Trailers

Initial Registration

Vehicle registrations for trailers may be obtained at one of our offices. To receive a vehicle registration for a trailer you must have a registration renewal notice or previously issued registration. (If these are not available the tag number, title number, or vehicle identification number may provide enough information.)

Registration Renewal

Florida law requires trailer tags and registrations to be renewed before they expire. Florida vehicle registrations and tags (license plates) expire as follows:

  • For trailers owned by individuals, the expiration date is the birthday of the first owner listed on the registration
  • For company owned trailers, the expiration date is June 30th
  • For semi-trailers, the annual expiration date is December 31st.

Renew your registration online by clicking here.

Registration On A Used or Homemade Trailer

The purchaser must show:

  • all legal ownership documents that make up the complete chain of ownership
  • Bill of Sale (including a complete description of the trailer)
  • previous owner's Florida license plate number

If the used trailer has never been registered in Florida, a certified weight slip is also required, unless the document submitted shows a net weight.

CHAIN OF OWNERSHIP EXAMPLE: John purchases a trailer from Sally. John then sells it to Alex, who sells it to Mark. Mark must submit the following to our office, which would constitute a complete chain of ownership, to register the trailer:

  • Sally's Florida registration
  • Bill of Sale from Sally to John
  • Bill of Sale from John to Alex
  • Bill of Sale from Alex to Mark (the customer)

For more information on used and homemade trailers, click here and see section IV paragraphs A, B and C.

Transfer Of Ownership On A Florida Title

When seeking to transfer ownership of a trailer in Florida, you must bring the following items to one of our offices:

  • The Florida title, properly completed by the seller
  • A copy of the current registration to be transferred if applicable
  • Also, each applicant must be present to sign the new application for title

Title Application on New and Out-of-State Trailers

When seeking to register a trailer, an Application for Certificate of Title must be completed and submitted to our office. Other items are also required, depending on whether the trailer is new or used.

For a new trailer title application, you'll need:

  • A manufacturer's certificate of origin;
  • A bill of sale or invoice listing the purchase price, sales tax paid, and any trade-in allowance (Please note, additional sales tax may be due);
  • Any applicable lienholder information;
  • When transferring a tag or license plate, the current registration or plate and decal number;
  • Each applicant must sign the application. (If completing an application in our office, each person applying for ownership must be present to sign the title application.)

For an out-of-state trailer title application, you'll need:

  • The out-of-state title certificate in your name or assigned to you;
  • If your vehicle is finance, complete lienholder information including account number, lienholder name, and mailing address;
  • A vehicle identification odometer verification form, which must be completed by a law enforcement officer, or a Florida notary, a Florida Division of Motor Vehicles compliance examiner, the U.S. Military Police, or a Florida licensed car dealer (Completing Section 7 of the Application For Certificate Of Title fulfills this requirement);
  • When transferring a tag or license plate, the current registration or plate and decal number.
  • Each applicant must sign the application. (If completing an application in our office, each person applying for ownership must be present to sign the title application.)
  • Florida Use Tax may be due, if the vehicle was purchased less than 6 months prior to importing the vehicle to Florida. Proof of any sales tax paid to another state will be required.
  • The full 6% Florida Use Tax and any applicable local option tax is due on all vehicles imported from foreign countries.