Looking at a food trailer in Cedar Park (when I come to Texas in March). Owner says they will give me a bill of sale.

Obviously, I want a title. I'm also assuming I'd have to have a plate to get back to TN (and register once I got here). Is this just more trouble than it's worth?

Food trailers seem to be much more reasonably priced in Texas (I'm looking for a used one), and most of the ones I'm looking at are already set up for what I'm going to cook (tacos), whereas the ones here usually don't have vent hoods, fire suppression, etc.

I bought an untitled travel trailer (the owner didn't have a title at least) out of state and brought it to Texas so the rules are probably different in Tennessee but it was possible.

Seller had posted a pic that included the VIN so I called that state DMV where the trailer was located. DMV was nice enough to run the VIN and at least tell me it wasn't stolen BEFORE I ever went to look at it. They said I could order a title search and reach out to the last known owner and try to get a title from them. Was going to take months and who knows what the last known owner would say so I didn't go that route.

Got a one trip Texas tag from my local tax assesor's office and used that to go buy the trailer and bring it home. Had all my forms pre-printed so I could have the out of state seller sign them.

Got to Texas and filled out a bonded title application. Had to take the trailer to a LEO for inspection and verification that it wasn't stolen (using another one trip tag). Not every agency can do the inspection. Local DPS was overbooked so I went to a sheriff's dept two counties away that did it.

Turned all that paperwork in and paid a bond through a local insurance company that was based on a database value of the trailer and I now have a bonded blue title for the trailer.

I bought an old '70's trailer for restoration and I plan on keeping it so I don't care if a bonded title impacts value or ability to sell it later. I just know I can put tags on it when I'm done with the restoration and pull it legally.


TLDR - Lots of hoops to jump through, but you can probably do it if you're willing to deal with the headache. Verify it's not stolen before you buy, and check your state laws and processes.

Yeah, I guess not interested then, even though it's what I'm looking for. Don't want to jump through hoops.

I bought a motorcycle clamshell trailer back in October of '18 and had title on dash of truck to run to tax office in Llano. A few days later I lost truck in LBJ flood and forgot to look for the title before wrecker hauled it away.
It wasn't too difficult to apply for replacement title, I had to go to sheriffs office to confirm VIN.

Jett01 said:

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Definitely don't want to do a bonded title. Unnecessary expense

If they ball at replacement title, I'd bet it's not in their name.

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Yeah, I don't want to deal with that.

I finally have enough $$ saved up to about get what I want with all the equipment. I don't want to go new - it would cost significantly more, and would take much longer for me to save up that kind of $$.

It's a good opportunity. All the texmex food here sucks, and people love my food (I sold it at football games when I was a teacher to raise money for class supplies).

zooguy96 said:

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Yeah, I guess not interested then, even though it's what I'm looking for. Don't want to jump through hoops.

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They can get a replacement title, same day from some of the State Title offices, or mail off for it and it takes 30 days. I know that there is one on NW side of Houston off of 290. Without looking I would bet that there is an office in every Major city in Texas, ie: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and maybe El Paso.

I know this because I did it when I sold my trailer. You can schedule an appt or go and wait, I chose to wait, at the Houston Location, and it took about 2.5 hours.

Aggieranger said:

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zooguy96 said:

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Yeah, I guess not interested then, even though it's what I'm looking for. Don't want to jump through hoops.

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They can get a replacement title, same day from some of the State Title offices, or mail off for it and it takes 30 days. I know that there is one on NW side of Houston off of 290. Without looking I would bet that there is an office in every Major city in Texas, ie: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and maybe El Paso.

I know this because I did it when I sold my trailer. You can schedule an appt or go and wait, I chose to wait, at the Houston Location, and it took about 2.5 hours.

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Ok. I told them I wasn't interested in it without a title.

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Ok. I told them I wasn't interested in it without a title.

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Trailers with a weight rating below 4000lbs do not require a title in Texas.

But you do need to have certain information and paperwork straight. It's easiest for both parties to go to the tax office together and do it all there.

CS78 said:

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Ok. I told them I wasn't interested in it without a title.

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Trailers with a weight rating below 4000lbs do not require a title in Texas.

But you do need to have certain information and paperwork straight. It's easiest for both parties to go to the tax office together and do it all there.

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This is a dual axle 14 foot, so it is above that weight rating.

CS78 said:

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Quote:

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Ok. I told them I wasn't interested in it without a title.

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Trailers with a weight rating below 4000lbs do not require a title in Texas.

But you do need to have certain information and paperwork straight. It's easiest for both parties to go to the tax office together and do it all there.

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Is that still correct? Because if so, my boat trailer wouldn't require a title and I was required to get one and keep it registered.

I know that used to be the case but, IIRC, the state changed it several years ago.

Tennessee you say?

I hear they prefer you register in Montana these days...

I traded for a trailer that a buddy's dad had and he passed. No title and could not find the plate for it.
I would absolutely not buy a trailer without a title. You would not believe what I had to do just to get a plate.

I had the most hellish experience getting my used boat trailer registered. It was a two year battle involving local tax office incompetency, a lazy previous owner, lots of driving, inspecting, weighing, etc. I will never mess with another trailer, big or small, without a title. Later on, I bought a used utility trailer. From the lessons learned on the boat trailer, I applied for and received a bonded title. With that, I had no problems getting the plate for it. No, it isn't absolutely required by law, but the girls at my county tax office are trained a certain way that I am well aware of now. Gone are the days of easy registration at any county of your choice. Save yourself a ton of hassle and get any trailer titled.

SGrem said:

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I recently bought a 25ft offshore boat that was on an untitled trailer. 10kw so definitely above the weight. Trailer was never titled by previous owner who died so there was no title to provide, no title to transfer, no title to replace, no title available whatsoever. The state absolutely said no problem whatsoever registering it it will just never have a title....

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Oh yall made me remember.... it was previously registered just never titled. ... so that did help. And I had since the previous owner was obviously not available to line up signatures etc I had to show the daughters power of attorney documentation. But I had all that on my phone. It went as smooth as anything else I have done. But sounds like some of yall have really had some troubles.

TarponChaser said:

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CS78 said:

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Quote:

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Ok. I told them I wasn't interested in it without a title.

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Trailers with a weight rating below 4000lbs do not require a title in Texas.

But you do need to have certain information and paperwork straight. It's easiest for both parties to go to the tax office together and do it all there.

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Is that still correct? Because if so, my boat trailer wouldn't require a title and I was required to get one and keep it registered.

I know that used to be the case but, IIRC, the state changed it several years ago.

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https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/trailers

There are ways to legally modify and register as a home built trailer. I did that with an old sailboat trailer, and it was pretty straightforward.

What brand are you restoring? I've done a couple myself.