I might be buying a utility trailer at an auction and wondered if there is a process to get it home legally short of letting sit where purchased until it can be licensed. I'm not too crazy about letting something like that sit while waiting on the DMV. Here in New York State you have to make an appointment to get into the DMV and it takes some time to get in. Does an auctioneer have something like dealer plates to use?
- Thread starter Charlie M
- Start date
johnofnewhaven
Well-known Member
Some auctioneers in some states have temporary plates for the public to purchase. You will just have to ask the auctioneer.
BarnyardEngineering
Well-known Member
- Location
- Rochester, NY
Auctioneer won't let you use their dealer plate if they even have any. Too much risk of you not bringing it back.
No temporary plates in NY either. No such thing.
When you buy you buy as-is, where-is, in-place and getting it home is your responsibility.
I know one auctioneer in Western NY has licensing on premises if you buy at his auction lot where he also sells trailers.
Do you own any other trailers? You can borrow a plate from one of those to put on a good show to get it home. Just don't drive like a sausage and draw attention to yourself and they won't bother you. Don't use a motor vehicle plate, though. That's a dead giveaway if they're looking, which is a big IF.
No temporary plates in NY either. No such thing.
When you buy you buy as-is, where-is, in-place and getting it home is your responsibility.
I know one auctioneer in Western NY has licensing on premises if you buy at his auction lot where he also sells trailers.
Do you own any other trailers? You can borrow a plate from one of those to put on a good show to get it home. Just don't drive like a sausage and draw attention to yourself and they won't bother you. Don't use a motor vehicle plate, though. That's a dead giveaway if they're looking, which is a big IF.
mudbudquad
Member
Tow it home, don’t worry about it. Too much other things law enforcement has to enforce.
Absent Minded Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Gehl Country, Wis.
Could be different for NY, but in WI you can get by with the title & bill of sale. Just brought my trailer home a couple weeks ago. No tail lights just holes where they used to be, tags have been expired for 11 years. Passed three cops on the way home. No one batted an eye. The second one waved.
Mike
Mike
Ronnie Budd
Member
It may be different there, but here in Missouri you just hook onto it, with the title in hand and the receipt from the auctioneer, and head home.
Keith Molden
Well-known Member
In Ohio you have to get it weighed before you can get tags for it. There is no title for trailers
under a certain weight but I don't remember what that is. I know my 25' gooseneck does not have a title just registration.
under a certain weight but I don't remember what that is. I know my 25' gooseneck does not have a title just registration.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
Here in Michigan, trailers aren't titled, even though the state issues plates for them. If you receive a title at auction, then that ought to be good enough if you're pulled over on the way home. If NY doesn't title trailers, then a bill of sale will have to do.
My stepson bought a enclosed trailer when he moved back to Michigan from Nevada five years ago. He drove it back on a temporary tag and never bothered to register it here, although I've bugged him about it since the day he got back. He's never been pulled over. A friend took the trailer down to Kentucky and back with no plate and didn't get pulled over. I don't recommend driving around with no plate on your trailer, but I wouldn't worry about getting it home.
My stepson bought a enclosed trailer when he moved back to Michigan from Nevada five years ago. He drove it back on a temporary tag and never bothered to register it here, although I've bugged him about it since the day he got back. He's never been pulled over. A friend took the trailer down to Kentucky and back with no plate and didn't get pulled over. I don't recommend driving around with no plate on your trailer, but I wouldn't worry about getting it home.
In some states you can get a temporary tag at a local BMV quick n easy. If you don't have such at least carry a receipt Bill of Sale as evidence of purchase and ownership. You might call your insurance agent to obtain a binder until you get it home. As a past used semi truck RV and auto dealer these are the methods I used when I purchased vehicles maybe half way across the US.
John T
John T
Stephen Newell
Well-known Member
I think you need to check with your local laws. Here in texas you could pull the trailer for years before you might bet pulled over. Then, now with nnalert they won't pull someone over for anything unless their driving is erratic. The DMV offices are closed so you can only license by mail so the cops won't give you a ticket even if you are in the wrong.
RobCons
Well-known Member
- Location
- Central Alabama
Down here we would just pull it home. Have paperwork with you showing purchase. Of course here lots of people would never get a tag or title for it.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
I don't know about utility trailers in MI but my 3 semitrailers all have titles. I agree with most everyone on here though. The bill of sale should be enough to get you home. It worked for me to bring a dump trailer home to MI from KY. Don't know the law in NY, but even a car or other vehicle can be driven home from wherever you bought it without a plate or registration, just a bill of sale, in MI.
Several years ago I bought a gooseneck in Oklahoma and pulled it to Indiana without any questions. 2016 I bought another in Texas and pulled it to Indiana without any issues. Even had a Highway Patrol officer hide behind it at a restaurant watching for speeders while I ate lunch.
Some trailers purchased, a bank might have a loan against the trailer so they hold the title. Pay the loan off and get a bill of sale. Bank will note "title will be sent" if any questions come up. I am like you, if I buy something at an auction I want it to leave in my possession.
Some trailers purchased, a bank might have a loan against the trailer so they hold the title. Pay the loan off and get a bill of sale. Bank will note "title will be sent" if any questions come up. I am like you, if I buy something at an auction I want it to leave in my possession.
CH(upstate,NY)
Member
My cousin bought a Harley and has been riding it without plates most of the summer. DMV has been closed, just starting to open now. Have a bill of sale and id.
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