for friends of the family, one of whom passed during the winter in Florida, so they could sell their m/h in Florida.

CBP told me it had to be done at the point where the RV entered the country and by the registered owner or someone with a notarized letter of authorization naming them, to prevent a thief from 'legalizing' ownership.

[monkey44]

cpaulsen wrote:

tatest wrote:
It would be simpler maybe if you could find a buyer in a state that doesn't title or license trailers. Oklahoma is one, except most put tags on anyway to make it easier to go out of state,

Getting a title is more the buyer's problem, seller should not need a Texas title to sell it in Texas.

Import safety certifications, and duties, could be more of an issue. I don't know that trailers would fit into the same "free trade" classification as small motor vehicles.

Have never heard of any state that did not require a title for the seller to be able to sell the vehicle/trailer or whatever.

Don't confuse TITLE with a Registration. A TITLE is a certificate that tells who owns it ... Registration is a state fee and a plate to drive it on the highways.

You can register a vehicle you don't own, and drive it / tow it - you can't sell a vehicle unless you have its TITLE.

[cpaulsen]

tatest wrote:
It would be simpler maybe if you could find a buyer in a state that doesn't title or license trailers. Oklahoma is one, except most put tags on anyway to make it easier to go out of state,

Getting a title is more the buyer's problem, seller should not need a Texas title to sell it in Texas.

Import safety certifications, and duties, could be more of an issue. I don't know that trailers would fit into the same "free trade" classification as small motor vehicles.

Have never heard of any state that did not require a title for the seller to be able to sell the vehicle/trailer or whatever.

[Francesca_Knowl]

tatest wrote:

Getting a title is more the buyer's problem, seller should not need a Texas title to sell it in Texas.

:h

Surely, even in Texas, a seller must guarantee legal Title to a buyer-?

[tatest]

It would be simpler maybe if you could find a buyer in a state that doesn't title or license trailers. Oklahoma is one, except most put tags on anyway to make it easier to go out of state,

Getting a title is more the buyer's problem, seller should not need a Texas title to sell it in Texas.

Import safety certifications, and duties, could be more of an issue. I don't know that trailers would fit into the same "free trade" classification as small motor vehicles.

[lakeside013104]

You are removing the RV from Canadian commerce and attempting to put the RV into United States commerce. That requires entry of the RV at any U.S. Port of Entry. Have a broker supply the necessary paperwork. Any Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officer can make the entry for you. Their fee is ZERO $$$$ to make this entry. All you need to do is present the RV to any CBP Officer at any U.S. border crossing, or at any airport that has international arrivals. If going to an international airport, I suggest that you make an appointment with a CBP supervisor prior to just showing up.

As far as state department of motor vehicle requirements, every state is different as to what they require for registering an RV. Check with the state you wish to register the RV in.

On a side note, if you do sell the RV without importing it into the U.S, there will be a permanent paper trail leading directly back to you. This trail could cause you serious legal / financial issues at any time in the future that you drive, float or fly across the U.S. border. Do it right the first time and prevent any problems in the future. Good luck.

Lakeside

[JaxDad]

If you have the original paperwork from the first registration of your 5'er you might be ok.

As for the paperwork the DMV gave you, there is only one version, I ran into this with Florida.

As I mentioned however, you MUST have the original paperwork certifying that the 'vehicle' conforms to the required government safety items be they UL or RV industry standards. Without that it requires some marginally legal under-handed tricks that you probably don't want to try, but work.

[qtla9111]

I had a similar issue after we imported our trailer into Mexico. We wanted to go the other way. Being close to the RGV, I went to the DMV in Mission. They couldn't answer my question. I went to another office until I found the answer I wanted.

I think it is possible, it is a matter of finding someone in the know. My final answer and the one I wanted came from the office in San Antonio. I happened to be there at the time and went in to see them.

So, I say, check with another office as their answers and knowledge set differs.

Also have a very close friend who moved to the U.S. bringing her Mexican car with her manufactured in Mexico. Everyone said it would never happen. She went to the DMV and for $180 got California plates.