How To Register A Custom Trailer In California

Registering a HomeBuilt Utility Trailer at the Calif DMV

So we have a CA license plate for our dwelling house made TearDrop Trailer! Earlier going to the DMV I did some searches of the Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers forum and learned a few things. I besides discovered a few more things during the process, and some friends told me some other tips. So I'll mention them all here so they show up for the next person searching for California DMV registration, PTI license plates, and the procedure. Promise this helps. Photos are beneath.

I called the DMV before going, and they said that we needed to bring in the trailer, and that it would exist ok to drive it on the streets w/o a plate to become at that place. Some people had told me that it might be ok to merely bring photos of the trailer just that is not the instance in southern Calif, at least not at the Hawthorne branch of the Calif Department of Motor Vehicles in Los Angeles county 90250.

Some TIPS worth mentioning:

* Bring someone with yous. It takes i person to stay with the trailer outside in the inspection area, and one person to stand in line inside. If the inside line goes faster, that's ok but the clerk will say that they can't do anything until the inspection is done. If yous're lonely, you'll have to get the trailer inspected, Then start standing in line for a window clerk. That may cost yous an extra hour or more, in which case you ought to bring some snacks so you don't go so grumpy waiting.

* Bring walkie talkies. Nosotros used little Motorola TalkAbout FRS radios and they worked corking. When Louise got up to the window she was able to tell the clerk that I was exterior and the inspection was underway.

* Start to finish, nigh 2 hours. Nosotros didn't take an appointment, only nosotros got at that place at 7:30am, on a mean solar day when they open earlier than usual. There were still nigh 40 people ahead of us, but it went adequately fast. We were the 1st in line for the inspection, and #30 for the inside window. Those came out pretty even because the inspector doesn't open every bit early, and then our timing was simply as proficient as it could be.

* Make sure to say that your trailer is under 1400 pounds (because it probably is). I said that ours was "near chiliad lbs, definitely under 1500 lbs." The inspector wrote down 1500 lbs, but under the legal limit for needing brakes. I practice have brakes, but I didn't desire to Have To have brakes.

* I was disappointed that the inspector didn't even want to see the inside at all. He also didn't look underneath.

* The inspector will give you a metal VIN number sticker. He warned me that the glue isn't all that great, and if I wanted to rivet information technology downward that would be a expert idea. What I did do was while he went inside to get the VIN sticker, I squirted some drinking water on a nice frame spot & rubbed it clean with a rag so at that place was a good place to stick the VIN sticker.

* I later stamped the VIN number into the frame (in several places)

* It was sort of difficult to find a good "pull through" parking place for a trailer at the DMV. Y'all might desire to have a 3rd partner property a long parking spot for you until you're finished with the inspection. Because when the inspection is finished, you lot'll still need to finish upwardly the paperwork inside, so you'll demand to park somewhere.

* You are registering a "Homebuilt Utility Trailer". Memorize that. Say it to yourself while in line. "Business firm Trailers" nor "Coaches" are not eligible for a PTI (Permanent Trailer Identification) license plate. This should non exist an issue, however.... I read & reread the CA machine laws as posted past the DMV, and they go along referring you to a different section of the lawmaking for a definition of trailer & house trailer, but they never actually define it. This could be bad if the DMV clerk you get thinks that all camping trailers are "House Trailers" like the big RV trailers. So play it safe, and say "utility trailer". Information technology does fit the definition.

* Forms yous need in California: 343, 4017, 5036 & They gave us a 124 during the proceedure. "Application for Assigned Vehicle Identification Number Plate".

* Bring receipts showing approximately how much you spent. Be certain to bring receipts for the major stuff; plywood, frame, and beam if you bought it. Other stuff may not matter. I recommend bringing copies of receipts, in case they get lost or filed. Leave your originals at abode (or in the machine if yous expect that they will crave the originals). If the DMV wants copies, yous can simply requite them your extra set, which would have saved me almost 15 minutes of waiting while the DMV clerk slowly pulled out the staple... made ane copy of each receipt... and then slowly re-stapled my stack....

* They will want to know how much you paid for the trailer. Yous can't answer that, because you didn't purchase it, you built information technology. You but showed them receipts for parts. Then they may say; "Oh, ok, so how much was the kit?" Again, a bad question. You didn't purchase information technology as a kit. The other possible choice on Form 343 is how much it's market value is (if it was a trade or a gift). Yet some other bad question, as it's neither a gift nor a trade. It's a dwelling built utility trailer made from raw materials. As it turns out, the reason they are so interested in the amount you paid is that they want to charge you Sales Tax! And so be sure to point out that you paid sales tax on the materials when you lot bought them. Oh male child! That actually confused them!!!

Afterwards some consulting, the DMV clerk came back and told me to write the total amount nosotros spent on materials in the bare labeled "I paid ___ in sales revenue enhancement to a state other than California". Well that still doesn't brand a lot of sense, simply it'south what they wanted, & I didn't accept to pay any sales tax on stuff I already paid sales tax on, then I didn't brand trouble about information technology.

* We paid a grand full of $30 for v years registration & a PTI license plate. The PTI plate does not need any yearly stickers. Personal check was ok, but they wanted to come across ID. Our drivers licenses were acceptable forms of ID. Louise & I both wanted to be on title, and that was perfectly ok with everyone.

* The clerk'south computer issued the license plate number, and nosotros picked upwards the plate at a different desk-bound on the way out. Luckily we were already prepare for a license plate and brought mounting screws. We installed information technology before leaving the DMV. (I later put nylock nuts on the backside of those screws, so they spin loosely simply will non vibrate off, to thwart whatever potential license plate thieves).

* The registration says we are supposed to keep a copy of it with the trailer, at least when nosotros are towing & using it. I keep a copy in the Jeep besides.

The DMV mailed u.s.a. a Certificate of Title (pinkish skid) in a week or 2.

Hooray! !!!

INSURANCE:
I asked my (state farm) insurance agent what did I need to encompass this beautiful little trailer. He said that liability is not necessary, equally the towing vehicle's coverage volition extend to the trailer likewise. I asked about what if the trailer is not connected to the Jeep, and it rolls downhill and smashes into someone's fully restored hot rod truck? He didn't similar the sound of that whatever more than you do, but he called me back & said that the towing vehicle's liability withal extends to embrace the trailer. No extra charge.

I asked about coverage confronting theft & damage to the trailer. That came to about $20 a twelvemonth with a $500 deductible for about $6000 of coverage. Sounds affordable! They don't want to know inappreciably anything nearly the trailer at present, information technology'southward upwardly to me to document the loss should the time come. The contents of the trailer would not exist covered by this policy, but probably covered by the homeowners policy (up to a limit). I will try to find some photos (!), and keep them with the receipts and a list of all reasons that this is a very special little trailer, and very hard to replace. After seeing what it might cost to *attempt* and supervene upon it, we upped the insurance to something more reasonable, like $14,000. $6,000 was about the cost of the parts in 2003, not replacement value.

Best regards,
Dave Nathanson
TD.roughwheelers.com

How To Register A Custom Trailer In California,

Source: https://td.roughwheelers.com/DMV/

Posted by: wrendrithad.blogspot.com

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