FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’S)

Q: Does a trailer require a license?
A: Yes, in Colorado, and most surrounding states, it does.

Q: How much do the license and registration cost?

• Colorado Residents
A: It depends on your county, but in Colorado, a good “ballpark” figure for fees excluding tax (2.9%) would be around $160, which includes notary, registration, license plate, and title fee.

• Out of State Residents
A: Call your DMV. The only cost you will incur during pickup is a temporary tag, the rest would be paid to your home state when you register the trailer (within 60 days).

Q: How much weight can I tow?
A: Depends. We have provided links to PDFs which can answer your question depending on the year of your vehicle.

Q: Do you offer financing?
A: Yes, we have a partnership with Sheffield Financial and have an online application on our Financing Page.

Q: Can I get a “Farm Exemption” on sales tax?
A: Generally not. If you plan to tow the trailer behind a registered farm vehicle only and therefore do not require a registration plate on the trailer, then you may be tax exempt. All other uses, including farm use, which require a registration plate on the trailer, are taxable.

Q: Does my trailer need an annual motor vehicle inspection sticker? (CO Residents)
A: If the GVWR is over 3000#, yes, it would need an annual inspection. Most single axle trailers built are “de-rated” to 2990# even though they have a 3500# axle to avoid needing brakes and an annual inspection. If you buy a single axle trailer with brakes (rare), you would have a choice of 2990 or 3500# GVW. A trailer inspection can be performed by most any auto inspection shop. However, trailers over 10,000# GVW are to be inspected only by a “Code 3” qualified heavy truck/heavy trailer (10,000#+) mechanic.

Q: Do you charge Doc/Prep fees?
A: No, we have never charged either of the fees. Most dealers pass along “doc” or “prep” fees from $50-$200+. Our opinion is the trailer needs to come with both of those items before it can go out the door, making them mandatory items.

Q: I’m from out-of-state, how do I get the trailer home/registered?
A: A 60-day temporary tag will allow you to get the trailer home and give you a window of time to get a tag from your DMV. You will be provided with an “MSO” (new trailers) or title (used or previously titled trailers) and Bill of Sale, which is what your DMV will be looking for to get the trailer registered. DO NOT LOSE THIS PAPERWORK AS IT IS YOUR LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF THE TRAILER PRIOR TO TITLING THE TRAILER.

Q: What is the difference between GVWR and Payload?
A: GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is the total weight capacity of the trailer, including the actual weight of the trailer and its max payload. Payload is the amount of weight that can be carried on the trailer — calculated by GVWR less the actual weight of the empty trailer.

Q: Can I pick up my trailer at the plant?
A: Generally speaking, no.

Q: Can you do a Maine tag?
A: Colorado’s registration costs are reasonable, so this is normally a question from out-of-staters with higher registration costs. The answer is “no”. We’d recommend checking into the legality of doing so before proceeding.

Q: Does the trailer I’m buying require a CDL?
A: Here is a flowchart from the Colorado State Police on who needs a CDL and when:

In most instances, no. Under a 10,000# GVW is almost always “no” unless being pulled by a 4500+ series truck. If using a trailer over 10,000#, the vehicle pulling the trailer is to be registered in combination. If the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating = sum of truck and trailer’s individual GVWR’s) exceeds 26,000#, you would need a CDL. If under 26,000#, you would not.

Most customers get caught up on this line of the CDL fact sheet, “a) a combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds” and ASSUME all trailers over 10,000# require a CDL, which is often wrong.