transporting a portable O gauge modular layout

I know we use a trailer slightly larger than what you mentioned. I think up until recently it was in a specific members' name.   

I think one of our members is an insurance broker. I'll see if he has any answers. It would apply to California. One thing I'm pretty sure applies everywhere is that the registration/title on the trailer has to have some permanent position. A P.O. box works for registrations in California, but for purposes of insurance, they required a "garage point" which I'm sure is the situation in other states as well. I'll see what I can find out at this end.

Look up Forum member Gilly@N&W and email him. He handles this for our group and will be able to advise you. BTW........we just sold our 7x14 trailer and bought an 8x24 one.

Peter

Our trailer(s) have all been registered to the club. In Virginia, as long as it is connected to my truck, it is covered by my insurance. To simplify registration, we have been purchasing permanent plates. We did discuss at length insuring the trailer and its contents.

Stored at a members home, IF the member claimed the contents as their personal property it is possible to buy a defined value rider to your homeowner policy. You'll have to have all of the receipts to establish value. AT BEST, you're talking the value of the material for the modular layout. Forget about the labor or sweat equity. Then there is depreciation that is going to drive the value to "zero" in 7-10 years. 

As for the trailer, it is "exposed". The best advise I can give you is to use the best locks you can afford, and store the trailer in the most secure location possible. 

Our club is incorporated as a non-profit (and we also have our 501(C)(3) designation).  The driving impetus for incorporation, which was felt unnecessary up to that point by the members, was the acquisition of two trailers which required titling and insurance.  Once we were incorporated, insurance (in the corporate name) was simple to obtain.  Although the membership is dispersed across multiple states, the club maintains a fixed address with our corporate registration.

So, if your club is not incorporated, you need to do that first to cover your trailer title and insurance.

Buy a Denver Boot or heavy chain & lock to tie the wheels together.

My brother caught a fake "repo man" cutting off the chain locks on his trailer in front of his shop.

The "repo man" was arrested by the local police for thief.

His trailer is covered under his pickup truck's Insurance Policy, but a guard dog and video cameras on dvr don't hurt.

First off, if you try to list the contents as your own property and its not, thats insurance fraud. End of all your coverage.

 Our club kept the club trailer at my property and moved it occasionally to local areas.  An INLAND MARINE rider covered everything. When preparing for an interstate trip, the agent was informed and one time riders (policy adjustments) were obtained. 

Denver boots, chains and locks all sound nice. Ever seen the Repo guys on tv collect boats and things. Not that hard to do.

You may find insuring trailer and contents rather cost prohibitive.  I know for our group, the cost of having insurance on the trailer and contents alone was going to be over $2000 annually.   That cost is derived from numerous factors such as where the trailer will be stored, how secure the area is that the trailer is stored in, how secure you make the trailer, how much you are insuring for, inside or outside storage, who owns the trailer, how the trailer is marked, who will be towing it and so on.  

As for the towing only, this varies dramatically from insurance carrier to insurance carrier so you really need to check with them before hooking up.  My carrier would cover trailer and contents as long as the trailer was hooked to my truck.  If the trailer was left on site and I was not hooked to the trailer, it was not covered.  If it was left on site and a stayed connected to the truck, then it was covered.  If I was in an accident for which I was at fault with the trailer, they would cover all cost however, if I were not at fault, they only covered the trailer.  I live in a no fault State.  Some of my comrades insurance would not cover any portion without taking out an additional policy or binder.  Since I tow trailers on the side for a little extra cash, I have all the coverage needed and it only added about an additional $250 per year to my policy.  Insurance companies and differing States have strange rules and regulations that need to be checked out very closely before hooking up to a trailer and taking off.  

what ever size, make it bigger! you will always be adding to the layout