Free Texas Trailer Bill of Sale
Texas titles trailers through the TxDMV using Form 130-U (same as cars), but with different weight thresholds: trailers over 4,000 lbs need full titles, while lighter trailers are registration-only and change hands on a bill of sale plus the registration receipt. Unlike cars and motorcycles, trailer tax in Texas is on the actual sale price — no SPV rule.
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Texas Trailer Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Same 6.25% motor vehicle tax as cars; ask the county tax office whether SPV applies to your trailer.
Inspection Requirements
Since January 1, 2025, non-commercial trailers no longer need a safety inspection. Commercial trailers still do.
Texas Trailer Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Determine trailer gross weight (trailer weight plus what it can carry) — titles required over 4,000 lbs; registration-only for 4,000 lbs or less.
- Verify trailer VIN — usually stamped on the tongue or main frame rail.
- Complete bill of sale with VIN, length, type (utility/enclosed/flatbed/etc.), empty and gross weights, and sale price.
- No safety inspection is needed for a non-commercial trailer since January 1, 2025.
- Seller signs title over (if trailer titled); for 4,000 lbs-and-under units, seller provides the signed bill of sale and the registration receipt instead.
- Seller files Vehicle Transfer Notification online at txdmv.gov within 30 days.
- Buyer files Form 130-U at county tax office within 30 days, paying 6.25% MVST on sale price.
- Homemade (assembled) trailers: a new one needs Form VTR-141, and one without a VIN needs a law enforcement VIN inspection (Form VTR-68A); the county may ask for a weight certificate.
Common Pitfalls
- Mistaking a titled trailer for a registration-only trailer — over 4,000 lbs gross weight is the threshold, and misclassification causes title-transfer delays.
- Skipping Vehicle Transfer Notification on a trailer — tolls and weigh-station citations still accumulate against last registered owner.
- Assuming the tax is always on the price you paid — check with the county tax office whether SPV applies to your trailer.
- Selling a homemade trailer with no VIN — the buyer needs a law enforcement VIN inspection (Form VTR-68A) before it can be titled.
Pro Tip
One threshold defines Texas trailer sales: the 4,000 lb title line. Know your trailer's gross weight, file Vehicle Transfer Notification, and the 130-U (or a bill of sale plus registration receipt for light trailers) handles the rest.