god im dumb (trailer and title/registration in VA)

[shadesofbay3]

can anyone talk me step by step through what i need to do at dmv since buying my trailer? it is used and paid in full… i have bill of sale and title…

i know i need to get plates, so i need to register it (i will do a permanent registration)… transfer the title…

is insurance on a title mandatory in VA like car insurance is? i feel like i should know this…

also not sure how i go about getting registration and plates and title change done now that DMV is not open except for certain things … and this is not one of them …

[ClassyJumper]

Not sure about Virginia, but I wouldn’t think you would need to go to the DMV. Where do you register your car?

Alot of places have put in online processes for things like this during covid, google is your friend.

I would insure it even if it is not required. It can be added to your auto policy (I did have to change insurance companies, some just don’t know how to deal with horse trailers)

[back_in_the_saddle1]

In Virginia, a trailer needs to be:

-titled
-registered
-insured
-inspected annually

Unfortunately, I’m not sure how you go about titling and registering if the DMV is not open. However, you should be able to get it insured and inspected. https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#trailerreg.asp

[rothmpp]

Here in Michigan where there are only appointments available for our equivalent of the DMV, and they are hard to come by, we are allowed to just have proof of insurance, bill of sale, and the signed title in the car with us and it is legal to operate it until such time that the department can get you in to complete the transfer work. I was able to renew my plates at a kiosk and my DL online (though I am annoyed that I will have to pay for a correction sometime next year to convert it to a REAL ID, as I have to in for that and they are not taking appointments for that anytime soon). But transferring a car here in MI requires you to go in and present the signed title.

I’d think that having the paperwork with you when operating the trailer should cover you in case of the police pulling you over until you can get in to the DMV.

[AllTheCarrots]

I believe trailers are also subject to personal property tax. You’ll pay the “car tax” to your local jurisdiction; some give stickers and some don’t.

[jawa]

If you go to the DMV website you should be able to find which office nearest you is open to be able to register the trailer. Most of this is now done by appointment only.

I would check with your vehicle insurer to find out if your trailer will be covered by them when the trailer is being towed by your vehicle. If so, that counts as being insured. That type of insurance will not cover your trailer if a tree should fall on it while parked.

I am not advocating for this, but I know of several people that have purchased new trailers (person to person sale) and could not get an appointment for over a month to get it registered and apply for plates. They put FARM USE plates on the trailer and carried a copy of the bill of sale and title in the tow vehicle until they could get to the appointment.

[Janet]

I am in Virginia. My current trailer was bought new, but my previous one was bought new. As far as i remember, with the used trailer, i just took the bill of sale and the previous registration to the DVM (I do not remember if there was a title). I am sure it can now be done on line.

Maybe things have changed, but no insurance was required, as any liability is covered by the insurance on the tow vehicle. I do have insurance on my current trailer, but it is just “fire and theft”, and that runs about $20 per year.

The only registration I was offered for a trailer was “permanent”.

I am in a county with personal property tax on vehicles. Every year the tax bill comes with the trailer marked “not subject to tax”, but I understand other people do get taxed on their horse trailers. I am not sure of the reason for the difference.

See the Virginia DMV web site
https://www.dmv.virginia.gov/vehicles/#trailerreg.asp
which also has a link to the registration form (which is primarily aimed at registering a car/truck, but does have check boxes for a trailer)

[equinelibrium]

If you’re dumb, then so am I Going though the same thing currently and it’s been driving me crazy. I bought a used trailer from out of state which just adds to the complexity. My DMV isn’t open yet either and are doing most things online. I couldn’t find trailer information on the website so I called them and they gave me a list of paperwork that I needed for the registration. Now I just need to get the paperwork (which is a whole 'nother struggle) and put it in a drop box. Then they will call me when they get to it and I can pay over the phone. Then they will mail the plates to me. I’m sure if you call your DMV they will be able to help.

[Chall]

Wow, never owned a trailer but years ago insurance or was it registration ? was ~$800 in NY.

[trubandloki]

@Chall

Wow, never owned a trailer but years ago insurance or was it registration ? was ~$800 in NY.

I would guess neither of those things. Certainly not the registration. I have not priced full insurance coverage for a horse trailer but I would guess it is less than that. Maybe the taxes the person paid at the time of registration? (For those not in NY, you pay the sales tax, if you have not already, when you register the vehicle here in NY.)

[Christa_P]

@Chall

Wow, never owned a trailer but years ago insurance or was it registration ? was ~$800 in NY.

Could have been initial registration + sales tax + title transfer. Yearly registration is not nearly that expensive. I pay <$100 per year for a 20’ stock trailer.