Date: 11/7/2010
Name: Marty Kooman
email: marty.kooman@gmail.com
subject:
No VIN for Trailer


I bought a Mark II (#2445) in October on eBay and drove to Toledo to pick it up. As it has an Ohio tag and no VIN number, I have the same issue. My boat was built in 1981 the same year VINs were first required on trailers. So I could easily have a trailer built before 1981. From reading the Forums I understand that about half are Fleet Captain Trailers. There are some pictures on Jim Hubbard'??s site of Fleet Captain Trailers like mine. There's a metal sticker or tag on the forward port side of the trailer facing out. It has the VIN if there is one. There'??s also some other details on that metal sticker as well.

In Pennsylvania I've got to get the certified weight of the trailer empty. Then I have to get a State Trooper to verify that there is no VIN and then get it inspected by a Certified Trailer Inspector with the scale certification. This all goes on one PA Form MV-41(10-08). Then I can apply for a license plate for the trailer. The Ohio sticker runs out in April so I have some time The Ohio sticker runs out in April so I have some time to get through all of this bureaucracy.

When this is done I then begin with the PA Fish and Boat Commission for the boat and motor. They open the docks on May 1st and I'??ll need every day to get this ready. This regulation is an expense more so than any fee that Pennsylvania could charge me. How many good citizens decide this is all too much and just hope they donā??t get caught as for most itā??s only two runs a year, to and from the lake. Worse yet, they give up on boating all together. This is all so in sane.


Although, it was over 20 yrs. ago, my trailer didn't have a vin#. I had to contact either the local or state police, who came out. I think I just had to have a statement from them to present to the license bureau. Hard for me to remember exactly after so many years. I'd suggest calling the license bureau in your state for information. - Jim


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