Quick answer: Yes, if the trailer weighs under 2,000 pounds empty. Florida registers and plates these lighter trailers without a title. Trailers with an empty (net) weight of 2,000 pounds or more must be titled before they can be registered. Every trailer, at any weight, still needs its own registration and license plate.
Say you live in Florida and want to buy a boat trailer. Under Florida law, a trailer must be tagged, and the registration must be renewed before it expires.
You register a trailer at a license plate (tag) agency or the county tax collector’s office. County landfill and solid-waste facilities can’t register your trailer. Some of them can issue a certified weight slip, which you may need before you register. The registration fee is based on the trailer’s empty weight.
So can you register a trailer in Florida without a title? It depends on the weight. Below you’ll find which trailers need a title, which papers to bring, and what it costs.
Can You Register a Trailer in Florida Without a Title?
Yes, but only if the trailer weighs less than 2,000 pounds empty. In Florida, trailers with a net (empty) weight of 2,000 lbs or more must be titled. Trailers under 2,000 lbs get a registration and plate with no title.
The rule is the same for new, used and homemade trailers. If the trailer weighs 2,000 pounds or more, you must title it before you can register it.
Does the 2,000-pound rule mean empty weight or loaded weight?
It means empty weight. Florida uses the trailer’s net weight, without the boat or any cargo on it. A trailer that weighs 1,800 pounds empty doesn’t need a title, even if it carries a 4,000-pound boat.
Do I need to register my boat trailer separately from my boat?
Yes. The boat and the trailer are handled separately. Every trailer needs its own registration and plate, whatever the boat’s paperwork says. If your trailer is 2,000 pounds or more empty, it also needs its own title.
What Documents Do You Need? (Summary Table)
Use this table to find your situation. Then read the matching section below for details.
| Trailer type | Under 2,000 lbs (registration only) | 2,000 lbs or more (title + registration) |
|---|---|---|
| New from a dealer | Registration and plate. Bring proof of empty weight. | Manufacturer’s certificate of origin (MCO/MSO), form HSMV 82040, and a bill of sale or invoice showing price, sales tax paid and any trade-in. The dealer usually handles it. |
| Used, already in Florida | Previous owner’s registration, or a bill of sale (HSMV 82050) listing the VIN/TIN or plate number | Florida title, signed over correctly by the seller and buyer, plus current registration |
| Used, from another state | Out-of-state registration or bill of sale. Weight slip if the weight isn’t listed. | Out-of-state title, form HSMV 82040 and a VIN verification |
| Used, from a state with no trailer title or registration | Bill of sale listing year, make, VIN and the state of origin | Check with your county tax collector before you buy |
| Homemade, never registered | Bill of sale with the year built and weight (or a weight slip). The state assigns an ID number. | Inspection by a compliance examiner, and an assigned ID number before titling |
How to Get the Title of Your Trailer?
How you get a title depends on whether the trailer is new, used or from another state.
Used trailer already titled in Florida
A used trailer of 2,000 lbs or more that already has a Florida title transfers with that title. The seller and the buyer must both sign it over correctly. Check the signatures and the VIN before you pay.
Used trailer titled in another state
Bring the out-of-state title and form HSMV 82040 (the application for title). You’ll also need a VIN verification. See the VIN section below.
If you bought the trailer less than 6 months before you brought it into Florida, Florida’s 6% use tax may be due.
When do you need a weight slip?
You need a certified weight slip when the trailer’s weight isn’t documented anywhere. This comes up most with trailers under 2,000 lbs and with homemade trailers that were never titled.
Where can I get a certified weight slip for a trailer in Florida?
Some counties list public places that issue certified weight slips. These include county solid-waste facilities, landfills and private recyclers. Call ahead to confirm the hours and the fee. Weigh the trailer empty, since Florida uses empty weight.
New trailer from a dealer
For a new trailer, your dealer will give you a Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO).
You also need form HSMV 82040 and a bill of sale or invoice. It should show the purchase price, the sales tax paid and any trade-in. The dealer’s paperwork also shows the trailer’s empty weight. Florida dealers usually process the title application for you.
What ID do you need?
Bring one of these for any title or registration transaction:
- A Florida driver license or ID card
- A US passport
- A Canadian driver license or ID card
- An unexpired foreign passport. It must come with a DHS stamp, an unexpired I-94, a permanent resident card or an unexpired immigrant visa.
How Do I Get a VIN Verification for a Trailer in Florida?
Out-of-state titled trailers need an odometer/VIN verification. It goes in Section 7 of form HSMV 82040. Any of these people can do it:
- A law enforcement officer
- A Florida notary
- An FLHSMV compliance examiner
- US Military Police
- A Florida licensed dealer
The person checks the VIN on the trailer against the title and signs the form. Before they arrive, clean the VIN plate or stamp so it’s easy to read.
How to Transfer Trailer Ownership on a Florida Title?
To transfer ownership of a trailer in Florida, bring these documents to an authorized tag agency or a tax collector’s service center:
- A copy of the current registration;
- The Florida title, properly signed over by the seller.
Each applicant must also be present to sign the title application. If you need a quick title, you can ask for a “fast title” for an extra $10.
The tax collector’s office prints a fast title at the time of application. You can get one at a tax collector’s office.
What if the title is lost or there’s no paperwork?
If a Florida title is lost, apply for a duplicate Florida title before you sell or transfer the trailer. If a trailer of 2,000 lbs or more has no paperwork at all, call your county tax collector before you buy it. Ask exactly what they’ll accept. Buying a heavy trailer with no title can leave you unable to register it.
How Much Does It Cost to Register and Title a Trailer in Florida?
Registration fees depend on the trailer’s empty weight and type. As an example, Pinellas County lists these fees:
| Item | Fee (Pinellas County) |
|---|---|
| Utility trailer registration, through 500 lbs | $18.85 (1 year) / $37.70 (2 years) |
| Travel trailer registration | $39.10 (1 year) / $78.20 (2 years) |
| New or duplicate Florida title | $78.25 mailed / $85.75 fast |
| Out-of-state used title | $88.25 mailed / $95.75 fast |
| Late title transfer (over 30 days after sale) | $20 |
Heavier utility trailers cost more to register. Check your own county tax collector’s fee page for exact amounts. Sales tax or use tax may be due on top of these fees.
How to Register a Trailer With a Title?
The steps depend on the type of trailer you have.
A homemade trailer goes through a different process than a used trailer.
Below, we cover how to register each type of trailer, with or without a title.
Initial registration
If you live in Florida, you must register your trailer in Florida before you use it on the road there.
Some non-residents must register too. If you work or run a business in Florida, or your children attend a Florida public school, you must register your trailer in Florida.
If you’re a non-resident student at a Florida college or university, or in a work-study program, ask your county tax collector whether the rule applies to you.
You can register your trailer at a tax collector’s office or tag agency. For a homemade trailer, you may need to bring a bill of sale or a weight slip.
How to Register for a Homemade Trailer With a Title?
A homemade trailer is one built by a person instead of a trailer manufacturer. It usually has no MCO, no factory VIN and no weight record. The paperwork you need depends on its weight and whether it was ever registered.
If you bought a homemade trailer under 2,000 lbs that is already registered in Florida, bring:
- A bill of sale or the previous owner’s registration, and
- The trailer’s license plate number or trailer identification number.
If the homemade trailer was never registered by the previous owner, bring:
- A bill of sale from the owner stating the year the trailer was built and its weight. If you don’t know the weight, bring a weight slip.
- The state computer system will assign a trailer identification number during the registration transaction.
If you bought a Florida-titled homemade trailer that weighs 2,000 lbs or more, bring:
- The title held by the current owner, signed over to you.
- The bill of sale for the trailer.
Last, if you have a homemade trailer of 2,000 lbs or more that has never been titled in Florida, it must be inspected by a compliance examiner. The trailer must also be assigned an identification number before it can be titled. Contact your county tax collector to set up the inspection, and bring proof of weight.
How to Register for a Used Trailer With a Title?
Did you buy a used trailer under 2,000 lbs that is already registered in Florida? Then bring this to register it:
- The previous owner’s registration or a bill of sale (form HSMV 82050). The bill of sale must list the trailer’s VIN/TIN or license plate number. Polk County accepts either one, and Hillsborough County asks for the TIN. Listing both is the safest choice.
Did you buy a used trailer under 2,000 lbs that comes from outside Florida? Then bring:
- The out-of-state registration signed by the previous owner, or a bill of sale if there is no registration.
- A weight slip if the weight isn’t listed on the title or registration.
- If the trailer comes from a state that doesn’t title or register trailers, a bill of sale listing the year, make and VIN, plus the state the trailer came from.
Can I register a trailer in Florida with just a bill of sale?
Often, yes, if the trailer is under 2,000 lbs. A bill of sale with the right details (VIN/TIN or plate number, and weight or a weight slip) is usually enough. A trailer of 2,000 lbs or more needs a title, so a bill of sale alone won’t work.
How Long Does a Trailer Registration Last?
For a boat trailer, you have two options: register for one year at a time or for two years at a time.
If you bought a used or newly built boat trailer, you have 30 days to title and register it. Keep proof of the purchase date with you while you use the trailer during those 30 days. In Pinellas County, a $20 late fee applies if the title isn’t transferred within 30 days of the sale.
If a person owns the trailer, the registration expires at midnight on that person’s birthday.
If a company owns the trailer, the registration expires at midnight on June 30.
To renew your trailer registration, bring your renewal notice or current registration. You can also bring a valid ID, such as a driver license or passport.
Conclusion
You can register your trailer in Florida without a title if it weighs under 2,000 lbs empty. At 2,000 lbs or more, you must title it first. Either way, every trailer needs its own registration and plate.
Follow the steps above for a new, used or homemade boat trailer. Before you buy, check the weight and the paperwork. If anything is unclear, call your county tax collector first.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do boat trailers need to be titled in Florida?
Only if the trailer weighs 2,000 pounds or more empty. Florida requires a title for any trailer with a net (empty) weight of 2,000 lbs or more, including boat trailers. Lighter trailers get a registration and license plate with no title. The boat’s weight doesn’t count. Only the trailer’s own empty weight matters.
How long do I have to title and register a trailer after buying it in Florida?
You have 30 days after buying a used or newly built trailer to title and register it. Keep proof of the purchase date with you while you use the trailer during that time. Some counties charge a late fee. Pinellas County, for example, charges $20 if the title isn’t transferred within 30 days of the sale.
Where do I register a trailer in Florida?
Register a trailer at a license plate (tag) agency or your county tax collector’s office. County landfills and solid-waste facilities can’t register trailers. Some of them can issue a certified weight slip, which you may need first. Bring a valid ID, proof of ownership and proof of empty weight if the weight isn’t already documented.
Do non-residents have to register a trailer in Florida?
Yes, some non-residents must. If you work or run a business in Florida, or your children attend a Florida public school, you must register your trailer in Florida. Non-resident college students and people in work-study programs should ask their county tax collector whether the rule applies to them.
Do I pay tax on a trailer bought in another state?
You may. If you bought the trailer less than 6 months before bringing it into Florida, Florida’s 6% use tax may be due when you title or register it. Sales tax or use tax can be owed on top of the regular title and registration fees, so check with your county tax collector.
