I have a guy that wants to trade me his 16' trailer + cash for my 26' trailer. He's from California and the trailer is titled there. He is telling me that Cali doesn't issue a title and that it's paperless. He says he thinks he can pay and get a paper title sent to me so I can register it. Does this sound right to you guys?

The issue here is that he's a U-Ship guy from Cali in my area that has a couple moves booked and they will not fit in his 16' trailer. He saw my ad on CL and would need to do something in the next two days...

 

all of my trailers have titles even the ones I built my self .
if it is licensed for the road and has a plate it will have a title call the DMV

 

Can't speak for trailers, but many vehicles are paperless title, but if I recall correctly you get a form that transfers ownership.


http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg227.pdf

Transfer of title with paperless title form

 

Same in GA for smaller trailers... been there done that and it worked out.

 

Thanks guys. Looks like if I make this deal we will fill out that form and I will put it in the mail myself...

 

Just FYI, I live in Cali, and was issued a Title for my trailer.

 

How big is the tralier, my 30ft GN has a title, my dad 5x8 single axle has no title and a permanent tags, I have have to pay my tags yearly.

This is in MN

 

I have a "permanent" tag on my trailer.. I think I renew every 5 years, and it's something like $10 or $20. The trailer is 24' from tounge to tail.

 

I have 11 trailers from 1 axle with 1800 lb gvw to a tandem dually GN and 2 axle cargo and car haulers all of them have a title I would call the department of motor vehicles and ask them ?

 

Papers or no papers=Deal or no deal. Not for me, anyway.

 

Man! I want to do this deal because I wanted to downsize the trailer AND get me a commuter car. This would be perfect for me. The guy has a 97 Cummins truck that he uses to haul the trailer around the country and he says he has the title for that with him and he would sign that over to me as collateral to hold until I got the official trailer title from the Cali DMV.
What to do, What to do???????

 

I would do nothing without calling Cali. DMV. Guy might be honest, but once your trailer is hooked and gone, so is much of your leverage.

Easy Cheesy to swap VINs on these trucks, and they are old enough that not too many LEOs are going to look too hard.

I personally would say no title, no deal, but I am down on CL right now because of all the scammers.

 

Well, here's how I'm looking at it. I would hold my title until I had his in hand. If he has given me his trailer plus the amount of $$$ I am asking for then I am almost thinking about risking it because, as you just said, LEOs really don't seem to check trailer tags or inspections. I am supposed to get my trailer inspected every year and I have never done it since 2002 when I bought it new. I have had many cops sitting right beside me and not notice this. I have a permanent tag too and it would be coming off my trailer so I would bet that as long as I have my current registration they would never notice that it's not the one shown on it.

 

Why not just call the Ca DMV with the trailer info and find out weather it has a title or not.

 

He's not saying that it doesn't have a title, it's a paperless title, the DMV keeps the title in their possession in their database. I'm sure you could call the DMV with the license plate number and they could assuage your fears.