Selling Trailer with Expired Tag

[wyealbert]

I am selling my fifth wheel (located in Maryland) to a buyer who lives in California. My tag has expired and I am trying to find a way to avoid renewing a 2-year registration, but I want the buyer not to have to worry about being pulled over for an expired tag. He is taking the unit back to California where it will be registered there. If I ask the Maryland DMV, they will likely say to just renew my Maryland registration. That seems like a waste of money for me!

[bucky]

MD requires that you turn in the tag upon the sale of the unit. And they don't play.
This is all the buyers problem once money changes hands. The more you try to help the buyer in this situation the more you will regret it.
If your tag is on that RV when it leaves your hands and something happens, it will get ugly fast.

[cpaulsen]

I have bought an sold many vehicles and some trailers in California and the plates always stayed with the vehicle. Only time the plates were changed was when the buyer bought them to take to another state were he lived.
All your buyer has o do is go to a local DMV office and request a "trip permit". He can specify a time he will need it...1 or 2 o 3 days...etc. That will get him from point A to point B without the hassle of being stopped. Last time the cost was like 5 bucks or so. Then he can et it to Ca. and register it after getting the VIN number confirmed.

[sayoung]

riven1950 wrote:
If they use your tag would it not still be registered to you? I don't think I would like them driving / towing a vehicle registered to me.

I flew to NY, bought a car, stopped by their DMV and got a travel plate. Had to have title / proof of purchase, insurance in my name ( info faxed from my company ). I think most states will allow this. Call DMV.

I have sold many vehicles/rv'ers that I take the plates off before they leave my property & only give a "bill of sale" or I go with the buyer to the tax office & they get title /plates in thier name.
I started doing this maybe 25 years ago when I sold the first service truck of my company.I may be paranoid but no wy I am going on the hook for liability if its in a wreck.

[Dutch_12078]

The only times I've left my tag on a vehicle or trailer after selling it was when I delivered it to the buyer's location, usually only a few miles away. My tag was then removed of course.

[msgtord]

Bionic Man wrote:
Most states allow vehicles to be driven without tags for a short period of time with only a bill of sale. Possible for the buyer to also get his own temp tag before he leaves his home state.

If the buyer wants you to renew the tags, I would let him pay for it.

Not in Arizona. The buyer can go online and get a permit.

[TXiceman]

Check with the DMV about a "One trip Tag or Permit".

We had used this in Texas twice.

Ken

[sch911]

coolmom42 wrote:

DutchmenSport wrote:
You should never let someone use your tag. You should always remove it and keep it yourself. Once the buyer has the title, you've signed it, dated it, and the new buyer takes it, he should have the title with him (or a notarized proof-of-purchase form) in the vehicle until he can get it registered in his own name. If pulled over in any state, he should present the title, see the DATE the seller signed and everything is good. Almost all states give you a 15 or 30 day "grace" period to re-register the vehicle in your own name once you purchase it. NO NO NO! Keep your tag, sign the tile and let him be on his merry way! You have no more obligation!

This. NEVER let a buyer drive on your registration.

Yes!

[coolmom42]

DutchmenSport wrote:
You should never let someone use your tag. You should always remove it and keep it yourself. Once the buyer has the title, you've signed it, dated it, and the new buyer takes it, he should have the title with him (or a notarized proof-of-purchase form) in the vehicle until he can get it registered in his own name. If pulled over in any state, he should present the title, see the DATE the seller signed and everything is good. Almost all states give you a 15 or 30 day "grace" period to re-register the vehicle in your own name once you purchase it. NO NO NO! Keep your tag, sign the tile and let him be on his merry way! You have no more obligation!

This. NEVER let a buyer drive on your registration.

[Tom_N]

I think it's illegal in all states to use plates from the previous owner.

When you transfer the registration/title the notary will be able to issue a temporary tag/plate to the new owner.

[GaryWT]

I am with the keep your plate group. Do not leave it on the trailer. Last time we traded in a trailer our plate was expired so I renewed just to drive to the trailer to the dealer and for some reason we needed new plates so I went to the DMV and paid again the same day.

[robsouth]

In Georgia, the tag stays with the person that bought the tag, not with the vehicle (or trailer). Seller is to remove the tag and keep it.

[fj12ryder]

phillyg wrote:
You should remove your tag and the buyer should take care of his own tag, temporary or other.

Exactly right. I've never heard of someone letting a buyer use his tag. I never would do that. The buyer is responsible for it after money changes hands.

You are sure it's a legitimate buyer aren't you? That seems like a long way to come for a 5th wheel. Make sure you have cash in your hand before you hand over any title. No cashier's checks, no personal checks, just wire transfer or cold hard cash. But I'm sure you well aware of this.

[DutchmenSport]

Dr Quick wrote:
If you renew the registration, and an accident happens, guess WHO will be sucked into a law suit? Trailer is still legally yours, until new owner registers it in his name. Could you not express mail the title to new owner, assuming that he has paid you a good down payment? He could then register trailer in his state and bring a plate with him.

Good idea ... except in the state of Indiana, if you purchase from out of state, before you can re-register in the state, you have to have a certification (an inspection of the vehicle, usually from a law enforcement officer) that the VIN on the vehicle actually matches the VIN on the title, and usually they do a background to make sure it's not stolen.... at least in Indiana they use to do this. Other states may require the same thing.

[gbopp]

phillyg wrote:
You should remove your tag and the buyer should take care of his own tag, temporary or other.

x2. It will be the new owners responsibility to register his vehicle.
I wouldn't want someone towing a 5th wheel, registered to me, across the country.

[Dr_Quick]

If you renew the registration, and an accident happens, guess WHO will be sucked into a law suit? Trailer is still legally yours, until new owner registers it in his name. Could you not express mail the title to new owner, assuming that he has paid you a good down payment? He could then register trailer in his state and bring a plate with him.