California Trailer Bill of Sale

How to sell a trailer in California

A trailer bill of sale names the trailer by year, make, type and VIN, and records the price and date. Utility and cargo trailers are often homemade or came with no title, so the bill of sale is frequently the only paper trail the DMV will see.

Seller steps

1. Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
2. Agree on the price and fill in the California trailer bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the VIN.
3. Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. California does not require a notary.
4. Sign the title over to the buyer exactly as your name appears on it, and complete the odometer section on the title if the trailer has one.
5. File a notice of sale or release of liability with the California Department of Motor Vehicles if California offers one, remove your plates if the state keeps plates with the seller, and cancel the insurance once the buyer has driven away.

Buyer steps

1. Bring the signed bill of sale (or California's REG 135), the signed title and your ID to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
2. Expect to pay sales or use tax on the price shown on the bill of sale, plus title and registration fees.
3. Register within California's deadline, commonly 10 to 30 days from the sale date, to avoid late penalties.

Before you sign

• The VIN plate is usually on the tongue or the front frame rail.
• Homemade trailers need a state-assigned VIN before registration; the bill of sale still helps prove ownership of the materials.
• List the GVWR; it decides whether the trailer needs a title in many states.
• Mention included equipment: ramps, spare tire, tie-downs.

Why a bill of sale matters for a trailer

• Many trailers under a certain weight are not titled, so the bill of sale is the ownership record.
• Needed to register the trailer and get a plate.
• Shows the price for sales tax.
• Protects the seller once the trailer leaves the driveway.

Selling a trailer? The $19 sell-your-vehicle kit adds a signed release of liability and a California checklist to the pack, so the handoff is finished the day you sign.