I just went thru this with a trailer I bought. The first owner bought the trailer from the manufacturer and never registered it. Two years later he sells it to me, I knew that would be a problem so I made him go to the DMV with me.
He had to register the trailer in his name and get a title issued to him and then transfer that title to me. The kicker.....The state of Arizona made him pay the new owner tax as if he just bought it new.
Then I bought it from him used and they transferred the title into my name.
Someone is going to want that state tax that was never paid.
He wanted me to take the MSO to the DMV and register it in my name, but that is not possible because the MSO was made out to him....He wasnt the brightest bulb in the box.
****Every state will have their own rules.