Trying to registewr my trailer in California

[Ron Dickey]

I have mostly finished my trailer. I went to California DMV site to make an appointment. I was told to register a vehicle. It started asking me about my engine and transmission. NO where can I find an mention of registering your trailer. I did not buy it from a dealer. I got it ok'ed with the vendor number and she said make a appointment put in register vehicle I just keep going round and round . I will need to go in early tomorrow and start all over. Not having a dealer, engine #, transmission # got me no where.

What am I doing wrong? Just wait till RI takes over

Help

[hidesertrocker]

Here's from the horse's mouth (at the bottom of the page):

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-ed ... s-ffvr-27/

Lots of different links here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+ ... FHoOQzgpBs


I took my HF trailer to AAA. Pretty painless!

[S. Heisley]

Take it to the DMV and/or take inside and outside pictures of it with you. The last I knew, in CA, it is not considered an RV camper unless it's plumbed for a toilet, which yours isn't. I doubt that has changed. CA Computer programming isn't made to handle what we do. It needs DMV humans to help. As long as you have a vehicle ID number on the chassis, they should be able to give you a license for a utility trailer, which is what it really is. That costs a lot less, too. Just be certain it weighs less than 1500 lbs. as I doubt it has brakes. A smart DMV human will ask you to provide a weight document, which you can usually get at a truck weighing station. If a trailer weighs more than 1500 pounds, it must have brakes in CA. I'd get the document before you go. If you don't know where to get it weighed, use your phone to find out. Phone the CHP to see if they can weigh it and give you a document or if they know where you can go to get it weighed or maybe someone at the DMV will know (doubtful but possible).

PS. If you already have a PTI (Permanent Trailer ID) license for it, that's all you need. Again, you don't need an RV license unless it has a plumbed toilet in it. That's the distinguishing feature.

Good Luck!

[Ron Dickey]

Yah....hoo....eee I got it.
The Harbor freight trailer had a Vin number on it and came with the paperwork. I took it in for them to look at it. She did not ask to see the lights was only wanting to see the paper and compare it to the Vin. I told her the inside was not completed and so she listed it as a Utility trailer. I just wanted to get the outside done. Now I can work on the inside. I will not run wires for the battery till after I get back from camping.
I got very confused until I talked with friends, one suggested I call it a hobby, which it is.
I belonged a teardrop forum before this one was started . Mike also belonged to that one until he started this one.
When I first came to the DMV I told them I had a home made camper trailer. The woman gave me papers to fill out.
I found there is a site offering California DMV forms

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/forms/

when you enter in the number it will show a PDF that you can fill in on your computer and then print I printed a copy for myself too.
This makes it essayer for them to read. you can save the filled in form or clear it, I chose to clear it.

REG 4017 (Permanent Trailer Identification {PTI} Certification)
REG 343 (Application for Title or Registration)
REG 256. (Statement of facts)
on line it suggested I fill out
REG 5036 (Statement of constuction) which is almost the same as Statement of facts)

Most of these forms are set up for cars with engines and transmissions. in those areas I printed none.

I got really confused when it cam to the section where I needed to explain the facts. A large space for you to tell you story.
At first I told about why it took me so long to build it. But a neighbor suggested I call it a hobby.

So I started the space with Teardrrop Trailers are my hobby. I belong to a Teardrop Trailer forum. You can find my build at
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=54108
And the began that I designed and built it. ect.....
I also wrote that I did 98% of the labor and if I could I would say it was free. However if a cost must be state in labor I would pay myself $1.00 and originally I had planed to build it in 3 months. So I added the $480 to the $1303.52 and $284.oo for the frame
The total to build was $2,127.52 to build it .
I was charged $47 in taxes for the trailer.

I came in the next day unable to make a appointment on line, DMV online took me somewhere else???

I came in at 8am with my paperwork, the Vitrifaction of Vehicle completed by the inspector at the back of the building, the Vin paperwork that came with the Harbor Freight trailer frame. Was given a number B 010 and waited about 30 min. to hear and see my number called.

The woman read all my paperwork and entered it all into the DMV computer, and pulled out a Key and gave me a envelope containing my metal PTI Plate.

A note to the wise keep all your receipts and keep them in a dark cool place. Register rec's are heat sensitive and will fade. Keep them where you will always know where to find them.
They did not ask to see them but I was ready. In my case my build lasted 11 years and you could read all of them. I used a contractors clip board which has a cabbie behind it to store the paperwork. All readable.

[tomhawk]

There seems to be a lot of variability in registering homebuilts between governments.
I have read that some other states and countries have much worse requirement than California.

In contrast to California, Iowa has very relaxed requirements. To get my license plates, I filled out a form at the county office, paid my $20 and got them. They did not want to see receipts. I was a bit disappointed that no one had to to look at the trailer that I had put so much effort building.

I noticed at the local farmers market that there were some home built utility trailers that did not have plates. I asked the farmer about that and he replied he did not need them.

My lawyer friend who practiced law in a rural Iowa community told me in Iowa there are laws for most people but it seemed to him there are different laws for farmers.

[scorchedbones]

Curious because I'm in the process of building my own trailer and registering it in CA, so did you end up registering it as a utility trailer or a camper trailer? Just curious because I haven't seen too many people registering it under the camper trailer vehicle code 242 and want to see what paperwork I need to get ahead of time. Honestly the registration process seems more stressful than actually building it LOL

[Ron Dickey]

REG 4017 (Permanent Trailer Identification {PTI} Certification)
REG 343 (Application for Title or Registration)
REG 256. (Statement of facts)
on line it suggested I fill out
REG 5036 (Statement of constuction) which is almost the same as Statement of facts)

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-ed ... s-ffvr-27/