Trailer registration question

oldisgold

New Member
1
Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and sort-of-new to trucking. We're a very small carrier and we have been renting trailers. We want to buy one from a private seller but I don't know the requirements to register it in our name.
We are located in Ontario and I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the process and what documents I need?
 

whatiship

Well-Known Member
20
Not much different than any other equipment, take the bill of sale and current Safety certificate to any MTO office or Service Ontario location. Give them your RIN number and buy new plates. You will pay for the plates, a small transfer fee and the tax on trailer if it is not paid on the invoice. They will issue a new ownership in your companies name. The plates are permanent, but make sure you keep your safety up to date.
 

oldisgold

New Member
1
Not much different than any other equipment, take the bill of sale and current Safety certificate to any MTO office or Service Ontario location. Give them your RIN number and buy new plates. You will pay for the plates, a small transfer fee and the tax on trailer if it is not paid on the invoice. They will issue a new ownership in your companies name. The plates are permanent, but make sure you keep your safety up to date.

I was told the trailer plates have been returned to the previous owner and the last safety was done in March. The current owner was not using the trailer commercially - they bought it from the previous owner, who was a friend, to move their household belongings but now they have moved all of their stuff into the house and they don't need the trailer anymore. If I need a current safety then I need to move the trailer somewhere to get this done but if I don't have plates, I can't move the trailer. It sounds like the chicken and the egg dilemma! I need plates to go get a safety done but I can't get plates until the safety is done? So confused.
 

chica123

Site Supporter
30
I am pretty sure you just need the annual inspection, not a 35 day safety for trailers. In fact, I don't even think that you need to show that to get the trailer plate. You cannot operate it commercially without the annual inspection, but you sure can get the plates put in your name. Check with you local MTO office and they should be able to confirm this. I have never had to show a safety to get a trailer plate, at least. And if the last inspection was done in March, I'm pretty sure it is still valid, regardless of who the previous owner was. The key would be to getting a copy of the white inspecton slip and keep it with the trailer.
 

oldisgold

New Member
1
Everyone on this site seems to be quite knowledgeable so my next question is do all the service ontario offices that handle vehicle transfers have commercial trailer plates on hand? Do they have to be ordered first? I can understand having automobile plates on hand at all times, but trailer plates?
 
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