Trailer Inspection by the State???

I've been out of state for six years, recently moved back. I went to get my trailer license plates and was told I had to get the trailer inspected. Anybody got the truth on this? I have a dual axle trailer (Ranger)....is the state finding new ways to take money from the public?

Help?

Weird, I registered mine this year and wasn't told to have it inspected. I think there is a capacity threshold that requires the inspection. Not sure what that is not though, shouldn't be a boat trailer though

if the total weight is 4500lbs or over then you have to inspect it.

Total weight of the trailer or weight carrying capacity? Boat trailers don't come close to 4,500 pounds.

Capacity, over 4000 pounds, and what's really BS is they round up. At least the office in The Woodlands does as I went through this yesterday. I was told if it's 3920 they roundup to 4000 requiring an inspection. It's not a new law, they just can track it now and before could not. Started a year or two ago.

Did they ask you what the capacity was or did you have it in print somewhere?

In print, I asked to see where it states they round up but you can't argue with these people. I've had a lot of trailers the last ten years and it's a pain here in Texas. Just a revenue scam, the inspection is a joke. I have a large 5th wheel and it's a major pain to get it in and out of a place that does Inspections. Bought it brand new out of state and had to get it inspected before they'd give me tags. If it requires an inspection (4000 pounds) they want a title or a certificate of origin also.

According to TxDMV a trailer that has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating, boat and trailer weight in this instance, is required to be inspected. This is not a new law but just recently being enforced. There should be, on your trailer, a plate that is placed by manufacturer as to what your GVWR is rated. Mine is located on the tongue of the trailer on the driver side.

Sorry I left out what the law says, which is 4500 lbs.

Just did mine for the 2nd time.......18ft Triton on a dual axle trailer. But since I opted to be safer with a dual axle, it kicked the GVWR up about 1500 lbs......It's a simple inspection......they only check the lights.....

I just told the clerk at the DMV office that my boat fell under the minimum weight and she removed it from the inspection list. I think all counties probably vary a little in how they interpret the law. They were also going to require inspection on my farm trailers too until I showed them that they are registered as farm trailers which exempts them from inspection. It's a hassle for sure.

I'd try to make this point. I did the same and she keyed in my boat weight ( tandem trailer) about 1500lbs.

Looks like over 4500 requires an inspection, over 4000 requires a title or certificate of origin

If your manufactured trailer's gross weight exceeds 4,000 lbs., it must be titled. Submit the following documents to your county tax assessor-collector office:


Evidence of ownership:
New trailer: Manufacturer Certificate of Origin*, or
Used trailer over 4,000 lbs. gross weight: Certificate of Title, or
Used trailer less than or equal to 4,000 lbs. gross weight: Bill of Sale + Registration Receipt
A completed Form 130-U,

Trailers with a gross weight exceeding 4,500 lbs. must pass an annual safety inspection.

In some cases, you may be asked to provide additional information such as:

Weight Certificate, and/or
Photograph of trailer.
For information about all required documentation and fees, contact your county tax assessor-collector office.

Look at your trailer data tag and find the capacity rating. Add that to the actual trailer weight and you have the number. If it's 4500 or below no inspection is needed. It has nothing to do with weight of the boat. Now that being said the trailer capacity can be whatever you want just so long as it doesn't exceed trailers rated capacity. My total boat and trailer weighs around 3500lbs but DMV had it listed as 4500+lbs(don't remember the exact number) so I just changed it when I went to get my tags last year. I adjusted my gross total to 4500lbs. Now they may require it for re-registering in Texas regardless of weight for verification but I don't know, just throwing that out there.