Boat trailers are essential, and if you have a boat (small boat), then you need to have a boat trailer. Having a boat trailer isn’t enough. You need to have a title for it as well. Generally, you need a title for a boat, but do you need a title for a boat trailer?
Boat trailers also need titles, as boats do. But, not all the states are required to have titles for boat trailers. Many states require them, and few of them are not required to have a title for a boat trailer. Some states are optional, and you can choose whether you need it or not.
Applying for a boat trailer title will vary for each state. Each state requires different types of requirements or documents that needed to be submitted while titling. You can’t use the boat trailer title in your state, which is titled in other states. So, make sure you are using the boat trailer title that is issued in the state where you are living.
Why do you need a title for a boat trailer?
You need a title for a boat trailer because it is like the proof of the trailer that belongs to you. If you don’t have one, then you can’t prove to others that the trailer belongs to you. Not all the states require it. But, if you are selling the trailer, then you need to have a title.
If you are selling the boat trailer to others, some buyers will buy the trailer if it has a title. Generally, if you are living in a state where it does not require to title a boat trailer, then you don’t need to title the boat trailer at all. It is good to title your boat trailer if you are living in a state that doesn’t require titling your boat trailer.
What happens if you don’t have a title for a boat trailer?
If you don’t have a title for a boat trailer, then you can’t prove that it belongs to you. While selling the trailer, you may get any problems. If you are living in a state where it requires a title, then you should have it. Otherwise, you may face any issues if the coast guard inspects your boat.
Still, if you are living in a state where it doesn’t require a boat trailer title, it is good to have one. The problems of not having a boat trailer title are listed below. All of them apply to the people who are living in a state where it requires a title, rest, no need to worry.
- You might get any problems while selling the boat trailer to others. Some people won’t buy a boat trailer if it doesn’t have a title.
- If you are living in a state where you require a boat trailer title and if you don’t have one, then you need to pay the fine to the coast guards if they inspect your boat.
- If you don’t have a boat trailer title, then anyone can come and argue that the trailer belongs to him (don’t worry, no one will argue like that). Still, they can, because you don’t have any proof that the trailer belongs to you. So, it is good to have the boat trailer title if you are living in a state where it requires a title.
States in the USA that require a title for a boat trailer
The states in the USA that require a title for a boat trailer are listed below.
- Arizona
- Arkansas (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds)
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds)
- Delaware
- Florida (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2000 pounds)
- Georgia (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2000 pounds)
- Idaho (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2000 pounds)
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2000 pounds)
- Kansas (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2000 pounds)
- Kentucky
- Louisiana (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1000 pounds)
- Maine (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds, and if the trailer bought in 1994 or older)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds)
- Michigan (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2500 pounds)
- Minnesota (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 4000 pounds)
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer length is less than 12 feet)
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds)
- New Jersey (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2500 pounds)
- New Mexico
- New York (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1000 pounds)
- North Carolina
- North Dakota (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1500 pounds)
- Ohio (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 4000 pounds)
- Oregon (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1800 pounds)
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds and if the trailer bought in 2000 or older)
- South Carolina (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 2500 pounds)
- Texas (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 4000 pounds)
- Utah (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 750 pounds)
- Vermont (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1500 pounds)
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 3000 pounds)
- Wyoming (Boat trailer title is not required if the trailer weight is under 1000 pounds, and if the trailer bought in 2009 or older)
All the states listed above require you to title your boat trailer if it satisfies their requirements. For some states, there are no requirements. You don’t need to title your boat trailer if you live in those states.
States in the USA that don’t require a title for a boat trailer
The states in the USA that don’t require a title for a boat trailer are listed below.
- ALABAMA
- ALASKA
- HAWAII
- MISSISSIPPI (If you want, then you can apply for a boat trailer title)
- OKLAHOMA (If you want, then you can apply for a boat trailer title)
- SOUTH DAKOTA (If you want, then you can apply for a boat trailer title)
- TENNESSEE
Check my article on Title requirements for an outboard motor (don’t worry, it will open in new tab). Check my article on Title requirements for boats (don’t worry, it will open in new tab).
Boat trailer title requirements for all the states in the USA
In the below table, I listed the Boat trailer title requirements and the dimensions (length, width, and height) requirements (If the boat trailer exceeds a certain length, then you can’t use that trailer in that state) for all states in the USA.
For all the trailer dimensions, the length is the overall length of the trailer. Width is excluding mirrors and safety equipment, and appurtenances up to 6 inches (around). Height is overall height, including the boat, kept on the trailer. Trailer weight is equal to the total weight of the trailer + boat.
| STATE | Need a title for a boat trailer? | Boat trailer you can’t tow if they exceeds these dimensions (in feet) |
| ALABAMA | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Alabama) | Length – 28 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| ALASKA | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Alaska) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 15 feet |
| ARIZONA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Arizona regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 28.5 feet Width – 8 feet (8 feet 6 inches on certain roads) Height – 13 feet 6 inches (14 feet on designated roads) |
| ARKANSAS | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Arkansas if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds) | Length – 28 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| CALIFORNIA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of California regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 28 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet 5 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| COLORADO | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Colorado regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 45 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet 6 inches |
| CONNECTICUT | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Connecticut if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| DELAWARE | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Delaware regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| FLORIDA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Florida if the trailer weight is above 2000 pounds) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height: 13 feet 6 inches |
| GEORGIA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Georgia if the trailer weight is above 2000 pounds) | Length – 53 feet (56 feet for boat transporters) Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches (14 feet on designated roads) |
| HAWAII | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Hawaii) | Length – 45 feet; Width – 9 feet Height – 14 feet |
| IDAHO | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Idaho if the trailer weight is above 2000 pounds) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| ILLINOIS | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Illinois regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| INDIANA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Indiana regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 28 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| IOWA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Iowa if the trailer weight is above 2000 pounds) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| KANSAS | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Kansas if the trailer weight is above 2000 pounds) | Length (boat + car) – 65 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| KENTUCKY | YES Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Kentucky regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 45 feet Width – 8 feet Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| LOUISIANA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Louisiana if the trailer weight is above 1000 pounds) | Length – 30 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches (14 feet on designated roads) |
| MAINE | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Maine if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds, and bought in 1995 or newer) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MARYLAND | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Maryland regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 35 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MASSACHUSETTS | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Massachusetts if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds) | Length – 33 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MICHIGAN | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Michigan if the trailer weight is above 2500 pounds) | Length – 28 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MINNESOTA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Minnesota if the trailer weight is above 4000 pounds) | Length – 45 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MISSISSIPPI | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Mississippi. However, if you want, you can apply for it) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| MISSOURI | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Missouri regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 45 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches (14 feet on designated roads) |
| MONTANA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Montana if the trailer length is above 12 feet) | Length (boat + car) – 65 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| NEBRASKA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Nebraska regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet 6 inches |
| NEVADA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Nevada regardless of the trailer weight) | Length (boat + car) – 70 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| NEW HAMPSHIRE | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of New Hampshire if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds) | Length (trailer + car) – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| NEW JERSEY | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of New Jersey if the trailer weight is above 2500 pounds) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| NEW MEXICO | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of New Mexico regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet Height – 14 feet |
| NEW YORK | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of New York if the trailer weight is above 1000 pounds) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| NORTH CAROLINA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of North Carolina regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| NORTH DAKOTA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of North Dakota if the trailer weight is above 1500 pounds) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| OHIO | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Ohio if the trailer weight is above 4000 pounds) | Length (trailer + car) – 65 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| OKLAHOMA | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Oklahoma. However, if you want, you can apply for it) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| OREGON | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Oregon if the trailer weight is above 1800 pounds) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| PENNSYLVANIA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Pennsylvania regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| RHODE ISLAND | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Rhode Island if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds and if the trailer bought in 2001 or newer) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of South Carolina if the trailer weight is above 2500 pounds) | length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| SOUTH DAKOTA | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of South Dakota. However, if you want, you can apply for it) | Length – 45 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| TENNESSEE | NO (No title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Tennessee) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| TEXAS | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Texas if the trailer weight is above 4000 pounds) | Length – 28 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet Height – 14 feet |
| UTAH | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Utah if the trailer weight is above 750 pounds) | Length – 53 feet Width – 8 feet 5 inches Height – 14 feet |
| VERMONT | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Vermont if the trailer weight is above 1500 pounds) | Length (trailer + towing vehicle) – 75 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| VIRGINIA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Virginia regardless of the trailer weight) | Height – 13 feet 6 inches Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| WASHINGTON | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Washington regardless of the trailer weight) | Length (trailer + towing vehicle) – 75 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
| WEST VIRGINIA | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of West Virginia regardless of the trailer weight) | Length – 40 feet Width – 8 feet Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| WISCONSIN | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Wisconsin if the trailer weight is above 3000 pounds) | Length – 48 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 13 feet 6 inches |
| WYOMING | YES (Title is required for a boat trailer in the state of Wyoming if the trailer weight is above 1000 pounds, and bought in 2010 or newer) | Length – 60 feet Width – 8 feet 6 inches Height – 14 feet |
To check more dimensions requirements click here
Bottom line
The boat trailer title is like a certificate given by the government of the state where you live. That certificate will have the details about the boat. Like the boat owner’s name, address where you live, boat details, etc. It is good to have one if you don’t have a boat trailer title.