Used TC: does it have a lien?

[TruckCamperNoob]

Hi everyone,

I am attempting to buy a used TC (you may have seen my recent post about towing a boat, I am in fact trying to buy that Lance 855S). I have the deal all lined up and have agreed upon a price, and now I’m trying to figure out how the legal transfer works.

I live in a state that requires a title and registration (Idaho). The seller just moved here from California, a state that does not require either, so the only legal document they have is a bill of sale showing they bought it from a dealer in California. It’s an “installment bill of sale”, which I believe means the purchased was financed.

It appears that the seller may have to get a title and register the TC in Idaho before selling it to me, but my bigger concern is this: how do I verify the TC does not still have money owed on it (or some other lien)?

The only solution I can think of is to write a bill of sale where the seller warrants that the title is free/clear/marketable, but that’s about all I’ve got. Are there other options or ways to do a lien search / title search?

Thanks in advance!

[specta]

I went thru the hassle and got a Utah for my 1995 camper. It took over 3 moths to get one because apparently there are people who work for the DMV here don't know the rules and regulations either.

Every year I pay $10 for one of these stickers. That's all I need.

[monkey44]

wnjj wrote:

monkey44 wrote:
And yup, been to Oregon too, got family in Forest Grove.

Cool. We’re 5 minutes from Forest Grove.

Our Dad worked for the college, and lived in Cornelius for years before FG... Hope ya'll are safe from the fires and smoke.

[wnjj]

monkey44 wrote:
And yup, been to Oregon too, got family in Forest Grove.

Cool. We’re 5 minutes from Forest Grove.

[monkey44]

wnjj wrote:

monkey44 wrote:
I don't know of any states that require a plate, and have never known or seen a TC plate on a TC ... but was not exactly looking either. Been in nearly every state camping numerous times, and many states pretty often.

Oregon does, bottom of page 2: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/DMV/docs/OtherVehicleTypes.pdf

There, now you’ve heard of one. 😉

p.s. Since this is on the west coast, it’s just called a ‘camper’ as opposed to those travel trailers some call campers. 😛

Thanks, just never known of one, not that I checked every state - yes, absolutely, Formerly California kid here - and been all over the country for many years in my Truck Camper, AKA camper on the west coast. 🙂 🙂 And yup, been to Oregon too, got family in Forest Grove.

[wnjj]

monkey44 wrote:
I don't know of any states that require a plate, and have never known or seen a TC plate on a TC ... but was not exactly looking either. Been in nearly every state camping numerous times, and many states pretty often.

Oregon does, bottom of page 2: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/DMV/docs/OtherVehicleTypes.pdf

There, now you’ve heard of one. 😉

p.s. Since this is on the west coast, it’s just called a ‘camper’ as opposed to those travel trailers some call campers. 😛

[mr_andyj]

As far as plates, the plate needs to be visible. It does not have to be on the actual truck, just visible and lit up at night, so you put the plate on the TC no matter if the TC needs to be titled or not. Though I have forgotten and left the plate hidden and not had any issues, I even got a fake parking ticket from a ranger (warning parking ticket) and he crawled under the TC to look at truck plate. He did not seem to b concerned that the plate was covered. I usually tow trailer, not that time, so the trailer acts as the plate, though the truck prop needs to display the plate, they can get all info off my trailer...

In non-plate states the TC is just considered cargo, no different than an ATV or your in-laws couch you got suckered into hauling.

In this instance you are buying a CA TC, not an ID TC. It does not really matter where the seller currently lives, because all the paperwork is from CA and since CA is not a plate state (and Im having hard time believing CA is not using this as tax revenue) then there will be no DMV records for the officials to look at. I am wondering how can there be a lien to begin with? No title, no ownership paper trail, no nothing, just some sales receipt from a shady RV dealer. I think you are safe to proceed .

[specta]

Utah requires titles on camper that are 2015 and newer.
No plate on my camper, it stays on the truck.
The camper is registered separate and I get a little sticker to put in a back window that costs me $10/year.

I went thru the hassle and got a Utah title for my 1995 camper.
I like having proof of ownership other than just a piece of paper signed by the previous owner.

[Faststreak]

I live in Mississippi and a title is not required on a truck camper. I’ve had three TCs and not title. My buddy has one same thing no tlitle. It’s considered cargo.

[BurbMan]

monkey44 wrote:
Hey burbman, are we talking just a title here, or an actual plate. Does anyone know ??

These are the states that require a title. If you click the link in my post, the next part of that article is the list of states that require registration. Interestingly they are not all the same states.

[jaycocreek]

Hey burbman, are we talking just a title here, or an actual plate. Does anyone know ??

In idaho,it's just a title and the truck plates goes on the camper..Then you have to have an RV sticker for the camper.

[Kayteg1]

My 12' campers do have licence plate brackets and lights on them.
That said, I wasn't very particular with plates. Front plate is 100% covered by generator when I travel.
Rear plate occasionally gets moved to camper, but then few times I forgot to move it back and drove pickup without the plate.
But just becouse I got away with it - doesn't make it legal.
To my knowledge title is always coming with plates requirements.
Than each state has different laws.
In California, all trailer and cargo weight must be included in truck declared registration, therefore trailers have permanent plates with no separate fee.
TC is cargo so even less that that.
Are there other states who require such weight declaration?
In NV (Clark Co) I pay separate for truck (about $450) and separate for cargo trailer (about $120). No weight declaration and camper is cargo.

[monkey44]

Hey burbman, are we talking just a title here, or an actual plate. Does anyone know ??

Title and Plate are two different documents. Plate is registration, Title is ownership. Plate would probably require renewal fees every year, but title is one time document, requires sales tax in those states that have it.

I don't know of any states that require a plate, and have never known or seen a TC plate on a TC ... but was not exactly looking either. Been in nearly every state camping numerous times, and many states pretty often.

Have heard a few times truck plate must be visible, and our Lance covers our truck plate. Have been camping in TC since 2002, and never been stopped or asked for registration for truck when plate is not visible. Have heard some campers move the truck plate to the TC so it's visible? I've never done it tho.

[BurbMan]

Here is the current list of states from Truck Camper Adventure that currently require the slide-in truck camper to be titled:

Idaho
Kentucky
Michigan
Mississippi
Montana
Ohio
Oregon
Tennessee
Washington

[jaycocreek]

For future readers, the Idaho DMV doesn’t even know their own rules, you definitely need to title and register a TC in our state.

Told 'ya..LOL

Enjoy the new TC.