8.10.10

Trailer title and registration

Effective Date: September 29, 2026

Review Due: September 29, 2028

Summary of Changes

Replaced "however" with "but" in the Note in Section B. Removed a period from the middle of the sentence in Section C(1). Made depends plural in Section R(3).

Purpose

To provide guidelines for the issuance of a Title and Registration for Travel, Commercial, Permanent, Homemade and Kit Trailers.

Authority

Two Year Review, A.R.S. §§ 28-101, 28-1095, 28-2003, 28-2051, 28-2052, 28-2153, 28-2157, 28-2351, 28-5432, 41-4001.

Policy

1. A person shall not operate a trailer on a public road unless the trailer is currently titled and registered with the Division; see Policy 8.9.1 Registration Requirements for trailers exempt from registration.

Permanent Trailer

2. The Division is authorized to register permanently:

1. A commercial trailer or semitrailer with a declared gross weight of 10,001 or more pounds, see Policy 8.14.3 Commercial Registration and Weight Fees.

2. A non-commercial trailer with a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Note: Trailers at any declared gross weight are not eligible for Apportioned Registration but may be issued a Permanent Fleet registration, see Policy 8.10.6 Permanent Fleet Registration.

3. To be issued a non-commercial permanent trailer registration, the owner is required to certify the following when requesting the registration:

1. “The trailer with a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less is not maintained and operated in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise”.

4. The processor shall collect a one-time registration and Vehicle License Tax (VLT) fee, see Policies 8.14.6 Registration Fees and 8.9.2 Registration Cycles.

5. Subsequent registration and VLT fees are not required unless the trailer's use, declared gross weight, or ownership is changed.

6. The purchaser of a permanently registered trailer is charged a VLT amount based on the original permanent fee, prorated by the number of months remaining from the original 24 months of registration; see the Permanent Trailer VLT Proration Chart.

1. A transfer fee is required for a non-commercial permanent trailer.

7. A trailer record displaying a “Title-Only” status, upon registration shall be assessed an initial permanent registration and VLT fee.

8. The following trailers are not eligible for permanent trailer registration:

1. A historic trailer that is designed for commercial use, but is not used in the furtherance of a commercial enterprise.

1. The historic commercial trailer must be a hobby vehicle (used only in antique truck shows and/or parades) and that displays a Historic Vehicle License Plate.

2. The owner of the historic commercial trailer is not required to declare the gross weight.

2. A travel trailer or tent trailer.

3. A commercial trailer with a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less.

Travel Trailer    

9. A travel trailer is a recreational vehicle that is designed as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping, or travel use. Travel trailers that are 8 feet in width and 40 or more feet in length are required to pay the $8 registration fee.

1. The travel trailer is not designed for commercial use or use as a permanent residence.

2. The trailer is mounted on wheels.

1. A recreational vehicle that is a combination of two units may not exceed 65 feet in length.

2. Objects that can be removed or collapsed, such as awnings, are not measured when determining vehicle size.

Note: The $8 registration fee is not applicable when the travel trailer is less than 8 feet in width and/or less than 40 feet in length.

10. The following criteria is used to establish recreational travel trailer use:

1. The owner verbally declares the travel trailer use at the time of application.

2. The travel trailer is used only as a temporary dwelling place for recreational use.

1. Travel trailers that are used for recreational purposes and moved on public highways must be registered.

11. A travel trailer may be titled as a mobile home when it is used for commercial purposes as an office or place of business, or is maintained as a single family dwelling for at least six consecutive months.

12. Before a travel trailer record can be converted to a mobile home record, all mobile home titling requirements must be met.

1. The mobile home record must reflect the identical owner and title data as the travel trailer record.

2. Upon issuance of a mobile home title, the travel trailer record is purged.

Homemade Trailers

13. A homemade trailer is a vehicle with or without motive power and is designed to carry persons or property and is drawn by a motor vehicle.

• A homemade trailer is constructed by the individual and is made using various materials; it is not shop-made or mass-produced by a manufacturer.

14. To title a homemade trailer, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must present:

1. Ownership documents

1. Ownership documents are not required when the value of the homemade trailer (as stated by the owner) is less than $1000.

2. Receipts are sufficient as ownership documents for non-essential parts such as, the axle, the steel used, tongue/hitch, etc. Receipts are merely used as ownership documents and do not have to equal the value of the homemade trailer as stated by the owner.

3. If the customer cannot provide ownership documents (receipts, bill of sale, title, etc.) when the value of the homemade trailer is more than $1000, the customer will be required to purchase a bond.

2. A Level I Inspection

3. A Level II or III Inspection is required when a frame and bed of a pickup truck is used in making the homemade trailer. Additionally, a Level II or III inspection is required when any type of manufactured vehicle or essential part of a manufactured vehicle is used in making the homemade trailer. In these situations, if the Level II or III inspector determines that a Level I Inspection is sufficient for the trailer in question, the Level II or III inspector will complete a no-fee Level I Inspection.

4. An AZ number is assigned and becomes the vehicle VIN; see Policy 8.12.3 Arizona Serial Number (AZ SNO) and Arizona Reassigned Serial Number (Built-Up Number).

Kit Trailer

15. A kit trailer is a trailer sold as an unassembled kit to be constructed by the purchaser.

• Licensed dealers may sell an assembled kit trailer as a completed vehicle.

16. To title a kit trailer, in addition to all other titling requirements, the customer must submit:

1. Ownership documents

2. A Level I Inspection

3. The Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO) or an invoice for each kit trailer.

1. The MCO must be assigned by the manufacturer to the purchaser or by the manufacturer to the dealer and reassigned by the dealer to the purchaser.

2. It is not a requirement that the MCO be assigned to the purchaser when the kit trailer is sold unassembled.

Trailer Fees and License Plate

17. A registered owner of a trailer may qualify for an exemption of vehicle license tax and registration fees, see Policy 8.14.6 Registration Fees and 8.15.4 Vehicle License Tax Exemptions.

18. At the time of application, the processor will collect the registration fee, VLT and gross weight fee (WGT), when applicable:

1. When registering a commercial trailer that has a declared gross weight of less than 10,001 pounds. (Commercial Annual), the registration fee is $8, VLT varies and WGT are as applicable.

2. When registering a trailer that has a declared gross weight that exceeds 10,000 pounds. (Commercial Permanent), the fees are:

1. On initial registration, a one-time registration fee of $245 and VLT is $555.

2. On renewal of registration or when previously registered in another state:

1. When the model year is less than 6 years old, a one-time registration fee of $145 and VLT is $355.

2. When the model year is at least 6 years old, a one-time registration fee of $95 and VLT is $100.

3. WGT depends on the declared gross weight and usage (Commercial or Non-commercial) see the Trailer Registration Guide and training material as guidance.

19. When registering a non-commercial permanent trailer that has a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less and is not a travel or tent trailer, the fees are:

1. On initial registration, a one-time registration fee of $20 and VLT is $105.

2. On renewal of registration, a one-time fee of $5 and VLT is $70.

3. The transfer fee for a non-commercial permanent trailer that has a declared gross weight of 10,000 pounds. or less and is not a travel or tent trailer, is $12 and VLT varies.

20. The Trailer plate may be issued to the following vehicles:

1. Travel Trailers

2. Tent Trailers

3. Non-commercial trailers (boat, box, motorcycle, horse, etc.)

4. Commercial trailers (semi or any other trailer that is used commercially).

21. The Trailer plate is not available with the International Symbol of Access (é)

22. The Trailer plate may be personalized, see Policy 8.16.12 Personalized License Plate.

1. A personalized plate fee of $25 is required.

2. See Postage and Handling Fees Chart for information on postage and handling.