Tire Trailer Registration w/ no Paperwork

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

I gave my former co-driver a tire trailer 14 years ago. He lives in VA, registration expired 13 years ago. He just gave it back to me. Unfortunately he has none of the paperwork. Is it going to be a nightmare for me to get a plate from DMV? I'd seen folks use the trailers in the past with no plate, but am thinking that's not a good idea.

I've got a hitch for the Spyder and was hoping to do some upgrades on the trailer (e.g., new hubs, lights, and wiring) to get it rolling again inexpensively, but it may be worth buying a new one if the licensing is going to be a big problem.

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

If the trailer didn't require a title or registration in VA you may be ok with getting a bill of sale and taking it to the DMV and telling them you just bought it.

However, if this is the trailer that was always eating wheel bearings on long trips, maybe it's time for a new trailer?

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

I pulled a small tire trailer for a decade without a plate but YMMV.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Shawn, this was Reid's trailer that did eat bearings. I bought it from him and gave it to Tim when we co-drove his Miata. No bearings eaten after that point.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:20 pm

I never had a tag on the trailer I had when you and Chris drove the S2000 with me. Only reason was, I bought it from Spratte, and he'd never registered it, so there was a gap in registration long enough that we needed to go to Harbor Freight with a receipt.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Thx Karl, that's helpful. As little as I'm going to use it I'm certainly thinking of not tagging it.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:47 am

A plate is, I think, $26 per year and no insurance is required on the trailer itself. Why not put a plate on it and be done? Unless it's the hassle of trying to get a plate from the DMV.... I can see where that would take close to forever...

shawnwhipple · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 6:28 pm **Posts:** 603

Oh one more thing. If you have going to keep a trailer for a while you can get a permanent/lifetime tag for $75. They don't advertise or tell you this option since they'd rather hit you for $26 per year.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Rodney, I don't care about the $26 per year, it's the potential nightmare of getting a trailer titled with no prior paperwork that I'm trying to avoid. I'm looking for the solution with the least amount of PITA factor. If that means buying a new $250 trailer, so be it.

Anyone want to buy an untitled tire trailer with no fenders for $50? :-)

Seriously.

Eric Peterson · **Joined:** Mon Sep 01, 2003 10:24 am **Posts:** 494

Thanks everyone for the info and good feedback, it's helped me think it through! I'm just going to CL it pretty cheap and put that and what I'd have spent freshening it up on a new trailer. There won't be much difference in cost. Having spent a lot of hours on the side of the road on night with Reid, when he had tire trailer issues, has always made me extra cautious with all things trailers. Hence, as much as I don't want to put one of these things together it's worth the peace of mind.

The good news is I can easily stuff 4 tires inside the car, so I won't be taking a trailer when I'm traveling alone anyway.

Looking forward to doing some driving, more than just a few events, for the first time since in many years. Just hoping our new car is reasonably competitive.

Eric P.

Charlie Guthrie · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 8:14 pm **Posts:** 832

OH. here's an alternate solution....I gave my old tire trailer to my son-in-law who in turn gave it to a friend. I'm pretty sure that I still have the original title from Northern. If you are feeling adventurous, shoot me a PM and I'll try to dig it up.
Charlie G

Arthur McDonald · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 1:54 am **Posts:** 2052

shawnwhipple wrote:

Oh one more thing. If you have going to keep a trailer for a while you can get a permanent/lifetime tag for $75. They don't advertise or tell you this option since they'd rather hit you for $26 per year.

How does that work now that you pay your property tax through your license plate renewal?

I got a bit of a shock yesterday when the license plate renewal form for my ex-Dishman Southsport trailer came in the mail. Seems the Durham County tax valuation jumped from $800 to $3190! (Well, you know everything in Durham is on the upswing these days)

Eric, I'll make you a sweet deal -- the trailer is yours for only $2000!

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 8:28 am

Eric Peterson wrote:

Anyone want to buy an untitled tire trailer with no fenders for $50? :-)

Seriously.

Dibbs!!! If you are truly serious. I'll tow the hell out of a un-tagged trailer.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 10:48 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

shawnwhipple wrote:

I got a bit of a shock yesterday when the license plate renewal form for my ex-Dishman Southsport trailer came in the mail. Seems the Durham County tax valuation jumped from $800 to $3190! (Well, you know everything in Durham is on the upswing these days)

I don't know what your trailer looks like but that sounds like an error. Our 12 year old open trailer originally purchased for about $1500 has depreciated in Wake County to about $350. Heck our camper van is valued at just under $4K.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Feb 17, 2014 11:13 am

Arthur McDonald wrote:

shawnwhipple wrote:

Oh one more thing. If you have going to keep a trailer for a while you can get a permanent/lifetime tag for $75. They don't advertise or tell you this option since they'd rather hit you for $26 per year.

How does that work now that you pay your property tax through your license plate renewal?

I got a bit of a shock yesterday when the license plate renewal form for my ex-Dishman Southsport trailer came in the mail. Seems the Durham County tax valuation jumped from $800 to $3190! (Well, you know everything in Durham is on the upswing these days)

Eric, I'll make you a sweet deal -- the trailer is yours for only $2000!

yeah, that doesn't sound right. I just received my plate renewal for an old trailer I have and it's valued at $100. I've rarely heard of tax values going up on cars.

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