Buying a Used Trailer in California for Reno and Burning Man

[BurnerRV]

Hi, I'm planning on buying an used travel trailer in California as a non-US citizen.

I have one in sight but I'm not really familiar with how to check the condition of an RV. The seller sent me some pictures, I would appreciate if you guys could help me out and evaluate if it's a good choice or if I better look out for sth. else.
https://www.rvtrader.com/.../2018-KEYSTONE-HIDEOUT++LHS...

Also could you give me some advise on how to register the RV and if insurance is necessary. My plan is to rent a truck and drive it to Reno. I'm gonna use it once a year for Burning Man and want to park it somewhere close Reno for the rest of the year. Does it make sense to register the trailer in California or are there states that make it easier/ cheaper? It's a private seller.

Furthermore I was planning to replace the toilet with a composting toilet and connect the black with greywater tank using this method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1dXcBchbuQ
Will this work with that specific trailer?

I've checked following post but the link there doesn't work and the post seems pretty old.

Buying a used RV in the USA

If you plan to come to the USA and buy a used RV, we have some guidelines in our forum library that might help. Click the Library button in the toolbar above, then click Visitors to the USA and select Buying a used RV in USA. Here's a direct link to the article. *

www.rvforum.net

Thankful for any advise you guys can give me.

 

[Tom]

Apologies for the old link. That article and several related/newer ones were moved to our Resources area (see the Resources link above). The specific article you referenced is now here: Guide for buying an RV in the USA

Buying in California will incur sales tax and likely higher registration and insurance costs.

 

[Tom]

This is an extensive guide for visitors planning to buy/use an RV:
Info for UK Residents wanting to RV in the US

 

[BurnerRV]

Thank you Tom. If someone can have a look at the pictures of the RV and give an opinion would be great

I think registering it in Nevada is the best option. Could I buy it in California and just take it to Nevada to register it there or is there anything I have to take care of?

 

[Tom]

Thank you Tom. If someone can have a look at the pictures of the RV and give an opinion would be great

Hopefully, some of our members will comment.

Could I buy it in California and just take it to Nevada to register it there or is there anything I have to take care of?

Since you're buying from a private party, it's your responsibility to take care of any sales/use tax (normally, when/where you register the RV). Here's a CA web page explaining the situation you asked about.

 

[Kirk]

I think registering it in Nevada is the best option.

In the US, you must register any vehicle in the state where it is kept when not traveling, so Nevada is the right place to register it. The catch is that you also must have an address that is legally acceptable to that state's government in that state to be able to register the vehicle. Insurance isn't required but if you have no insurance and it should be stolen or destroyed, you get nothing.

 

[Tom]

Adding to KIrk's comment, many non-residents form an LLC to provide a legal address/entity acceptable for registration.

 

[DonTom]

Buying in California will incur sales tax and likely higher registration and insurance costs.

Probably not.

CA Sales Tax : 7.25%

NV Sales Tax:6.85%

But:

NV State Sales Tax plus Reno Sales tax: 8.265%

Either state can have local taxes added to the state tax, so the actual rate varies from one area to another. CA can be cheaper than NV in many cases. Or vice versa.

For vehicle registrations:

CA Average Total: ~$600–$700

NV Average total: Average Total: ~$500–$600+

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

Could I buy it in California and just take it to Nevada to register it there or is there anything I have to take care of?

You will have to take it to Carson City DMV first for them to verify the VIN number (and they really do find several errors). They do that part outside, no appointment necessary, just drive up.

From there, I am not sure. They recently changed the rules where appointments are usually needed to take care of things inside the building. But they should be able to give you the instructions at the outside vin verification area.

1. The VIN Inspection Requirement​

The Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires a physical inspection of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any vehicle being titled or registered in Nevada if it has been out of state.

• Who can do it: This inspection can be performed by a Nevada DMV employee, a licensed Nevada vehicle dealer, or a law enforcement officer.
• Cost: If done by a DMV employee or a participating dealer, there is typically no fee.

2. Where to Go in Carson City​

Carson City is unique because the DMV services are centralized there. You have two main options for the inspection:

• Option A: Bring it to the DMV Office (Recommended) You can bring the vehicle directly to the DMV office. An employee will inspect the VIN on-site while you process your registration.
  
  • Location: Nevada DMV Carson City, 101 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701.
  • Note: It is best to call ahead or check the website for current hours, as wait times can vary.
• Option B: Use a Licensed Dealer If you are purchasing the vehicle from a licensed Nevada dealer, they will handle the VIN inspection for you as part of the titling process.
• Option C: Law Enforcement Local law enforcement (like the Carson City Sheriff's Office) can perform the inspection, but you must contact them to see if they offer this service to the public and schedule a time.

3. Documents You Must Bring​

Before you go for the VIN check and registration, ensure you have:

• The original Out-of-State Title: Must be signed by the seller. If there is a lien, you may need the lienholder's information.
• Odometer Disclosure: Required if the vehicle is less than 10 years old (often part of the title).
• Proof of Identity: Driver's license or state ID.
• Proof of Insurance: Nevada requires proof of insurance before you can register.
• Vehicle History Report: Sometimes requested to verify the VIN matches records.
• Payment: Fees for title and registration (varies by vehicle value and weight).

4. Special Cases​

• Vehicles with Salvage Titles: If the out-of-state title is marked "Salvage," you may need a more rigorous inspection by the DMV or a state inspector before it can be registered as "Rebuilt."
• Vehicles Older than 25 Years: These may be exempt from certain emissions tests but still require the VIN inspection and standard titling.

Summary Checklist​

1. Get the title from the out-of-state seller.
2. Get insurance in your name.
3. Drive the vehicle to the Nevada DMV in Carson City (101 N. Carson St.).
4. Request a VIN Inspection from the clerk.
5. Pay fees and receive your NV plates and title.

 

[DonTom]

I'm gonna use it once a year for Burning Man and want to park it somewhere close Reno for the rest of the year.

What type of place are you looking for to store it all year in Reno?

Reno gets extremely cold during the winter (well below 0°C), so it will need to be well winterized.

It could make more sense to store it in CA, around 150 KM west or more from Reno where the weather rarely gets to freezing and then tow from there. I also own a home in Auburn, CA (160 KM west of Reno) where I keep both of my motorhomes and I have no need to winterize them.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[BurnerRV]

What type of place are you looking for to store it all year in Reno?

Reno gets extremely cold during the winter (well below 0°C), so it will need to be well winterized.

It could make more sense to store it in CA, around 150 KM west or more from Reno where the weather rarely gets to freezing and then tow from there. I also own a home in Auburn, CA (160 KM west of Reno) where I keep both of my motorhomes and I have no need to winterize them.

-Don- Reno, NV

Hi Don,

Thanks for explaining everything and making me aware of these points.

My plan is to buy a used travel trailer, most likely from a private seller. As far as I understand, I won't have to pay sales tax if I buy it from a private seller, is that correct?

Regarding the registration requirements, I assume a travel trailer doesn't have an odometer, and insurance isn't required either, right?

I also have a vehicle history report from VINData (through RV Trader). Is that generally considered a reliable source?
VINData Vehicle History

As for storage, I've looked at a few places but haven't contacted them yet. My plan is to buy a cover for the trailer and the tires, put the trailer on the stabilizer jacks, place plenty of DampRid inside, and store it for about a year.

I'm also hoping the storage facility will allow me to use their address to register the trailer.

The reason I was thinking about storing it somewhere around Reno is that it seems like the most convenient option. That way we wouldn't have to tow it every year from Los Angeles or somewhere else in California to Black Rock City, Nevada. We'd have the flexibility to fly into Reno, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, rent a truck there, and pick up the trailer in Reno (or somewhere nearby). That said, I'm completely open to other suggestions. If storing it somewhere else would significantly improve its condition, be safer, or make more financial sense, I wouldn't mind towing it each year instead. The same applies if storing it in California would be the better option overall.

I'm not too concerned about the trailer being stolen or broken into, since I don't think an older trailer worth around $15,000 would be a particularly attractive target. I'm also hoping to find a storage facility that's reasonably secure. However, if you think the risk is still significant, I would definitely consider getting insurance.

In the end, I'm simply trying to find the smartest solution from both a financial and a convenience standpoint for our particular use case.

We also have an LLC in Wyoming, although I'm not sure whether we'd be able to register the trailer there.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[DonTom]

As far as I understand, I won't have to pay sales tax if I buy it from a private seller, is that correct?

If you buy a used vehicle in CA from a private seller, you pay sales the sales tax when you go to register it. And even if they give it away free. The CA DMV will base the tax on the current value that they look up in some book.

Nevada has no sales tax on private vehicle sales (unless they have made a recent change here). I will check to see what AI says:

"No, Nevada does not impose sales tax on used vehicles purchased from a private seller.

• Private Party Exemption: Purchases from individuals (private parties) are exempt from state sales tax, provided the seller is not a licensed dealer.
• Dealer Purchases: If you buy from a dealership, you must pay the state sales tax, which ranges from 4.6% to 8.375% depending on the county.
• Required Fees: While sales tax is waived, you must still pay title transfer fees ($28.25), registration fees ($33), and license plate fees ($7.50) at the DMV."

Regarding the registration requirements, I assume a travel trailer doesn't have an odometer, and insurance isn't required either, right?

Yes and no:

Yes, the State of Nevada requires all travel trailers to be properly registered and titled before being operated on public roads. This requirement applies regardless of the trailer's size or weight.

Key details for registration include:

• Exemptions: Travel trailers are exempt from insurance, odometer disclosure, and smog/emissions checks, though gasoline-powered models must pass emissions in Clark and Washoe Counties.
• Fees: The base registration fee is $27, plus a Governmental Services Tax based on the trailer’s depreciated value.
• Duration: Registration can be purchased for one year or three years. Unlike smaller utility trailers, travel trailers are not eligible for permanent registration.
• Process: Registration cannot be done online and must be completed in person at a DMV office.
• Penalties: Operating an unregistered travel trailer can result in a traffic citation and the trailer may be impounded until properly registered.

No, Nevada state law does not require separate liability insurance for non-motorized travel trailers.

• Legal Requirement: Liability coverage for a towable is handled by the insurance policy of the vehicle towing it, not a standalone policy for the trailer.
• Recommendation: While not legally mandated, separate coverage is highly recommended because standard auto liability policies typically do not cover physical damage to the trailer itself (e.g., theft, fire, or weather damage).
• Financing Exception: If the trailer is financed or leased, the lender will likely require comprehensive and collision insurance regardless of state law.

-Don- Reno, NV
-

 

[Tom]

If you buy a used vehicle in CA from a private seller, you pay sales the sales tax when you go to register it.

Only if he registers it in California. See this CA web page. (scroll down to Purchases for Use Outside of California).

​

 

[DonTom]

Only if he registers it in California. See this CA web page.

Yes, I meant if it were registered in CA. NV is not going to collect money for CA.

But I should have been clearer and I should have said:

"If you buy a used vehicle in CA from a private seller, you pay sales the sales tax when you go to register it" in CA.


-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

I'm gonna use it once a year for Burning Man

I have always lived close to Burning Man, even when it started at Baker's Beach in San Francisco in 1986, before they were forced to move to the Black Rock Desert here in NV, just a few years later when it started to get very large.

I have always lived close to it, but I never went to it. And some are now travelling half way around the world to see it. And sure messes up the traffic here (as I am sure you know).

I was a lot closer to it when I lived in South San Francisco than I am to it now here in Reno.

I have been to Baker's Beach several times but not when the Burning man thing was going on. I just do not care for crowds of people.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Kirk]

You will have to take it to Carson City DMV first for them to verify the VIN number (and they really do find several errors).

You do not need to go to Carson City DMV. You can get a VIN inspection in Reno through several options, depending on your needs and whether you want it at a DMV office or another location.

You can get a VIN inspection in Reno through several options, depending on your needs and whether you want it at a DMV office or another location.

Nevada DMV Vin Stations (Appointment Required)
The most common place to get a VIN inspection is at a DMV Vin Station. In Reno, the Reno Emissions Lab Vin Station is located at 9155 Double Diamond Parkway, Reno, NV 89521.

Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles

Cost: Free at DMV offices or smog stations; third‑party agencies charge $25–$50, and mobile inspections are $50–$100
Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (Reno Area)

Service: In‑person inspection at the Sheriff’s facility, your residence, or the vehicle’s location.

Hours: Mon–Thu 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Washoe County Sheriff's Office

Contact: Call (775) 328‑3002 or use their online reporting system.

 

[DonTom]

In Reno, the Reno Emissions Lab Vin Station is located at 9155 Double Diamond Parkway, Reno, NV 89521.

I was just there a couple of weeks ago. After age 70, must renew driver's license in person at the NV DMV.

I didn't notice the VIN check places, but it's several very large parking lots. When I transferred my vehicles from CA, it was not then possible to have the VIN check at the Reno DMV. And wouldn't want to anyway.

The old Reno DMV was a disaster. Impossible to park for blocks, very small parking lot which was always full with people waiting--long waits! Much closer to here, but useless. I then went to CC or other DMVs anyway for any DMV business .

The new DMV at DD Parkway is a rather new building, and the old Reno DMV did NOT do VIN checks.

When the new Reno DMV first opened, it was great. Just walk in and 50 windows were then manned. Not sure what happened a few months after, but same building with perhaps 20 manned windows of the 50 and it is now by appointment ONLY. And we are no longer allowed to use the DMVs in the other NV counties.

But I did notice the free to use EV charge stations in the new Reno DMV parking lot. However, when I was there a coupe of weeks ago, it was broken.

It doesn't surprise me that the new Reno DMV now does the VIN checks, I just didn't notice it as I have never needed it since the new Reno DMV was built.

-Don- Reno, NV