How to Register a Boat Trailer in Texas
- 1). Assemble the paperwork for your boat trailer. You will need a Bill of Sale or some proof of ownership. If the boat trailer weighs less than 4,000 lbs., there is no title required in Texas. Refer to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles forms (see Resources). Form VTR-268 is for verification of ownership.
- 2). Have the boat trailer weighed if there is some doubt about weight in excess of 4,000 lbs. Get a signed receipt. This may save you another trip to the county assessor/ tax collector’s office.
- 3). Find out what county you are living in or where the boat trailer will be located. Locate the county seat or tax office from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (see Resources).
- 4). Call ahead and inquire about boat trailer registration with the county assessor/tax collector’s office. According to the Texas Office of the Comptroller website, the sales and use tax for a motor vehicle, including a boat trailer, is 6.25 percent. Texas does not require proof of insurance on a boat trailer.
- 5). Expect a notice to arrive the following year for any renewal or tax due the county. Once you have the registration completed, you are notified by mail and may be able to renew the registration online, depending upon which of the 254 Texas counties you reside in.