Ohio Trailer Registration Instructions
Registration basics follow: Trailer registration in Ohio is administered through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Ohio trailers are taxed based on a titling fee that is determined by the value of the trailer. Although trailers with gross weight of 3,500 lbs. or less may be registered for the life of the owner, trailers must be registered each year if they have a gross weight of more than 3,500 lbs., even if they are not in use and are kept on private property. There is no inspection requirement . Passengers transporting their own trailers are not required to stop and show the trailer title, if operated only on highways. However, trailers should be equipped with an identification and origin of load devices because some carriers crossing state lines need to supply proof of trailer ownership. There are a number of special permit and registration programs for trailers that might apply to your situation. If you have questions regarding registration and titling you should contact the Ohio Bureau of Motor vehicles, or your local deputy registrar or other taxing authority.
What Counts as a Homemade Trailer in Ohio?
Defining a Homemade Trailer under Ohio Law
Before we dive into the Application process for either obtaining a VIN or registering a home-built trailer, it is important to clarify what makes a homemade trailer under Ohio Law. Under Ohio state law, a homemade trailer is generally defined as a vehicle that is not manufactured by a "trailer manufacturer." A trailer manufacturer is a business entity engaged in commerce that is responsible for assembling component parts of a trailer using its own employees, and then selling or delivering the trailer to another person. Because many commercial trailers are manufactured by third parties, the official manufacturer of the trailer will typically be the entity who the selling entity (often the dealer) purchased the trailer. The selling entity will be able to provide you with a Certificate of Title identifying the original trailer manufacturer. Some of you may have acquired trailers from those individuals and entities that are not required to issue Certificates of Title, such as friends, family members, or the previous owner. When these individuals create and issue a Title for a trailer, they utilize the designation Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin. Commercial trailers are typically equipped with Vehicle Identification Numbers ("VIN"), which are assigned by the original manufacturer. Alternatively, homemade trailers are typically equipped with a VIN assigned by your local Deputy Registrar or Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Homemade trailers are not usually required to have VINs, so we often find that some homemade trailers do not have VINs. However, homemade trailers with VINs are more difficult to obtain because your local Deputy Registrar or Bureau of Motor Vehicles will only issue VINs to homemade trailers Exceeding 1000 pounds. We will expand on the topics of homemade trailers and homemade trailer VINs more in our next post, where we will discuss obtaining a VIN and registering a homemade trailer.
Homemade Trailer Inspections in Ohio
Inspecting a homemade trailer in Ohio is not exactly an easy process. But the law does allow it, so we need to go over how the process works. Homemade trailers use a VIN system that is different from the VIN system for commercially manufactured trailers. Generally, the VIN prefix must be "HCT" (meaning homemade trailer) for homemade trailers. And the VIN suffix must be either "X", which means the trailer is a motor vehicle (page 32 of Ohio’s Electronic Title Handbook), or "C", for Manufactured Home (page 33 of Ohio’s Electronic Title Handbook). More importantly, the number sequence that runs from the fourth digit of the VIN suffix must run in sequence with Ohio’s serial number scheme. This means that the first three digits of the number series must be between 801 and 899 (page 6 of Ohio’s Electronic Title Handbook). The remainder of the number series may be any digits between 00000 and 99999, but the entire number series must run in sequence with Ohio’s vehicle number series (a.k.a., license plate numbers). You can go to this page from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) for more information on vehicle numbers. The BMV’s Homesteading Homemade Trailers webpage provides insight into the process of manufacturing homemade trailers. As the webpage states, "it is a violation of Ohio law to use homemade manufactured trailers for any use where safety and dependability is paramount." Therefore, before a homemade trailer is put to use on a road in Ohio, it must be inspected by a state or local official approved by Ohio’s BMV. Technically, you don’t need a VIN to get your homemade trailer inspected. When the inspector checks the trailer, he/she will inspect the trailer and then complete form BMV Form 4303 (page 3 of Ohio’s Electronic Title Handbook). After this form is properly completed and signed, then a VIN can be affixed to the homemade trailer. More on this below. Once the inspector is finished inspecting the homemade trailer, he/she needs a few things in order to finish up with you: An inspector is not required to provide you these things, but generally, inspectors don’t mind doing this for you, or they may charge a small fee for the inspection.
Filing for a Title on a Homemade Trailer in Ohio
The process for obtaining a title for a homemade trailer in the state of Ohio is unique and requires several steps to ensure that your trailer is legally registered and licensed for use on public roads. Here’s a step-by-step guide to Ohio’s title application process for homemade trailers.
Step 1: Gather Required Information
To start, compile the necessary information and documentation for your trailer. This includes the following items:
- The trailer’s width, length, and height
- The estimated empty and gross weight of the trailer
- Photographs showing the trailer from different angles
- Bills of sale for all component parts used to construct the trailer
- If applicable, a list of component parts sourced from other manufactured trailers, including VINs and title details
- A description of all lighting and safety equipment on the trailer
- Proof of sales tax paid for any component parts that required taxation
- Complete Application
Head to your local Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) website and download a "Title Application for Homemade Vehicle." Although many parts of this application are specific to motorized vehicles, only fill out the parts that apply to a trailer. If there’s ever any question about whether a particular section should be filled out, simply explain what you feel is appropriate in the "Remarks" section at the end of the application. You are not required to take this form to a local BMV office to have it signed by an official. Instead, the form is completely self-authenticating and can be submitted directly to your local tax authority, provided that you follow the below step three.
Step 3: Apply for Local Tax Receipting
The application form should be accompanied by an "Application for a Title on Homemade Vehicle Inspection" provided by the state of Ohio. This form is required in order to prove that the trailer is properly built and in compliance with Ohio law. Upon submission of this form, the local tax authority will issue a receipt that must be submitted along with the title application when you visit the local BMV office-or when you apply for a title online-thus allowing you to obtain the title for your trailer.
Step 4: Pay Requisite Fees
In order to receive your title, you will have to pay both the vehicle licensing fees as well as any back taxes that are determined to be owed on the trailer. These fees can vary depending on the value of the trailer.
For further details on the Ohio title application process for homemade trailers, read through the Ohio BMV website. You can also reach out to your local county title office directly for further assistance.
Requirements for Insuring a Homemade Trailer in Ohio
In regards to insurance requirements for homemade trailers in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires homemade trailers, like any other homemade vehicle, to be insured. A minimum level of liability coverage is required. While some states offer registration for homemade trailers submitted with alternative proof of insurance, Ohio DMV does not allow for this. You must submit the appropriate volumes of proof that you are financially responsible or liable. That said, most insurance companies insure homemade trailers, and many will roll your homemade trailer insurance into your auto policy if you own an automobile.
It is important to shop around for quotes and compare insurance costs before committing to one brand or another. Coverage alternatives include the following.
• Lienholders can protect themselves. This is an optional but recommended coverage. In the event your trailer is totaled in an accident , this insurance coverage would apply to the lender in order to ensure loan repayment to protect your credit.
• Comprehensive coverage is designed to cover damage to your trailer from occurrences not related to accident or collision. These events can include theft, vandalism, fire, or a natural disaster.
• Progressive coverage pays for damage to or loss of your trailer due to damage from a collision with another auto or object. If you do not retain comprehensive coverage, and your trailer is totaled in an accident, you would lose the full value of the trailer and be unable to recover loss of funds in the event of an accident or vandalism.
• Towing and road-side assistance.
• Rental reimbursement will pay up to $50 per day to rent another trailer or vehicle while yours is being repaired due to an accident claim or other damage covered under the policy.
Road Readiness and Legal Compliance
It’s important to remember that Ohio law requires all trailers to have the appropriate lights, reflectors, and brake lights. The same is true for homemade trailers; they must be roadworthy and have at least two wheels and brakes on the rear axle. Keep in mind the weight requirements as well. The load bearing capacity of the trailer must not exceed the wheels’ capacity. This means the trailer must be able to handle the load safely and legally.
Brakes. Your trailer needs brakes on the axles if its gross weight or actual weight exceeds 2,000 pounds. A trailer that weighs between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds must have at least two wheels equipped with brakes. If it weighs more than 4,000 pounds, it needs at least three wheels with brakes. A trailer with a gross weight of more than 4,500 pounds also needs a working emergency brake system.
All trailers need reflectors, fog lights, and brake lights. If you’re building a larger trailer, let’s say over 20-foot long, you’ll need extra lights. While that may sound obvious, it’s actually not. Many people construct a very basic trailer without brakes or lights and may end up driving an unsafe vehicle.
However, Ohio law does allow certain exemptions to the general rule about brake systems. For example, a pole trailer that doesn’t weigh more than 6,000 pounds regardless of its size or design is exempt. Other exceptions include "utility trailers" as defined in Ohio Revised Code 4501.01(C)(2).
Frequent Issues and Solutions
Common Challenges and Solutions to Complying with Ohio Homemade Trailer Laws
Even though there are lots of resources available on homemade trailer registration, every now and then, I see a situation where the owner is falling through the cracks in some way. So I’m going to go over some of the common issues that come up so that you can avoid these problems when registering your homemade trailer.
When it comes to going to the BMV to register your homemade trailer, you have two options. You can bring the trailer in and have the BMV do the inspection, or you can bring just the paperwork in and have the BMV do a records check. Most people don’t have a problem with this option, but every now and then I see someone who gets rejected or has to go back more than once. Here’s why:
If you’re bringing a homemade trailer to the BMV, the people there want to see the frame wiuth nothing over it at all. I usually recommend that you bring the frame in as it is in the picture below. Most people do not have trouble with this type of setup, though the BMV employee might ask questions about safety chains – just answer honestly, that you intended to add them later.
A common issue that arises with your dealer if you’re bringing just the paperwork in is that the vehicle was registered as being out of state. What’s happened is that your trailer was first registered in Michigan, Wisconsin, Virginia, etc. and was given a VIN by that state BMV. Later it was re-registered in Ohio. The dealer does not know how to handle this and they think you must go back to the original state and obtain another title. This is wrong.
What actually happened is that the trailer could be registered in two states at the same time. Ohio probably never notified Michigan of the change in ownership. So if they had applied for a title before Ohio registered their trailer , the bible would have issued Michigan a title on it anyway. Client’s in Michigan have successfully registered their trailers by doing the following:
1) Go to their BMV and get the trailer was originally registered there.
2) Take the title to a Ohio title clerks office and tell them that you already have a title. Do NOT mention that you have a title from Iowa, Michigan, etc. The Ohio clerk is required to issue a new Ohio title in exchange for the current title. Along with the new title, they should provide an MV1 form and write on it "duplicate issued." What this means is that you will keep your original title from Michigan, and the title clerk will keep the Ohio title.
In order to register a trailer in Ohio, you must supply proof of ownership. Since the trailer is homemade, it is likely that you don’t have a bill of sale, purchase invoice, or certificate of origin. Ohio has some unique procedures for these categories of owners, and the owner must just persuade the clerk that the trailer is not stolen. Unfortunately, some clerks require that you establish specific ownership, with a VIN, title number, or other identifier. I point out to the clerk that there is no title number, and this process should generally go smoothly. As always, it is good to have your local county prosecutor or local public official review any rejection letters so that you can ask questions on the status of your paperwork.
Do you have a tip to share about homemade trailer registration? Share them in the comments!