Recommendations for a shakedown

[rbryan4]

Good to know for myself as well as any other Texans getting new trailers. Will save me a trip to the Tax Office where I would probably have waited in line for an hour just to be told the same thing. Don't mind getting it inspected and glad to know that I have to get that done before registering it. Thanks rbryan4

You're more than welcome. I would also recommend that you set the appointment for the VIN inspection well in advance. Some areas of Texas only offer VIN inspection once or twice a month - and the appointment slots fill up fast. It's not a biggie if you have to wait once you return to Texas, but then again, you need to get tags on it once the temp tags expire.

Your VIN inspection would probably be by the Montgomery County Sheriff's office. Can't do it in Houston unless you're a city resident. Here's a link. I'd give them a call to find out what lead time is needed for an appointment.

Auto Theft

 

[ReagentGrade]

One thing wasn't clear to me... The TX website above says you can get a temp tag online, but doesn't give a link to do that. The link is one of the icons at the top. Here's that link

https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/TempPermit/#nbb

 

[rbryan4]

One thing wasn't clear to me... The TX website above says you can get a temp tag online, but doesn't give a link to do that. The link is one of the icons at the top. Here's that link

https://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/TempPermit/#nbb

Yeah Rich, the Texas Online websites aren't the most user friendly. Takes some digging to find the right link.

 

[Mike & Donna]

You're more than welcome. I would also recommend that you set the appointment for the VIN inspection well in advance. Some areas of Texas only offer VIN inspection once or twice a month - and the appointment slots fill up fast. It's not a biggie if you have to wait once you return to Texas, but then again, you need to get tags on it once the temp tags expire.

Your VIN inspection would probably be by the Montgomery County Sheriff's office. Can't do it in Houston unless you're a city resident. Here's a link. I'd give them a call to find out what lead time is needed for an appointment.

Auto Theft

So here is the process ( I think),
1) need to get 30 day temp tag online, then haul trailer back to Texas
2) get safety inspection then
3) get VIN inspection (thx for the link for that) and finally
4) go to tax office and register trailer

Does that sound about right? Whew! Wore out just thinking about it.

 

[rbryan4]

So here is the process ( I think),
1) need to get 30 day temp tag online, then haul trailer back to Texas
2) get safety inspection then
3) get VIN inspection (thx for the link for that) and finally
4) go to tax office and register trailer

Does that sound about right? Whew! Wore out just thinking about it.

There is no safety inspection required unless the trailer's gross weight is over 4500 lbs. Texas defines the gross weight as the weight of the trailer and any contents. But, the certificate of origin will list the trailer's curb weight, and that's what the Texas DMV uses. None of the Escape trailers exceeds 4500 lbs. Therefore, no safety inspection.

There are some misinformed tax office personnel however, who might tell you a safety inspection is required. In my case, I produced their own publication which stated no requirement.

There are only two steps:

-- Obtain a VIN inspection and get a signed VTR-68-A.

--Register/pay sales tax at the local tax office.

The temp tag is just a means to get the trailer back to Texas. It's not even a temporary registration since no VIN is recorded on the temp tag. To be honest, you could probably do without the temp tag, since it's a new trailer on its way back to the state where you intend to register it. But, if the temp tag provides some peace of mind, it's well worth the $25 fee.

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[Mary F]

There is no safety inspection required unless the trailer's gross weight is over 4500 lbs. Texas defines the gross weight as the weight of the trailer and any contents. But, the certificate of origin will list the trailer's curb weight, and that's what the Texas DMV uses. None of the Escape trailers exceeds 4500 lbs. Therefore, no safety inspection.

Clarification: the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin for our 21' Escape (built September 2015) gives GVWR as 4600 lbs, so that safety inspection was required (and it's my understanding will continue to be needed each year, when we re-up the license tag).

Last time I checked, ETI's website listed the 21 as 4500 lbs, but that's not what our certificate of origin says. :nonono:

 

[ReagentGrade]

Here's the link to 69-A instructions for City of Houston.

http://www.houstontx.gov/police/auto_theft/pdfs/68-A-Instruction-Procedures.pdf

 

[ReagentGrade]

Oops. I didn't mean to post and can't delete

 

[rbryan4]

Clarification: the Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin for our 21' Escape (built September 2015) gives GVWR as 4600 lbs, so that safety inspection was required (and it's my understanding will continue to be needed each year, when we re-up the license tag).

Last time I checked, ETI's website listed the 21 as 4500 lbs, but that's not what our certificate of origin says. :nonono:

Thanks for that information Mary. Interesting. On mine they used curb weight. I guess using GVWR makes sense though, since Texas defines gross weight as the weight of the trailer and all contents. That's actual weight, and not the maximum allowed as in GVWR, but I guess they'd have no way of knowing how you're going to load it and have to fall back on the rating.

This might be a case where Escape could "help a Texan out" and put 4500 on the placard and MCOO, but I guess getting a safety inspection isn't that much trouble.

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[Rossue2]

You gotta be kidding me- in Texas to register a new import trailer you have to go to 3 separate offices? Then get a safety inspection every year for a 21 (and probably 5.0TA)? If true that's nuts! Thought CA was the big nanny state with inefficient, bloated bureaucracy.

 

[rbryan4]

You gotta be kidding me- in Texas to register a new import trailer you have to go to 3 separate offices? Then get a safety inspection every year for a 21 (and probably 5.0TA)? If true that's nuts! Thought CA was the big nanny state with inefficient, bloated bureaucracy.

It's out of hand Ross. For all the bloviating by our politicians about how "free" Texas is with no state income tax and the like, they love to tack on all sorts of small taxes and rules and regulations.

I was not surprised in a recent survey about tax burden that Texas didn't rank in the lower tier, but in the middle of the pack. Want a low regulatory and tax burden? Wyoming.

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[Jim Bennett]

I am sure it has been mentioned, but in Alberta trailer plates are continuous, which means that you only pay to register that trailer and plate once. You do not renew them like a motor vehicle. In order to register a trailer, you will be asked to provide a bill of sale. Alberta Registries do not need to see insurance to register the trailer. In fact, we have decided not to insure our temporary trailer.

Easy peasy, thankfully.

 

[Marry-ESC]

In fact, we have decided not to insure our temporary trailer.

Easy peasy, thankfully.

Jim, what a risktaker you are:biggrin:

 

[Jim Bennett]

Jim, what a risktaker you are[emoji3]

It is a gamble. Save $300 against the worse case scenario of losing $5,500 on a trailer we are selling soon.

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[Marry-ESC]

It is a gamble. Save $300 against the worse case scenario of losing $5,500 on a trailer we are selling soon.

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Saves you a trip out west on highway 1. No need for a casino to gamble

 

[rbryan4]

In fact, we have decided not to insure our temporary trailer.

Not possible here though. Tags require proof of insurance.

 

[Jim Bennett]

Saves you a trip out west on highway 1. No need for a casino to gamble

With WAY better odds of winning too.

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[Jim Bennett]

Not possible here though. Tags require proof of insurance.

They do require it on all driven vehicles here, as that is where the issues with liability lay.

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[Brian B-P]

To clarify the insurance situation here in Alberta... registration of a motor vehicle requires proof of liability insurance, but a trailer is covered by the liability insurance of the vehicle which is towing it, so no separate insurance is required for a trailer, and none needs to be shown to register and license a trailer.

Although most people carry collision and comprehensive (fire, theft, etc) insurance for their newer trailers, Jim and I don't have this on our old trailers. Despite not being insured other than for liability associated with the tow vehicle, our insurance company still had us list it on our policy... with no associated cost.

This is the Alberta situation; it varies by province because both vehicle registration and insurance are provincially regulated.

 

[rbryan4]

To clarify the insurance situation here in Alberta... registration of a motor vehicle requires proof of liability insurance, but a trailer is covered by the liability insurance of the vehicle which is towing it, so no separate insurance is required for a trailer, and none needs to be shown to register and license a trailer.

Although most people carry collision and comprehensive (fire, theft, etc) insurance for their newer trailers, Jim and I don't have this on our old trailers. Despite not being insured other than for liability associated with the tow vehicle, our insurance company still had us list it on our policy... with no associated cost.

This is the Alberta situation; it varies by province because both vehicle registration and insurance are provincially regulated.

I like that arrangement much better than ours. Here, a trailer (which isn't a motor vehicle mind you) needs to be registered and insured similarly to a car or truck, and I don't know of an auto insurance policy that covers the trailer too. Some allow you to add or bundle the trailer insurance. While the Alberta rules make much more sense than ours, what would our Insurance companies and tax offices do without the additional revenue?.