This template records the details a registration clerk asks for — VIN, axles, weight rating and length — so the buyer can put the trailer in their own name.
It's a fillable PDF: type into it in Acrobat, Preview or your browser and save the finished copy, or print it blank and fill it in by hand.
What's on the form
- Seller and buyer details
- Year, make, model and color
- Type: utility, enclosed, car hauler, camper or other
- VIN, plate number and title number where one exists
- Length, number of axles and GVWR (the maximum loaded weight rating)
- Price, payment method and balance due
- As-is clause with a known defects line
- Seller's certification and signature lines
How to fill it out
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Find the VIN plate on the tongue or frame rail
It's usually riveted to the A-frame near the coupler, or on the left front frame rail. On older trailers it may be faded — photograph it, and note if it's missing entirely.
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Copy the GVWR from the same plate
GVWR is the maximum the trailer is rated to weigh when loaded. States use it to decide the registration class, and buyers need it to know what their truck can legally tow.
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Count the axles and measure the deck
Single or tandem axle, and deck length in feet. These go on most registration forms.
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Be clear if the trailer is homemade
Shop-built trailers often have no VIN. Most states have a process that assigns one after an inspection. Write "homemade, no VIN" rather than leaving the line blank.
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List what goes with it
Spare tire, ramps, straps, a locking coupler. Note bad bearings, soft decking or dead lights on the defects line.
Before you hand it over
- Small trailers often have no title. Many states title only above a weight threshold. Below it, the bill of sale plus registration is the ownership record.
- Homemade trailers need an inspection in most states before they can be registered and assigned a VIN.
- Check the lights and bearings before towing home. Not a paperwork issue, but the most common way a cheap trailer purchase goes wrong.
- Boat trailers may be listed on the boat's paperwork. If you're buying both, make sure each is accounted for.
Questions
Do I need a title for a trailer?
It depends on the state and the trailer's weight. Light utility trailers are often registered but never titled. Heavier trailers and campers usually are titled.
What is GVWR?
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: the most the trailer is rated to weigh fully loaded, including the trailer itself. It's stamped on the VIN plate and drives both registration class and what you can safely tow.
Can I use this for a camper or travel trailer?
You can, but the RV template is a better fit — it has fields for the odometer exemption, generator hours and the fittings that come with a camper.