Trailers can be the easiest money at an auction, or the hardest to register. VIN plates, homemade trailers, titles by weight, and the checks to make before you bid.
Trailers are one of the simplest things you can buy at auction. No engine, no transmission, no airbags. Utility trailers, car haulers, enclosed trailers and boat trailers show up all the time, and fixed up, they sell fast. But the paperwork can be a headache, and a trailer you can't register is worth a lot less.
Every manufactured trailer has a VIN, usually on a plate or sticker on the tongue or the front of the frame. Check that:
A trailer with a missing VIN plate is a red flag. It may be stolen, or it may just have lost its sticker over the years. Either way, it's going to take work to register.
Trailer titles are one of the most inconsistent things in vehicle paperwork:
That means a trailer from a no-title state might come with just a bill of sale and an old registration. When you take it to a state that requires a title, you may need extra steps to get one.
Check your state's rules before you bid.
Homemade trailers usually don't have a manufacturer's VIN. To register one, many states require:
That's doable, but it takes time. Factor it into what you'll pay.
Larger trailers have electric or surge brakes. Many states require brakes above a certain weight. Check that they're present and working.
Find what similar trailers sell for in your area (local classifieds are the best guide). Subtract tires, bearings, lights, decking, any welding, and the cost and time of title work. Then fees and transport. Trailers are easy to tow home if you have the right hitch; see getting a salvage vehicle home.
A manufactured trailer with a good VIN, clean title, solid frame and just worn-out tires, lights and deck is one of the easiest flips at auction. A homemade trailer with no paperwork is cheap for a reason.
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