Titling a home built or non-titled trailer in Alabama?

TacomaJD · Mar 22, 2015

Re: Re: Titling a home built or non-titled trailer in Alabama?

Shortbus said:
AL also requires a plate on trailers.

The title on a bumper pull trailer has nothing to do with the license plate or "tag" in AL

I've got plates on bumper pull trailers as well and have never got a title. I don't know if you even can title it here. All I've done was take bill of sale and certificate of origin to court house.
I guess question to OP would be do you have plates on it now?

No thats why I gave em cash for it and didn't do paperwork. I knew I would never run a tag. But I am selling it with my rig to a guy in Minnesoto and he is concerned with getting a tsg for it since I have no documentation. It's also not a utility trailer. It's an all metal 18' car hauler bumper pull.

Shortbus · Mar 22, 2015

I could be mistaken but far as I know the only trailer classifications in AL are utility, travel, semi, and boat. You could try to title it as a semi trailer, that's what my goose neck trailers are classified as, if you really want to get a title.

Otherwise check online at dmv. I posted link to Minnesota info you need.

https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/dvs-content-detail.aspx?pageID=638

al1tonyota · Mar 22, 2015

Re: Re: Titling a home built or non-titled trailer in Alabama?

TacomaJD said:
No thats why I gave em cash for it and didn't do paperwork. I knew I would never run a tag. But I am selling it with my rig to a guy in Minnesoto and he is concerned with getting a tsg for it since I have no documentation. It's also not a utility trailer. It's an all metal 18' car hauler bumper pull.

Which is just a fancy equipment trailer!

LandSpeeder · Mar 22, 2015

There is no fuggin way you bought it new from a trailer reseller and they didn't give you a title. I don't care if you paid with bit coin. They gave you paper work before you walked out the door. If you paid in full right there, then you have had the title in your hand at some point. If you financed it, then the lien holder has the title until you satisfy the loan term. If you need anything replaced:

http://ador.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/Title_FAQ.cfm

and there's a link to a replacement application.

TacomaJD · Mar 22, 2015

Re: Re: Titling a home built or non-titled trailer in Alabama?

LandSpeeder said:
There is no fuggin way you bought it new from a trailer reseller and they didn't give you a title. I don't care if you paid with bit coin. They gave you paper work before you walked out the door. If you paid in full right there, then you have had the title in your hand at some point. If you financed it, then the lien holder has the title until you satisfy the loan term. If you need anything replaced:

http://ador.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/Title_FAQ.cfm

and there's a link to a replacement application.

Wrong. I bought it from a rinky dink trailer sales business in Fort Payne that may or may not even be there any more. Haven't been by there and paid attention to see if they are still open. They have been in business for a long time though. Guy and his wife, on up in age now. They sell their trailers with used radial car tires for one price, or I could have paid extra for new tires. I tried jewing him and he mentioned if I gave him $1,800 cash he would just let me hook up to it and leave with it, no questions asked. So that's exactly what I did. No paperwork, no receipt, just the $1,800 cash I handed to the guy, then i backed up, hooked it up, and left. This was about 4 years ago.

Shortbus · Mar 22, 2015

Seems like they would have to show where it went or claim was stolen. Unless that's why you say may not be in business now.

LandSpeeder · Mar 22, 2015

Sounds like he may have reported it stolen then on insurance or something then. LOL! Better not try registering it with the serial number.

And at the end of the day, just tell this buyer to "deal with it". You've gotten this many years with no registration, and it's not like you or he is titling a vehicle, it's a towable trailer. He can apply for a replacement title when he gets back to his state, let him wait three months on his states revenue office. It's not a hard process.

TacomaJD · Mar 22, 2015

I don't see the trailer thing with no documentation as that big of a deal? I have a buddy that owns a tire shop and he sells me tires no tax and discounted if I pay cash, with no receipt. One couldn't do business like that everyday, but it is not out of the ordinary to do cash deals on **** like that around here. I wasn't surprised at all when he offered that option. The reason I mentioned they may or may not be there, is due to their age or the business may had slowed a bit on profit and forced to close. Or they could still be there, idk...I rarely go by there.

The guy from Minnesota is supposed to be checking with his local dmv on what he needs to apply for title or tag for a homebuilt trailer he is buying from Alabama, so we will see what comes from it.

al1tonyota · Mar 22, 2015

It's deffinately not an uncommon thing my dads trailer I mentioned earlier was bought the same way saved $175 basically how the guy explained it is they will just use that vin and cor on another trailer (they were an actual small manufacturer)

angryfab · Mar 23, 2015

I got a tag for the one I built for my rzr a couple weeks ago took about 20 min.went to the tag office wrote down a 12 digit serial number with letters an numbers told her what size it was an a value of it .cost me $16 dollars for the year .diddnt even take the trailor with me. Came back home a used my stamps an put the number on the tongue an in a couple spots under it .anbeen pulling the crap out it .
The lady at the tag office knows I have a fab shop so its all smiles .so if they give you any problems. I will get you one

muddinmetal · Mar 23, 2015

angryfab said:
I got a tag for the one I built for my rzr a couple weeks ago took about 20 min.went to the tag office wrote down a 12 digit serial number with letters an numbers told her what size it was an a value of it .cost me $16 dollars for the year .diddnt even take the trailor with me. Came back home a used my stamps an put the number on the tongue an in a couple spots under it .anbeen pulling the crap out it .
The lady at the tag office knows I have a fab shop so its all smiles .so if they give you any problems. I will get you one

Told y'all, it's that ****in easy... RollTide

xjkrawler · Mar 23, 2015

angryfab said:
I got a tag for the one I built for my rzr a couple weeks ago took about 20 min.went to the tag office wrote down a 12 digit serial number with letters an numbers told her what size it was an a value of it .cost me $16 dollars for the year .diddnt even take the trailor with me. Came back home a used my stamps an put the number on the tongue an in a couple spots under it .anbeen pulling the crap out it .
The lady at the tag office knows I have a fab shop so its all smiles .so if they give you any problems. I will get you one

Same process i went through except i welded the numbers to the tongue

TacomaJD · Mar 23, 2015

So basically y'all just got a tag, no title or bill of origin type documentation? I don't want to tag it in Alabama, just make sure he will have everything he needs to tag it in MN. Maybe I can just do a detailed bill of sale explaining that it's home built with supplied vin # ___________ and have it notarized? Gonna run by local tag office tomorrow and see what they say. May have to call DMV in MN to be sure.

Shortbus · Mar 23, 2015

Yes, that's it. On utility trailers in AL you only get a tag no title. So unless you're planning to keep it I wouldn't buy a tag. It's not going to help him register it so you'd just be wasting money. But I'm sure the state will use it wisely if you decide to donate your $12 or so. May have to add taxes.

All you need to do is either have him bring forms PS2000 and PS2002 or you could use the link I posted and print them off. You fill out section C on PS2000 and follow directions on PS2002. That'll cover the bill of sale and get him started on getting a title.

LandSpeeder · Mar 23, 2015

Want my old COO and 2012 tax and tag receipt?
I couldn't find it when I sold it and so I still have it...

creepycrawly · Mar 27, 2015

LandSpeeder said:
Want my old COO and 2012 tax and tag receipt?
I couldn't find it when I sold it and so I still have it...

This is as close to a title as you get in alabama. I don't know why people have such a hard time understanding that. I recently sold my 18' enclosed and when I had it posted for sale, I got all the craigslist tire kickers and one guy kept asking if I had the title. I explained that Alabama does NOT do titles. He told me that all his trailers had titles. I explained the difference between a title and a certificate of origin. He assured me his 6x8 utility trailer had an alabama title. I sent him the alabama DMV website and told him he was full of ****, but if he could show me an Alabama title for a 6x8 utility trailer, Id give him my enclosed. Never hear back from him.

So...you are steering him in the right direction by having him check for leg work on his end. Nothing you can do for him except maybe ask a local manufacturer to "build" your trailer and generate you a COO. Or take someone else's from here. Just make sure the buyer is good with it.

LandSpeeder · Mar 27, 2015

creepycrawly said:
. I explained that Alabama does do titles. He told me that all his trailers had titles. I explained the difference between a title and a certificate of origin.

I assume you meant to put *NOT

What is the difference? From a stand point of what one does versus the other. Don't they both serve the same purpose? Which is: ownership free and clear of a taxable item.

creepycrawly · Mar 27, 2015

LandSpeeder said:
I assume you meant to put *NOT

What is the difference? From a stand point of what one does versus the other. Don't they both serve the same purpose? Which is: ownership free and clear of a taxable item.

Correct, SIr. I meant Alabama does NOT do titles. Ehh, they don't really do the same thing. The title follows the vehicle and is reissued to reflect new owners. Certificate of origin is durable and does not change. Basically it just shows where the trailer came from but does not reflect ownership at all. As I am sure you know, a title will show that you do in fact own the vehicle. Basically, that COO does not get reissued when ownership changes.

LandSpeeder · Mar 27, 2015

Makes sense

Shortbus · Mar 27, 2015

creepycrawly said:
Correct, SIr. I meant Alabama does NOT do titles. Ehh, they don't really do the same thing. The title follows the vehicle and is reissued to reflect new owners. Certificate of origin is durable and does not change. Basically it just shows where the trailer came from but does not reflect ownership at all. As I am sure you know, a title will show that you do in fact own the vehicle. Basically, that COO does not get reissued when ownership changes.

That's all true except AL does title goose neck built after 1990 or that's what I had to do. State considers them a semi trailer and tag is a little more than UT but still not bad and buy it at end of year, same month as the farm tags.