An Illinois Trailer Bill of Sale is a legal document that records the release and acquisition of ownership for a trailer.
In Illinois, almost any vehicle that can be driven or towed must be titled and registered. This includes private-use trailers that carry boats, farming equipment or animals, or other cargo. However, it does not cover recreational vehicles or commercial-use trailers.
If you’re the buyer, you need to handle the legal processes required by the state of Illinois to obtain rights to the trailer. If you’re the seller, you must remove your liability by notifying the state of the trailer’s ownership change.
REQUIREMENTS
Bill of Sale: Not Required
Registration: Required
Title: Required
Insurance: Not Required
Signing: Buyer and seller
LAWS
Statutes: 625 ILCS 5/3-402, 625 ILCS 5/3-414.5(b), 625 ILCS 5/3-819(b)
Registering a Trailer in Illinois
New residents must register their vehicles, including trailers, within 30 days of arriving in Illinois. When purchasing a vehicle, including a trailer, in a private sale, you must register the vehicle within 20 days of the transfer. It is the buyer’s responsibility to handle all details of the title transfer
What Paperwork Is Required To Register a Trailer in Illinois?
Titles and registration are handled through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. You can either apply at your local service office or fill out an application online. However, the completed documentation must be taken to the service office in person.
To complete a title and registration for a newly purchased trailer, you will need the following:
- Original title, signed and dated by the original owner
- Application for Vehicle Transaction (VSD-190)
- Valid driver’s license or state ID
- Tax Form RUT-50 if the vehicle was purchased from an individual
- Cash or check for payment of fees
An Illinois trailer bill of sale is not required for registration. However, buyers and sellers will need all the information that would go into a bill of sale when filling out the Application for Vehicle Transaction.
Verify that the vehicle information on the title is the same as that on the application: make, model, color, and VIN. Ensure the VIN on the title matches the VIN on the trailer’s body. Double-check that the buyer’s and seller’s names are in the correct places on the title and that the odometer reading has been entered on the back of the title, if applicable.
Salvaged or homemade trailers must receive special titles before being registered in Illinois. Salvaged vehicles are not permitted for sale in the state, and only licensed rebuilders may obtain rebuilt titles on salvaged vehicles, including trailers. Salvaged trailers are sometimes illegally given clean titles in other states, sold elsewhere, and not discovered until a VIN inspection reveals a “Rebuilt From Salvage” stamp.
If you are purchasing a trailer in a private sale, take the time to have a VIN inspection done. Protecting yourself from a costly mistake is worth your time and effort.
Trailer Registration Fees
Illinois registration fees are prorated based on the vehicle weight and the time of issuance of the license. Details can be found on the Illinois DMV website.
Title for Trailer
All vehicles that can be operated or towed on public roads must be titled. This includes trailers, campers, toy haulers, utility trailers, and boat trailers.
Insurance
Illinois does not require separate insurance for towed vehicles.
Exemptions
The following vehicles are exempt from Illinois’s trailer registration requirements:
- Slide-in campers and camper shells are not registered
All other vehicles that are pulled or towed must be titled and registered.
Illinois Trailer Bill of Sale Sample
Download an Illinois trailer bill of sale template below in PDF or Word format:
