Every trailer you plan to tow on an Indiana public road has to be titled and registered through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Indiana trailer registration involves getting a certificate of title first, then paying a weight-based registration fee (as low as $16.75 for the lightest trailers) plus a small annual excise tax. The BMV issues a plate that goes on the rear of the trailer and a registration certificate you keep with the trailer or the tow vehicle.
Which Trailers Have to Be Registered
Indiana law is direct: if the trailer will be towed on a public highway, it needs to be registered and display proof of registration.1Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 18.1, Chapter 2, Section 9-18.1-2-3 – Registration Required for Operation on Highway That covers utility trailers, boat trailers, enclosed cargo trailers, and flatbeds. You also need a certificate of title in your name before you can register.2Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 17, Chapter 2, Section 9-17-2-1 – Vehicles Requiring Certificates of Title
A few trailers are exempt. Indiana lists specific categories that don’t need registration, including farm trailers used exclusively for agricultural purposes.3Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 18.1, Chapter 2, Section 9-18.1-2-2 – Vehicles Not Required to Be Registered The BMV treats standard trailers and farm trailers as separate registration categories.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Title and Registration Application Checklist A trailer that stays on private property and never touches a public road doesn’t need to be registered at all.
How to Title and Register a Trailer
Registration works in two stages. First the title, then the plate.
To apply for a certificate of title, bring your supporting documents: a bill of sale or a manufacturer’s certificate of origin, plus the title application (State Form 205). If you bought the trailer from an Indiana dealer, most of the paperwork will already be in hand. For out-of-state purchases, the BMV requires a physical inspection on State Form 39530 to confirm the VIN matches the title documents.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Title and Registration Application Checklist
You can submit the application in person at any BMV full or partial service provider, or by mail to the BMV Central Office in Indianapolis or the Winchester Processing Center.4Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Title and Registration Application Checklist The title itself costs $15.5IN.gov. BMV Fee Chart Once the title is processed, you pay the registration fee and excise tax and the BMV issues your plate and registration certificate. The plate mounts on the rear of the trailer.
Homemade or Privately Assembled Trailers
Built the trailer yourself? There’s an extra step, and it’s the one people trip over. A privately assembled trailer needs a state-issued identification number before you can title or register it. You submit an Application for Special Identification Number (State Form 12907) to the BMV Central Office, together with a Trailer Ownership Affidavit listing every part used to build the trailer.6IN.gov. Trailer Ownership Affidavit You cannot walk into a branch and register a homemade trailer the same day. Central Office has to assign the VIN first, and that takes processing time. Plan ahead.
Fees and Excise Tax
Registration fees scale with the trailer’s declared gross weight. The cost is also cut roughly in half if you register after July 31, which prorates the fee for the shorter remaining year. Under the statutory fee schedule:7Justia Law. Indiana Code 9-29-5-4 – Registration of Trailer Used With a Motor Vehicle
- Up to 3,000 lbs: $16.75 before August 1; $11.25 after July 31
- 3,001–5,000 lbs: $25.75 / $15.75
- 5,001–7,000 lbs: $31.75 / $18.75
- 7,001–9,000 lbs: $36.75 / $21.25
- 9,001–12,000 lbs: $79.75 / $42.75
- 12,001–16,000 lbs: $119.75 / $62.75
- 16,001–22,000 lbs: $179.75 / $92.75
- Over 22,000 lbs: $239.75 / $122.75
On top of that, Indiana charges a vehicle excise tax. Trailers with a declared gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less pay a flat $8 per year.8Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 6, Article 6, Chapter 5, Section 6-6-5-3.5 – Trailer Registration Weight Fees Heavier trailers may be assessed differently. Combined with the $15 title fee, a typical small utility trailer runs about $40 the first year and roughly $25 at each renewal.
Renewal and Late Penalties
You have to renew before the expiration date on your registration. Renewal is available online, at a BMV Connect kiosk, or at a branch. Miss the deadline and the BMV adds a $15 administrative penalty.9IN.gov. Will I Have to Pay Extra if I Don’t Renew My Plates on Time? One useful detail if you renew by mail: an envelope postmarked by the expiration date avoids the late fee even if the BMV receives it afterward.
Operating an unregistered trailer is the bigger problem. Indiana treats failure to register a vehicle that should be registered as a Class C infraction, carrying a fine of up to $500.10Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 18.1, Chapter 2, Section 9-18.1-2-11 – Failure to Register Violation A stop for the plate can also surface expired insurance or equipment issues, and the ticket grows from there.
Temporary Permits
If you need to move a trailer on the road before permanent registration is finished, Indiana issues a temporary registration permit valid for 30 days. It covers situations like driving a newly purchased trailer home or moving one across state lines.11Justia Law. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 18, Chapter 7 – Temporary Registration and Trip Permits It doesn’t replace full registration; it just buys time.
Buying or Selling: Transferring the Title
When a trailer changes hands, the seller has to endorse and assign the certificate of title to the buyer, including a statement of any liens.12Justia Law. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 17, Chapter 3 – Expiration, Replacement, and Transfer of Certificates of Title The seller also fills in the buyer’s name, address, and sale price on the title. Unless the buyer is a licensed dealer, both sides have to complete their part of the paperwork.
As the buyer, apply for the new title promptly. You’ll need the assigned title, a bill of sale, and the $15 title fee.5IN.gov. BMV Fee Chart If transfer drags on and the seller picks up parking tickets or toll charges while the trailer is still titled in their name, untangling responsibility gets messy fast. You also have to register the trailer in your name before towing it on public roads.
Insurance
Indiana does not require a separate insurance policy on the trailer. State law requires financial responsibility on the motor vehicle operated on public highways, and that coverage extends to whatever the vehicle is towing.13Indiana General Assembly. Indiana Code Title 9, Article 25, Chapter 4, Section 9-25-4-1 – Financial Responsibility Required The tow vehicle’s liability policy handles bodily injury and property damage claims involving the trailer.
What liability won’t do is pay to repair or replace the trailer itself after damage, theft, or storm loss. For a trailer worth protecting, comprehensive and collision coverage is a separate add-on through your insurer. And if you use the trailer for work, look closely at your personal auto policy: many standard policies exclude commercial use, creating a gap exactly when you’re hauling for business.