Did your camper’s title get stolen or damaged? What if there’s a camper that you actually love but has no title?
The good news is that you can follow several steps to get a new title for a camper that doesn’t have one, whether you’re trying to sell it, buy it, or even establish your ownership of it. Keep on reading to learn how to get a title for a camper.
Why Do You Need a Title for a Camper?
Without a title, your camper still belongs to the previous owner, even if you’ve paid for it in full. This means that the previous owner can accuse you of stealing the vehicle. Moreover, if you’re trying to get RV insurance, you will have to prove your ownership using the title. If you’re trying to sell your camper, a title will make the sale process more accessible.
Locating an old title might be tricky. But if you can’t hire a lawyer to track your old title by checking with the DMV and tax offices, you can apply for a new title to claim your ownership of the camper.
How to Get a Title for a Camper Without Title
When you’re shopping for a new camper, you’re always considering its amenities and might forget about asking about the title’s existence. But if there’s no title, this doesn’t mean that you need to consider another camper.
The same happens if you need to sell your camper, only to find out that your title has been lost, damaged, or misplaced. Regardless of the situation, you can follow a few steps to get a new title from the DMV.
Get a Title Application From the DMV Website or Your Local Office
Getting the title application is a straightforward task, as the DMV’s website is optimized to help users get all the information they need on the spot. The application form differs from one state to another. Different states will also have various requirements regarding the documents you need to present.
Fill in The Required Information
Once you’ve got the application form or had it printed out, you need to fill in a list of relevant information to be able to get a title for your camper. While filling in the information, you can ask an officer for help. You might also leave some boxes blank if you’re not sure about the data to fill. This is the data you might need to provide.
- Your vehicle’s year, make, license plate number, and mileage.
- Vehicle Identification Number or VIN.
- All your personal information, including your name, date of birth, address, driver’s license number, social security number, and employee identification number.
- Vehicle specifications. You might need to have your camper weighed to verify the gross vehicle weight rating or GVWR if you’re buying a used vehicle because the DMV might want to confirm that the previous owner didn’t make any significant modifications that changed the weight of the vehicle.
If you’re unsure how or where to get your camper weighed, you can ask for help at the local DMV office. In most cases, you can have your camper weighed at high weigh stations.
- Lien information if applicable in your situation.
- Your camper’s current tax status.
- Notary stamp if required by your local DMV.
- Transfer on death beneficiary if applicable.
- Your name and signature. You should also add the appropriate date before sending your application or handing it in person at the local DMV office.
Get All the Necessary Documents
These include your driver’s license, the proof of lien status, bill of sale, certificate of origin from the manufacturer, and bill of inspection. Some of these documents are easier to obtain than others, but if you face any issues, you should ask an officer for help.
A bill of sale would be easy to get if you already have the original title because the DMV can easily change the owner’s information. However, if you’ve lost the title or it is nowhere to be found, you can get a certificate of origin from the camper’s manufacturer.
A bill of sale is a legal document that verifies the legal sale of the camper from one party or person to another in exchange for financial compensation. The buyer and seller should keep a copy of this bill for future legal transactions. You can easily create your own by including the following information.
- Date of sale.
- Price.
- Vehicle Identification Number or VIN.
- Personal and contact information of the buyer and seller, in addition to their signatures in front of third-party witnesses.
- Previous tax status of the camper.
A certificate of origin from the manufacturer is another legal document that includes all the specifications of the vehicle. When you buy a new camper, the dealership automatically sends a copy of these specifications to the DMV. However, if you’re buying a used camper, you need to get the necessary data from the manufacturer.
There are different pieces of information that need to be included in the certificate of origin. These include the VIN, year, make, model, description, and current odometer reading. You can also try to locate the dealership that sold the vehicle to get an original copy of the certificate of origin.
Your camper should also be inspected with the Department of Transportation. The certificate of inspection is issued to make sure that the vehicle meets the state’s safety standards. This document should verify the following data.
- Tires and brakes are in good shape
- Side and rear reflectors are not damaged
- Headlights and taillights are working properly
- License plates are visible and easy to read
Pay All the Application Fees
Completing these steps takes time, so it’s best to check the website and gather all the needed information before actually starting filling in your application form. Once completed, you can check the website or ask your local DMV office about the fees. The fees will differ based on your vehicle’s information.
Deliver Your Application Form
Paying the fees is the last step. You can ask an officer at your local DMV office to inspect your application form to see if something is missing.
Once you’re sure that you have all the needed documents and data, you can either hand in the application or mail it.
What If I Built My Camper?
Sometimes people build their own campers by heavily modifying old vans or buses to make them more suitable for their current situation. However, in this case, you won’t be able to obtain a bill of sale or certificate of origin from the manufacturer.
In this situation, you can apply for a “Scrap Title” from your local DMV. This is a title given to owners of vehicles that didn’t previously exist and will allow you to get a new VIN for your camper.
Wrap Up
Getting a title for a camper without one isn’t a challenging task, as long as you follow the right steps. You shouldn’t ignore getting a title for your camper as it’s the legal proof of your ownership and guarantees that you won’t get into trouble. So, head today to your local DMV office or check the website, and you’ll find all the information you need to get a new title.