Ideas wanted to get a boat trailer thru Customs

[Ken G Brown]

I`m very interested in an Allison in Washington State. The trailer was bought new in a state that didn`t need title on the trailer. It was then shipped to Washington State, fully inspected, and thus issued the necessary papers (decal) for insurance. The trailer doesn`t have a 17 digit VIN number so Customs (the border) won`t allow it into Canada. The RIV (Registar of Imported Vechicles) states that without this 17 dgit number there`s no possible entry. There`s no marking`s on the trailer to try to search out the original manufacturer. Has anyone else dealt with this frustrating dillema? Any ideas (legal) of course!!! Thanks Ken

[gregpro50]

I bought a boat in Michigan and I travelled through Canada to get it since it was a much shorter trip from here. After I got it I entered into Canada and then back into the US. Both of them just asked me if it was my boat and I said yes and they waved me on without even looking at any paperwork.

Your other option may be to have someone register it in the US as "homemade" just to get the proper paperwork and then sign it over to you.

[2 De River]

I bought a boat in Michigan and I travelled through Canada to get it since it was a much shorter trip from here. After I got it I entered into Canada and then back into the US. Both of them just asked me if it was my boat and I said yes and they waved me on without even looking at any paperwork.

Your other option may be to have someone register it in the US as "homemade" just to get the proper paperwork and then sign it over to you.

Maybe add the necessary # of 0's to the beginning of the s/n until you get a total of 17 numbers??? Might be an easy solution??? Good luck!

[BoatGoFaster1]

Who is the manufactuer of the trailer?

Then check out their web site or call them.


For example Shorelander

http://www.shorelandr.com/pages/o_e_tc_s_faq.aspx

What do I do if I need to replace a worn or faded VIN label?
Please fill out the Affidavit for Duplicate Serial Numbers form. Mail the form with the $10 payment and a copy of your proof of ownership to
Midwest Industries
Attn: Billing Department
102-122 E. Hwy 175
Ida Grove, IA 51445

Your bill of sale, registration or insurance documentation will work as proof of ownership.

[Ken G Brown]

There are No manufacturer markings anywhere on the trailer. Almost as if its a home built but very doubtful because its all aluminum even the I-Beam. Thanks for the ideas guys.

[whipper]

I like the re register it as a home built get inspected again and issued a 17 digit number.

[whipper]

I like the re register it as a home built get inspected again and issued a 17 digit number.

[whipper]

I like the re register it as a home built get inspected again and issued a 17 digit number.

[whipper]

I like the re register it as a home built get inspected again and issued a 17 digit number.

[Charger200]

Damn James You must be getting the "Old Timers" ya posted the same comment 4 times:p

[Bajaha]

Ken , i bought an HST last October in Wisconsin , there was no ownership for the trailer , but it had plates on it. When i crossed the border i had a bill of sale for the boat , motor( must be a seperate value) and the trailer.( VERY IMPORTANT)
I paid duty and taxes on all three , and they filled out a temporary transit form ,good i think for 60-90 days to drive the trailer in Canada. The customs people then told me to contact the state that the trailer was registerd in , and they could send me the ownership. ( seems like a lot of trouble)

They run into this all the time , trailers with no ownership coming into Canada.
And what they are concerned with is getting the duty and taxes paid.

Don't try and low ball them with false bills of sale , and make sure you have copies of the ad showing the price , and if you can some comparable boats.

Now i will go to the license office and get a plate for a homebuilt trailer.

[joe rockhead]

Bajaha is correct, I have brought a couple across the line, no Vin on trailer is a problem. Canadian Border Services will allow the boat & trailer to cross into Canada, next they will issue you a compliance notice. When you go and have the trailer inspected here at home it will not pass compliance with out a Vin. & CBS will instruct you to export the trailer from Can.

good luck:iagree:

[Riverman]

The sticker on my trailer was illegible but I had a title with a four digit VIN. That and a separate bill of sale for the trailer and all was well.

[Bajaha]

There is an age cut off for the inspection requirerment . My trailer and boat were both 1990 and were exempt from this inspection process.

Perhaps you can write up the bill of sale for the trailer as a 1990 , and avoid the inspection.

Also the customs people checked a list of states that didn't have ownership title requirements . The plate on the trailer ( North Dakota) wasn't one of these. Or the title would not have been required.

Also remember on the way down at U.S. customs , tell them you are going to buy a boat , and include that amount of money in the total you tell them.

Glen

[Water_Dog]

What I would do here in Ontario, go to the ministry of transportation, get a new ownership for a home built trailer, they will issue a number for it., get new plates for it, take those plates with you to get the boat, on the trip home tell the border gaurds you had to bring your own trailer to get the boat. Off you go. :thumbsup:

[XSive]

What I would do here in Ontario, go to the ministry of transportation, get a new ownership for a home built trailer, they will issue a number for it., get new plates for it, take those plates with you to get the boat, on the trip home tell the border gaurds you had to bring your own trailer to get the boat. Off you go. :thumbsup:


...And go directly to jail....:nonod:

Do you really think that they are that stupid that they don't know when you went down and whether or not a trailer with that plate went with you? What would your answer be... UUUHHH I had it in the trunk.

[Charger200]

:iagree: They just play stupid when the ask you on your way back into canada what day you entered the states. They photograph every vehicle. Why do you think you have to stop in the certain spot?

The crossing we go over regularily when we are down at christina lake is super small and arent set up for photo's But they aint stupid either, mind you they do have real ppl skills and can tell if you r tryn to pull a quick one on em

[Robby321]

Well, as live here, and got a trailer from Idaho, bill of sale, no vin, I had to simple take the trailer to the DMV Inspection place, hassle with the idiots, then they finally go out there with stamps and a hammer, and do the new VIN. Title came later in the mail. I don't care how ya look at it, but its just money they want off ya.

If its plated here in WA now, with no VIN, something is fishy. There is no way he could have got a WA plate

Its a hassle, but the only way to get away with it.

[Ken G Brown]

First off, I`m not going to do anything illegal. Robby321, he did all that in Washington State (hammer and stamps). Its apparently all legally titled but my problem is that it doesn`t have a 17 digit VIN number which is what the Canadian border services people want. My best option right now is hope that the trailer is 15 years old and maybe I won`t have to go thru all this hassle . Were the manufacturers building aluminum trailers 15 years ago? Thanks for all the ideas guys. Ken

[Robby321]

First off, I`m not going to do anything illegal. Robby321, he did all that in Washington State (hammer and stamps). Its apparently all legally titled but my problem is that it doesn`t have a 17 digit VIN number which is what the Canadian border services people want. My best option right now is hope that the trailer is 15 years old and maybe I won`t have to go thru all this hassle . Were the manufacturers building aluminum trailers 15 years ago? Thanks for all the ideas guys. Ken

Damn..this border stuff sucks...I even now, stuff I sell on Ebay, well, I QUIT doing Canada..sent some old Harley Enthusiast mags, from the 50's, up there..(BC..200 miles north).

A lope with 3 simple VERY thin mags. PO here took it no prob.
I get it back, something about customs, and fees? WTF?:reddevil:

Sold an old Honda BASKETCASE, Honda CT 70, 40 years old, JUST PARTS, but the frame went with it. Stamped. Dude drove 5 hours down to get it, and we did MUCH "Legalize", paperwork, me the sale", so he could get back over the border with it..INSANE

Anyway, if the trailer has no VIN on it, and it went through WA DMV? For plated here? Ya losing me here..as they are real pricks here..(I'm in Olympia, south Seattle.).

What the hell did they stamp the trailer with, as ya say, but nothing there now? Fill me in. If the title, which in WA, will fer sure have the VIN # on it.

Now, if it HAS A 17 #VIN...on the TITLE...(if here, the title will show it) just stamp the the trailer..up near the tongue, they use the same stamps bought anywhere, and forget about it..just carry the title.

If ya want, put me in touch with the seller..(but watch it:eek:"..I LIKE Allisons!:cool:)..but know cops here, maybe I can kelp..(pun intended..KELP, samo-samo help, but like "nautical jargon!):p:p

[mr fun]

:iagree::cheers::cool:

[Robby321]

:iagree::cheers::cool:

Got room?..Key West right now sounds damn good..(2 more years ..SS dough..need warm, and damn near naked string bikini woman!..summer here west coast, winter FLA..me and an old G/F..(now Ft Myers)..are doing the .."plan..!):eek::thumbsup::thumbsup::p:cheers:

[Ken G Brown]

Robby321, the trailer came from Alabama with no markings on it. (Apparently a no title trailer state) The new owner in Washington state had all the proper stampings done and it is legally roadworthy. The problem is it doesn`t have the (required in Canada) 17 digit Vin number. It reads WA plus 7 digits. How many digits do you have in your VIN? Is it 17? Thanks Ken

[81hydrostream]

I just sold one of my boats to a guy in Canada last summer this trailer issue was such a pain that the guy ended up just buying a trailer in Canada and not taking my trailer. We tried everything even changed the year of the trailer to a 1990 and customs was still giving him a hard. All because I did not have that 17 digit number. Also was told that the trailer must be on an approved list of manufacturers also. Good Luck

[Robby321]

Robby321, the trailer came from Alabama with no markings on it. (Apparently a no title trailer state) The new owner in Washington state had all the proper stampings done and it is legally roadworthy. The problem is it doesn`t have the (required in Canada) 17 digit Vin number. It reads WA plus 7 digits. How many digits do you have in your VIN? Is it 17? Thanks Ken

OK..(I ride Harleys with an Alabama boy here decades....good people..damn, they then..(long ago, or still?..NO TITLES)..HE had problems moving here, from the AL BS..on his Harley, through the DMV, to get a plate... AND, I had a 71 TransAm, PRISTINE, 400 motor, stolen, and even my INS agent..(friend)..said no need to wait a month, dough..one week, I was cut a check, said, Its already south, and sold, or chopped parts.

Best I can say, is IF the WA title, has a full digit VIN..just stamp it..if not..buy a damn trailer, cut a deal, and do a pick up.
World so fulla BS at times, I wanna get the hell out, with "stupid"...but its a round "Marble"..not Flat..so everywhere ya go, the "stupid," are in front ya.

[Robby321]

Robby321, the trailer came from Alabama with no markings on it. (Apparently a no title trailer state) The new owner in Washington state had all the proper stampings done and it is legally roadworthy. The problem is it doesn`t have the (required in Canada) 17 digit Vin number. It reads WA plus 7 digits. How many digits do you have in your VIN? Is it 17? Thanks Ken

I would have to go look outside at my..(5 ) trailers...and without looking, know damn well..7 digits, aint enough