Do I need a special bill of sale for a junk trailer in Illinois?
Illinois requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk trailer may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Junk vehicle bill of sale
Selling a junk trailer in Illinois? Junk or scrap vehicle sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a junk trailer through a private party sale in Illinois, a bill of sale protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction details and the vehicle's condition at the time of sale.
Illinois issues a Junking Certificate through the Secretary of State for vehicles designated as junk. The title must be surrendered and the vehicle cannot be re-titled once the Junking Certificate is issued.
Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/3-117.1 requires disclosure of a junk designation. The bill of sale must state the vehicle is sold for scrap or parts only.
An Illinois vehicle with a Junking Certificate is permanently ineligible for registration. It can only be scrapped or used for parts.
In Illinois, the title transfer fee is $150 and registration costs $151 per year. Trailer sales are subject to 6.25% state tax on private sales; local taxes may add 1-4%. Illinois does not require notarization for private-party trailer transfers. Emission testing is required in Illinois — verify the trailer passes before completing the sale.
Illinois has a 6.25% state sales tax rate. 6.25% state plus 1–4% local taxes. Private-party trailer sales in Illinois are subject to sales tax. Private vehicle use tax applies based on purchase price bracket. The title transfer fee is $150.
The most common trailer makes in private-party sales are Big Tex, PJ Trailers, Carry-On, Sure-Trac, Load Trail. Average private-party trailer prices range from $1,500–$15,000. Trailers average 1.5 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Tires, Electrical (lighting), Axle/Suspension.
Before completing a trailer bill of sale in Illinois, verify these safety items:
Trailer insurance is optional in most states unless financed. Physical damage coverage is $100–$300/year. Utility trailers hold value exceptionally well — quality steel trailers retain 70–80% of value over 10 years. Peak season for private trailer sales is spring through early summer when landscaping and construction picks up, with an average of 14 days on market.
Trailers are classified as "Utility trailer (weight-class dependent)" for registration purposes. Trailers under 3,000 lbs may not require registration in some states. Over 3,000 lbs requires title and registration in most states. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to trailers.
Trailer title requirements vary significantly by state. Many states do not title trailers under a certain weight (commonly 1,500 to 3,000 lbs). A bill of sale may be the only transfer document for lightweight trailers. States that title trailers issue a certificate of title similar to a vehicle. States that do not title lightweight trailers may only require a registration card. Check your state threshold before assuming a title exists.
When selling a trailer in Illinois, the following disclosures apply:
BillOfSaleNow has generated 3,087 bill of sale documents for Illinois transactions, with 83 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Generate a Illinois trailer bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Illinois Trailer Bill of SaleIllinois requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A junk trailer may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Include buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers (VIN, year, make, model), sale price, date, signatures, and a clear description of the vehicle condition as junk.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Illinois. For junk vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
Illinois charges a $150 title transfer fee. Registration costs $151 per year. Sales tax: 6.25% state tax on private sales; local taxes may add 1-4%. Notarization is not required.
Average private-party trailer prices range from $1,500–$15,000. Junk vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are Big Tex, PJ Trailers, Carry-On, Sure-Trac, Load Trail.
Inspect hitch coupler and safety chains for wear and proper rating Check all lighting connections — trailer lights are the #1 reason for roadside stops
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA