How To Register A Teardrop Trailer In Ca

Registering a HomeBuilt Utility Trailer at the Calif DMV

So nosotros have a CA license plate for our domicile fabricated TearDrop Trailer! Before going to the DMV I did some searches of the Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers forum and learned a few things. I also discovered a few more things during the process, and some friends told me some other tips. So I'll mention them all hither so they show upwards for the next person searching for California DMV registration, PTI license plates, and the procedure. Hope this helps. Photos are below.

I called the DMV before going, and they said that we needed to bring in the trailer, and that it would be ok to bulldoze it on the streets w/o a plate to get there. Some people had told me that it might be ok to just bring photos of the trailer but that is non 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 y'all. It takes i person to stay with the trailer exterior in the inspection expanse, and one person to stand up in line within. If the inside line goes faster, that's ok but the clerk will say that they tin't do anything until the inspection is washed. If yous're lone, you'll accept to get the trailer inspected, THEN start standing in line for a window clerk. That may cost you an extra hour or more, in which case you lot ought to bring some snacks and then you don't get then grumpy waiting.

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

* Showtime to terminate, about 2 hours. We didn't have an appointment, merely we got there at seven:30am, on a day when they open earlier than usual. There were yet about xl people ahead of us, but it went fairly fast. Nosotros were the 1st in line for the inspection, and #30 for the within window. Those came out pretty even because the inspector doesn't open up as early, then our timing was just as skilful every bit it could exist.

* Brand certain to say that your trailer is under 1400 pounds (because it probably is). I said that ours was "nearly yard lbs, definitely under 1500 lbs." The inspector wrote downwardly 1500 lbs, merely under the legal limit for needing brakes. I do accept brakes, but I didn't desire to Have To have brakes.

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

* The inspector will give y'all a metallic VIN number sticker. He warned me that the mucilage isn't all that bang-up, and if I wanted to rivet it downwardly that would exist a good idea. What I did do was while he went inside to become the VIN sticker, I squirted some drinking water on a nice frame spot & rubbed it clean with a rag then there 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. You might want to take a tertiary partner property a long parking spot for yous until you're finished with the inspection. Because when the inspection is finished, you'll notwithstanding need to stop up the paperwork inside, so you'll need 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 non eligible for a PTI (Permanent Trailer Identification) license plate. This should not be an issue, nevertheless.... I read & reread the CA motorcar laws equally posted by the DMV, and they continue referring you to a different department of the code for a definition of trailer & house trailer, simply they never actually define it. This could be bad if the DMV clerk y'all get thinks that all camping trailers are "Firm Trailers" like the big RV trailers. So play it condom, and say "utility trailer". It does fit the definition.

* Forms you 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 yous spent. Be sure to bring receipts for the major stuff; plywood, frame, and beam if you bought it. Other stuff may not thing. I recommend bringing copies of receipts, in instance they go lost or filed. Leave your originals at home (or in the car if you expect that they volition require the originals). If the DMV wants copies, you can just give them your extra set up, which would have saved me almost fifteen minutes of waiting while the DMV clerk slowly pulled out the staple... made one copy of each receipt... then slowly re-stapled my stack....

* They will want to know how much y'all paid for the trailer. Y'all can't answer that, because you didn't buy it, you built it. You just showed them receipts for parts. So they may say; "Oh, ok, so how much was the kit?" Again, a bad question. You didn't buy it as a kit. The other possible choice on Form 343 is how much it's marketplace value is (if it was a trade or a gift). Yet another bad question, as it's neither a souvenir nor a trade. Information technology's a domicile built utility trailer made from raw materials. As it turns out, the reason they are so interested in the amount you lot paid is that they want to charge you Sales Taxation! So be certain to point out that you paid sales revenue enhancement on the materials when you bought them. Oh boy! That really confused them!!!

Subsequently some consulting, the DMV clerk came back and told me to write the total amount we spent on materials in the blank labeled "I paid ___ in sales tax to a state other than California". Well that yet doesn't make a lot of sense, simply information technology's what they wanted, & I didn't have to pay whatsoever sales tax on stuff I already paid sales tax on, so I didn't brand problem about it.

* We paid a 1000 total of $30 for five years registration & a PTI license plate. The PTI plate does not need any yearly stickers. Personal bank check was ok, but they wanted to come across ID. Our drivers licenses were adequate forms of ID. Louise & I both wanted to be on championship, and that was perfectly ok with everyone.

* The clerk's computer issued the license plate number, and we picked upwardly the plate at a unlike desk on the way out. Luckily we were already set up for a license plate and brought mounting screws. We installed it before leaving the DMV. (I later put nylock nuts on the backside of those screws, so they spin loosely only volition not vibrate off, to thwart any potential license plate thieves).

* The registration says we are supposed to keep a copy of information technology with the trailer, at least when we are towing & using it. I go on a copy in the Jeep too.

The DMV mailed us a Certificate of Title (pink skid) in a week or 2.

Hooray! !!!

INSURANCE:
I asked my (country farm) insurance amanuensis what did I need to encompass this beautiful piffling trailer. He said that liability is non necessary, as the towing vehicle's coverage will extend to the trailer as well. 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 like the sound of that any more than you do, simply he chosen me back & said that the towing vehicle's liability still extends to encompass the trailer. No extra charge.

I asked well-nigh coverage confronting theft & damage to the trailer. That came to about $20 a year with a $500 deductible for about $6000 of coverage. Sounds affordable! They don't want to know inappreciably anything about the trailer now, it's upwardly to me to document the loss should the time come up. The contents of the trailer would not be covered past this policy, simply probably covered past the homeowners policy (up to a limit). I will try to observe some photos (!), and keep them with the receipts and a list of all reasons that this is a very special picayune trailer, and very difficult to supersede. After seeing what it might cost to *try* and replace information technology, nosotros upped the insurance to something more than reasonable, similar $14,000. $6,000 was near the price of the parts in 2003, not replacement value.

Best regards,
Dave Nathanson
TD.roughwheelers.com

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

Posted by: robersonexiousle55.blogspot.com

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