A New York trailer bill of sale can streamline your registration process and help prove the transfer of ownership if a dispute arises. A trailer bill of sale in New York includes the names and signatures of the buyer and seller, as well as a description or vehicle identification number (VIN) for the trailer. It also provides for the trailer’s value to ensure you pay the correct taxes and registration fees.
Registering a Trailer in New York
New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law § 156 defines a trailer as a vehicle not propelled by its own power. When you purchase a trailer in New York, the state requires you to register it as a passenger vehicle. Registration requirements and fees vary depending on the trailer’s type, weight and use.
Trailer registration in New York has a fixed expiration date of December 31. You must renew your registration annually before the expiration date.
What Paperwork Is Required To Register a Trailer in New York?
To register your trailer in New York, you must provide specific registration documents, including:
- New York Trailer Bill of Sale
- Statement of Transaction – Sale or Gift
- Damage Disclosure Statement
- Vehicle Registration/ Title Application
- Proof of Identification for all owners and registrants
- Proof of insurance, if necessary
Ownership transfers in New York are different for trailers over 1,000 pounds versus small trailers.
Trailers with the model year 1973 or later that weigh 1,000 pounds or more unladen must provide a NY State Certificate of Title and a bill of sale for a trailer in New York.
If the trailer’s model year is 1972 or earlier or the trailer weighs less than 1,000 pounds, you can transfer ownership using a NY State Transferable Registration and a New York bill of sale for a trailer.
Trailer Registration Fees
The cost of registering your trailer in New York will differ depending on its size, weight, and use. Taxes, fees, and other charges you may owe for trailer registration include:
- $5.39 for every 500 pounds of maximum gross weight
- Minimum annual fee of $14.38, prorated daily
- Taxes
- Plate Fees
Title for Trailer
Trailer registration in New York requires you to know the trailer’s unladen weight and its maximum gross weight with the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. You must title a trailer with an unladen weight over 1,000 pounds or a maximum gross weight over 3,000 pounds.
Insurance
New York does not require you to carry insurance for most non-commercial trailers. Most liability insurance for towing vehicles covers personal-use trailers up to a certain size.
You may need trailer insurance if you use your trailer for business purposes, including agricultural activities. Check with your insurance provider or local NY Department of Motor Vehicles office to ensure that you have appropriate coverage for your trailer.
Exemptions
Vehicles with mounted devices, such as welding machines, well drillers, and water pumps, are exempt from registration. Trailers that serve as onsite offices or store tools and equipment may also be exempt if they do not haul tools on the road. The state provides a full list of trailer-type vehicles not requiring registration in New York.
Special Requirements and Inspections
New York requires annual safety inspections for all trailers. If your trailer is for a boat, New York asks that you take precautions to protect local waters from aquatic invasive species.
New York Trailer Bill of Sale Sample
Download a New York trailer bill of sale template below in PDF or Word format:
