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So after a couple of years of towing my utility trailer around plateless I decided to get legal, so I took the title to the plate bureau and was told that because the previous owner didn't title it, I can't. So when I asked what I'm supposed to do she said I have a trailer I can't use. I said I can use it just like I have been.

So where do I go from here. I can't believe I can't title it. Or, I could use the plate from my harbor freight trailer. A trailer is a trailer right?

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1990 Faded Reddish CSP Lite Miata
2002 Electron Blue Corvette Z06
2005 Mazda 6 Wagon
2003 Nissan Pathfinder DTV (Dog Transport Vehicle)

You have the title in your name? If so I don't see why you wouldn't be able to register it. Now if the title isn't in your name, that's a whole other can of worms.

If the previous owner never transferred the title to their name and you never did, you have to find the owner who's name is on the title and have them sign it over to you. I dealt with this a few years back for a small sail boat and trailer I bought from a guy who never bothered to turn the title in himself.

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2017 Autocross Chief of Tech

2000 E Street Miata
2015 Focus SE EcoBoost 6 speed
2015 Fiesta ST (Wife's ride)
2012 Yamaha FZ1 sorta crotch rocket? All I know is 150HP and 487 lbs is fun!

I know a guy who has one trailer tag and multiple trailers, he just puts the tag on whichever trailer he's using. Done it this way for 20+ years and never had a problem.

Not saying it's at all legal or legit, but......it works..

This is the current plan.

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1990 Faded Reddish CSP Lite Miata
2002 Electron Blue Corvette Z06
2005 Mazda 6 Wagon
2003 Nissan Pathfinder DTV (Dog Transport Vehicle)

The DMV contractors at those offices are idiots when it's anything they don't deal with every day.

The right answer when presented with any situation the folks at a DMV office don't give you a sufficient answer for is to call the DMV in Raleigh. Be polite and they'll walk you right through any situation.

I'm pretty sure in your case there are two options. The first is the one presented above, which is to find whoever is on the title now and have them sign it over to you. Might not be possible.

The second option is basically the "lost title" route, which is really where you are in absence of doing the first option. I haven't done it, but it's been discussed on this forum and many others. Basically will require a small title bond...you'll have to put up a couple hundred bucks or so that the state will return in a year or two when nobody else tries to lay claim to the title on your trailer. Meantime they'll give you paperwork and a tag. Why the moron at your DMV office didn't offer this possibility is beyond me. But some googling or calling Raleigh will yield everything you need to know.

Or you can carry on being illegal. It will work fine up until the point that some random officer sees you and thinks you look commercial in any way and stops to weigh you. You'll be up shit creek *if* that happens, but I admit it's unlikely. They are and have always been super-lax on trailers, but I feel like the shoe has to drop at some point and they'll crack down. *shrug*


--Donnie

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My Blog

You don't have to be commercial to require weighted tags, if you're a pickup truck (even a 1/2 ton) towing what looks like a lot of weight they can stop you and make sure you have enough weight to cover truck and trailer. The fine is quite large if you don't have weighted tags, the heaviest non-weighted you can get is 6k lbs which barely covers some trucks on their own.

Anyway, i've never really seen them get too picky about little trailers and pulling people over for even no tag. I guess it's not very high on their radar unless they think they can get a big fine due to being overweight.

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2017 Autocross Chief of Tech

2000 E Street Miata
2015 Focus SE EcoBoost 6 speed
2015 Fiesta ST (Wife's ride)
2012 Yamaha FZ1 sorta crotch rocket? All I know is 150HP and 487 lbs is fun!

So if Im going to tow the S2000 I need to get weighed and get a weighted tag?

I vote "yes" to that question on the plates. I hear fines can be pretty steep. This is not a win win situation though, the weighted plates cost a fair penny to purchase.

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Rodney

'08 Bullitt mustang, CAM 7
Autox VP '09-'10, President '11-'12, interim President 2nd half of ‘14
proud recipient of the Bowie Grey service award '12
Now just a guy driving a mustang....

Yes, if the total weight (tow vehicle, trailer, whatever is on the trailer) is more than 6000#, you'll need a "weighted" tag. You basically just tell the DMV what weight you want to pay for and be licensed for, and they tell you how much it will cost.

Chances are, you'll never run into a situation where the Highway Patrol weighs you on the side of the road, but it IS a possibility, and they could also make you run over the scales at a Weigh Station if they feel you're overweight and not properly registered. And if they find out that you're overweight, the fines are not small.

Unless you have a super light tow vehicle setup and are towing a very light car, you'll probably want to get tags that cover whatever you think the max weight would ever be.

Some light reading on the subject:
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegi ... 20-88.html


EDIT: also saw this article which says "Private passenger vehicles such as SUVs are not considered property hauling vehicles; therefore, they are not subject to the license weight requirements of N.C.G.S. Chapter 20-88." So that makes things a bit more murky. The way I read that, if you're towing with a Cargo van or a pickup truck, you're a property hauling vehicle, but if it's an SUV, it's not. Best bet would be to talk to someone at DMV to make sure you know the rules as they apply to you and your vehicles.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/sports/20 ... owing-laws

The DMV agents at the local offices know far less than this thread about towing laws. The only place you should ever talk to regarding towing is the Raleigh office.

Another fun fact, if you're over weight they can make you drop your trailer.

You don't need a "Weighted" tag. You can increase the amount of weight you are allowed to have at the DMV using your current vehicle tag.
It goes up in price by weight brackets. They are included in the cost when you renew your plate each year. Just like paying an extra fee for vanity plates.
I think my current bracket allows me to have up to 10,500lbs.

if it helps any, I have 9k (i think) weighted tags on my old 2002 f250. The bill I get in the mail is about $200 from memory maybe more.

To what I read above, if you have an SUV you do not need weighted tags. if its a truck you do. just to put some more mud in the water, I also remember seeing that if its a camper your pulling, you dont need weighted tags. I dont have one so I didnt validate that.

Keep in mind that if DMV does pull you over they are going to inspect your trailer also. Safety chains, break away set-up, tongue latch, trailer inspection sticker, etc. You don't want to run into one these dudes if they are having a bad day, the fines can be steep.

The 12K tag on my Suburban was $123 last year.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............

Suburban == SUV. Anyone bothered to confirm the requirement for SUVs to have weighted plates?

I honestly haven't looked into that one in a long time since I haven't towed with an SUV in a long time. I recall thinking SUVs were exempt, and the wording posted above seems to indicate that, but is Remchak paying for weight he doesn't need, or...


--Donnie

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My Blog

Company truck.

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BenchWarmer Motorsports

another one of those damn LeMons heads

just another Chump

we are an Autocross Club Dammit............