I have a trailer, with plates that are about to expire next month. My question is, how do I get it registered under my name? The previous owner only gave me his old registration renewal receipt, and I do not know about the title. The trailer pulls just a 14' jon boat, and its not very heavy. How would I go about doing the transfer? Would DMV give me an earful for trying to register it under my name without some other paper work?

You will need a signed TX sales tax affidavit form and a Bill-Of-Sale. They should just transfer the ownership if you can supply them with the information.

You just need a bill-of-sale for the trailer...that will get it done.

Tell them it's a homemade trailer that's what I did on mine, then they will ask you how much weight it will hold find out how much your boat weighs and tell them a weight that will your trailer will hold.

Would I have to take the trailer with me to the tax office, if I was going to do it as homemade?

No, just tell them it is homemade and the capacity. The previous capacity should be on the tax paper's that he gave to you.

And it wont have a title to this right?

No title...but you really don't need one....they will register it and give you new plates...however they will only be able to look it up by the plate number unless you give them a serial number....I made my serial number match my Driver's license incase the plates come off...or get jacked at the boat ramp

Most of them require a couple of picture of the trailer to accompany the paperwork.

Don't worry about not getting a title from the seller. Texas does not title trailers with capacity less than 4001 lbs, per the Harris Co TaxOffice website.

Tell them you want tag for a small shop built boat trailer aprox. weight 500 lbs. and gross weight of 1000 lbs. (some thing of this nature) they will sell you a tag.