M416 title help. No paper work.

[Dezdan]

I recently bought a 416 that the previous owner had just registered in CA before selling it to me. The trailer previously had its data plates removed. He took the trailer into DMV and the inspector at DMV crawled all over the trailer and was unable to find any type of VIN. The inspector finally settled on using some military ID/unit numbers spray painted on the trailer. So my VIN is short and odd.

I would suggest maybe painting a desired VIN on the frame or maybe getting a punch set and punching in your own VIN on the frame before going to DMV. Another option is buying a blank 416 data plate (eBay) and punching it with your own desired VIN.

 

[Smksignals]

*** quick follow up *** The trailer is now plated.

I installed the lights, safety cables, and reflectors. I called the CHP about inspecting a homemade trailer, and they said anything under 6000 lbs, go straight to the DMV.

Went to the DMV with no appointment. The inspector came out to the trailer, asked if it was homemade, I said no, its an old utility trailer. I said I only have a bill of sale (with utility trailer as the description), and there is no VIN on the trailer. She walked around the trailer and saw no kind of identification. She asked for my license, went inside for a few minutes, came back out with paperwork, and a sticker with my VIN number. Put the sticker on the LHS of the trailer frame. I went inside to pay for the registration. I recieved my plate before I left. I am good to go !!

Thanks again for the help on this thread !!

- Kurt

 

[seanz0rz]

glad you got it all worked out! thats about the same proceedure i went through, though more complicated because my BoS said "military trailer" instead of "utility trailer"

for future reference, please ask your seller to put "utility" on the BoS. it makes it much easier at time of registration.

 

[ntsqd]

I'll reiterate what the gal told us about the C.U.T. when we took it in for plates etc. Stamp the VIN next to the VIN sticker. Then stamp it again in some spot that only you know about. Makes it much easier to get back should it be stolen if you can tell the Police to look at XXX and the VIN will be there (too), even if the obvious one had been obliterated.
As I recall both Harbor Freight & Northern Tool sell the stamp sets.

 

[Smksignals]

glad you got it all worked out! thats about the same proceedure i went through, though more complicated because my BoS said "military trailer" instead of "utility trailer"

for future reference, please ask your seller to put "utility" on the BoS. it makes it much easier at time of registration.

Sean, your post earlier in this thread is what made me ask the seller to write 'utility trailer' Thanks !!

ntsqd, thanks for the tip on stamping the VIN. I'll run to Harbor Freight this weekend !!