A Delaware trailer bill of sale is a document that records the transfer of ownership for trailers from one owner to another. Private and commercial trailers are differentiated and treated separately in Delaware, each with specific requirements.
REQUIREMENTS
Bill of Sale: Not Required
Registration: Required
Title: Required
Insurance: Not Required
Signing: Buyer and seller
LAWS
Statutes: § 2102, § 2104, §§ 2109 to 2110, §§ 2112 to 2115
Registering a Trailer in Delaware
You will need to register your trailer in Delaware to use it on the roadways legally. After completing the bill of sale, you have 30 days to finish this process.
What Paperwork Is Required To Register a Trailer in Delaware?
The documents you will need to register your trailer include the following:
- Driver’s license or state identification
- Registration card if renewing
- Manufacturer’s statement of origin
- Safety inspection
- Bill of sale
- Application
Trailer Registration Fees
If you do not register your vehicle within 30 days, you must pay a $20 late fee. The basic registration fees depend on weight:
- Under 1,000 pounds – $15
- 1,001 to 2,000 pounds – $20
- 2,001 to 5,000 pounds – $40
- Every 1,000 pounds over 5,000 – $18
You may also have to pay a motor vehicle document fee [1] . You will want to have a notarized bill of sale because the amount of the charge is dependent on the purchase price:
- Under $400 – $8
- $400 to $500 – $13.75
- Over $500 – $4.25 for each additional $100
Title for Trailer
Titling is a requirement for trailers. The Division of Motor Vehicles handles it, except for boat trailers, which are the responsibility of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
The DMV recommends transferring the title to their facility to make the process easier. You should also bring a copy of the bill of sale (PDF or paper copy) to cover any questions.
If the previous owner is not there, they must contact the DMV to alert them to the sale and complete a report of the sale and registration card. The seller must also complete the Assignment of Certificate of Title, and you and the seller must sign it. In addition, you must fill out and sign the Purchaser’s Application.
The title fee depends on the weight of your trailer.
Insurance
Delaware law does not require you to carry insurance on your trailer. Your auto insurance will likely cover the trailer in some situations. You may wish to check with your insurer and add coverage if necessary.
Exemptions
You may not have to pay the motor vehicle document fee if one of the following conditions applies:
- You received the trailer as a gift from your spouse, child, parent, grandparent, or sibling.
- Ownership was transferred between you and another owner.
- The trailer was part of an inheritance.