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The Whaler I have came with a trailer. I can't find a VIN on the trailer and I understand they originally came with an embossed sticker which has since worn away. I have the bill of sale from original owner to the gentleman I bought from, and a bill of sale from owner #2 to me. Owner #2 never registered the boat or trailer. Does anyone know what I need to do to register this trailer(Cox) in my name? I'm in New York. Thanks.

PS the boat won't be a problem as the HIN is there.

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Take a look at this page of the NY DMV website. a search led to the statement that trailers fall under car registrations:

http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/register...gister.htm

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Assuming the trailer's under 1000 Lbs, there's no title required in New York State. They come with "transferable registrations". If you don't have or can't get the old registration from the prior owner you have three options.

Option 1) Register your trailer as "home made". The details on how to do this are available from DMV. I believe for this option you will need to show receipts for the materials you purchased to construct your home made trailer. You will also need to have it weighed and provide proof of weight, etc. They will then issue you a set of numbers to be stamped or etched onto the trailer.

Option 2) Scrounge up a "Transferable Registration" for another trailer no longer in use. Any trailer, any brand, etc. will work to get your trailer registered.

Option 3) If you are only using the trailer to launch once a season then haul out and store the boat for the winter don't bother registering. Not a practical solution if you plan on trailering regularly.

Before anyone jumps up to say option 2 is committing fraud, you'd get no argument from me, But if you ask DMV they will point you to option 1, in which you must claim to have made something you didn't. If you have a transferable registration I suspect DMV will be more than happy to sell (not give) you new paper work and collect their sales tax.

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Short of going to weigh this trailer, an older Cox type I'd say 80's to early 90's, any idea if it weighs over 1,000 or under 1,000 lbs?

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It will certainly weigh less than 1000 pounds.

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Thank you Tom. Makes the process easier for me now.

FYI to register a trailer under 1,000 lbs in New York with a bill of sale only you will need according to DMV:

1. MV 51 from last owner to you
2. DTF 802 from last owner to you
3. MV 272 for boats under 1,000 lbs. This will assign a new VIN to the trailer and immediately issue a non-transferable registration to applicant. This info will be
forwarded to Albany for review who will in turn issue a transferable registration to applicant.
4. Applicant to pay $50 title/reg fee.
5. Must show valid NYS drivers license.

Hope this helps anyone else with similar circumstances.

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Let us know if this actually works. Only New York DMV would ask for proof of from whom you bought the trailer so they can issue you a VIN # for a homemade trailer and then ask for the sales tax from which your "homemade" trailer is supposed to be exempt.

I sincerely hope this works for you. Sometimes at the right window, with the right person in the right mood miracles happen at the DMV.

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The info posted was dictated directly to me today from people at:

1. The Downstate DMV call center in Staten Island (boat and trailer reg info)

2. DMV Title Bureau in Albany (trailer reg info)

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Here in NY if anyone tells you the Home made route is simple don't believe them!

Half of the battle lies in which clerk you get at the DMV and what attitude he/she is in when you get there.

I was in the same situation as you. I got no transferable registration card and the PO had died. No one knows who owned it prior to him. The DMV wanted receipts for the materials used to make it, unladen weight of the trailer and a road worthiness inspection before they would assign a new ID number.

If you get the right clerk on a good day it could be simple but it is just as likely you might have to get creative! This is just my opinion but the should be a program similar to "Cash for Clunkers" for DMV clerks after they retire.

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I have 2 trailers regestered in Maine, just sent one in 5 minutes ago. 5 year plates for just $90
You can do it by fax.
Here's the link.
http://www.mbi-trailers.com/

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New York seems to have the same requirements as Florida. I've registered a few trailers here in Florida under similar circumstances and the clerks never blinked an eye. Another reason why trailer theft is so common probably.

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i in the process of registering my trailer as well. no Vin. No GTW. no title.

GTW is under 3K so all i needed was a proper Bill of Sale. had to hound the seller for it. didn't know i needed it at time of sale. got it all sorted out. by the big Pain in the Butt.

the problem i had was that the trailer and boat are insured by one company and my truck insured by another. I went to my trailer insurance company for the RMV-1 form. WRONG. My truck insurance company had to stamp and fill out the RMV-1 form. crazy Mass insurance rules.

first clerk was a jerk. before he even looked by my paperwork, i said i was here to registry my trailer. his response was "we'll see" I lost the registry lottery that day.

so paper work in order now. off the the registry.

2nd trip FAIL.
RMV1 form not in order. insurance co. put a MAKE on the form and it should have said HOME. also the Bill of Sale had MAKE on it too. should have said Home Made. had to get new Bill of Sale and new RMV1 form.

3rd trip to registry.

hit the registry lottery this time and got a clerk that wasn't busting chops.

done and done.