Hi everyone.  I am in the market for a trailer.  I live in Texas.  I found one recently that I LOVE LOVE LOVE and it is in my price range.  Problem is, it has not title. I was told by the seller that this is not a problem.  He said that the trailer would be registerable with a bill of sale, in TX. Does anyone know if this is true?  Is there any other purpose one would need a title for?  Can you get a trailer re-titled? or issued a 1st time title if it has never had one (even if its 20 years old)? 

  Also, the trailer has hydraulic breaks. I have never heard of this before.  Does anyone know anything about hydraulic breaks?  Is there a way you can rig up your vehicle to make them work?  Or, does anyone know about how much it costs to get a trailer equiped with electric breaks....approximate only.

Does anyone know anything about the brand "Shoop"?

Just call your local DMV or State Tax comission or who ever regulated titles for trailers in your state.  Info this important should come directly from the horse mouth and not hearsay off the internet. I'm sure many here could answer this question with the correct answer. But why risk your money/trailer to that one rumur someone thought was true.

Call the appropriate agency and have them walk you through the process.

I just bought a '93 shoop 4 horse GN out of virginia and have totally dismantled it and rebuilt it.  I can tell you the good and the bad if it's the same era.  What year/style is it???

-Phillip 

The guy sold the trailer out from under me, so I guess I wont be needing that advice.  Thanks though.

~Heartbroken & Trailer-less!~

Also, I must add that ya'll were a great help to me and I really appreciate everyone taking the time to write out answers to my many many questions.  It was very useful. 

Thank you so much!

For the next trailer you look at, I was looking at a used trailer a few years ago with no title and the DMV (or known around here as the liscense plate office, that's what the sign on the door says)  told me to get the license plate number and vin number.  The vin so they can check to see if it had been reported stolen and the plate so they can look up the previous registeration info.  They said not all trailers are sold with a title unless the financing bank demands it.  A bill of sale will work.

I would still call the DMV just to make sure it hasn't been changed in the last 5 yrs.

aggiemare05, you got lucky he sold the trailer out from under you. I am a Trooper in Iowa with the vehicle theft unit and I had a contact for you in Texas to call but since you aren't involved any more you are lucky.

When you are looking look for all the official stickers and a VIN plate it will be attached someplace on the trailer. They all should have one or a title unless it is homemade and it will still have some sort of assigned number for the VIN someplace.  Good luck.

It varies from State to State - Here in Ohio over 3K has a title and is considered "commercial". Under 3K, but manufactured (with VIN) has a Certificate of Origin and goes by weight. Homemade just requires a weight slip, no VIN.

You'd have to check with the local BMV.

Aggie-

I also think you were lucky not to get the trailer.  I just went thru a similar experience with a Texas trailer, except I bought the trailer without the title.

I found the perfect trailer.  Before driving to Texas to pick it up, the guy called me to say he just found out that the title would take 6-8wks to arrive because he'd just paid off the loan with my down payment. He gave me a written, notarized bill of sale. 4 months later, no title.  He always returned my calls and had a reason for every delay.  Turns out after talking with his employees and my attorney brother, I learned that the loan hadn't been paid off!  I confronted him with the loan company information.  Interesting, the title came fairly quickly after this.  I don't think he was purposely defrauding me.  I think he was just "floating money" and had bad timing.

I learned that you can find lots of info by calling the BMV.  They were very helpful.  Also, check the Secretary of State website in any state to insure that no lien exists before you purchase from an individual.

I will never again buy a vehicle without taking title at possession.  In Texas, trailers under 7000lbs don't need titles, this one is 7700lbs.  Stressful lesson with a happy ending!