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Registering a New Trailer

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  1. A Manufacturer Certificate of Origin (MCO) or Manufacturer Statement of Origin (MSO) that is signed and notarized by the dealer is required if registering your trailer for the first time.  If the document is not notarized, you must provide a notarized bill of sale executed by the dealer.  The MCO or MSO will also validate the weight of the trailer.  If we are unable to determine a weight, you will need to have your trailer weighed at an official weigh station.

    Note:  A printout of the trailer manufacturer’s warranty registration from their website is not sufficient.  

  2. Homemade Trailer - that has not been registered in the State of Hawaiʻi, must be weighed at an official weigh station.

  3. Safety Check Inspection - An M.S.O/M.C.O and/or weight slip is needed for the safety check inspection.   Since you are unable to provide a current registration, the safety inspector will fail the trailer for registration, present this certificate to the VRL Clerk.   We are unable to register the trailer if it fails for any other reason.  

    If this is a homemade trailer,     you will need to make an appointment with a Motor Vehicle Control Inspector for a pre-inspection of your trailer.  If the trailer passes this pre-inspection, the inspector will assign a vehicle identification number.  You may then take the trailer to an official safety check inspection site to obtain a safety inspection certificate failed for registration.

  4. Take all documents to the Vehicle Registration & Licensing office.  A registration form will be completed for your signature.   If all paperwork is in order, a registration and license plate will be issued to you.

  5. Once you get the get the registration and license plate from the Vehicle Registration & Licensing office, return to the safety check inspection station, show the registration and they will finalized the safety check and affix the safety check sticker to your trailer.

  6. An appointment is required.  Please make your appointment first and then go through the safety inspection process.  A failed safety check inspection is valid for only 30 days.