We drove cross country to pickup our travel trailer, covering 3000 miles through seven states to bring it home. Being brand new to RVs we didn't think about getting a trip permit and we cannot register it until we get the title in the mail.
No official person seemed to bat an eye at our towing a plate-less, non-registered trailer. Plus we took it on another two-day trip into a neighboring state and still nothing. We were never pulled over.
[span style="font-size:10pt;"]I plan to get it registered, which in my state isn't cheap, when our title arrives, but am now wondering if any of you have ever been pulled over for not having plates or stickers or what-have-you on your trailers?
[/span]Thanks.
Nope, and we've played bit loose with the rules sometimes. We've had (or have) 6 trailers; 2 boat, 2 utility, 1 snowmobile, and the Camplite. At various times they have gone plateless or had plates from another trailer on them occasionally and we've never been stopped. The Camplite has it's very own plate because we'll be taking that across country. But, good to know from you that maybe other states don't care anyway!
Currently have 3 licensed trailers and have not had issues towing over 40 years with & without tags. When we purchased a boat in NY in 2012, got a temporary transport tag from NY DMV to get the boat home. You may be able to get a temporary tag from your local DMV until the title arrives. Call your local DMV & see what they say. They may have a grace period to allow time to get your title & license.
[quote source="/post/5745/thread" timestamp="1420056703" author="@brenda"][span style="font-size:10pt;"]... I plan to get it registered, which in my state isn't cheap, when our title arrives, but am now wondering if any of you have ever been pulled over for not having plates or stickers or what-have-you on your trailers?
[/span]Thanks.[/quote]We are in Wisconsin, where we bought and registered our 2010 Quicksilver 8.1. Wisconsin DMV says: [font color="#1685b7"]"A title and registration is not required for collapsible camping trailers at or less than 3,000 pounds gross weight unless they are used for hire or rental. Title and registration is encouraged for vehicles that will be used on roads outside the state of Wisconsin, as other states' registration laws may be different." [/font]We did register it since we would be traveling out of state, but we had to leave on our first extended road trip before the plate arrived. We had the temporary registration certificate with us, though, and it's a good thing we did because we were stopped in Montana by a sheriff's deputy who was very pleasant and even a little droll when he wondered if the plate had fallen off! :)) He accepted the temporary registration but ran a full wants and warrants check anyway, which made us a tad nervous. I think it's best to register it; then you don't have to worry.
Thanks for asking this question. I am ready to leave for Florida and the plate is still not here. I put my registration paperwork in the glove compartment of my Jeep GC, so I hope I am prepared.
Quick word to the wise.
In FL, not having a tag is a simple traffic violation. At worst, you get a ticket. Show up in court with the tag and most often charges are dismissed.
But having the wrong tag is "Tag Not Assigned" and is an arrestable misdemeanor.
IOW, in FL at least, better to have no tag, but the requisite paperwork (bill of sale, title, etc) than to throw on just any tag "for appearence's sake".
I bought my camplite in a different province in Canada than where I live and the dealer gave me a 30 days transit sticker so I had time to go to my province registration office to get my plates. I think all province here do that, anyway mine do it too.
I have a temporary plate which will expire while I am in Florida. I completed the paperwork in time for the plate to arrive. The title arrived, but no plate. Hubby will call me when the plate arrives in the mail.
[quote timestamp="1420133829" author="@leslie" source="/post/5764/thread"]I have a temporary plate which will expire while I am in Florida. I completed the paperwork in time for the plate to arrive. The title arrived, but no plate. Hubby will call me when the plate arrives in the mail.[/quote]here the plates are not mailed you go to the office with your title and they give it to you directly
It used to be that way in Indiana, where you paid the exorbitant annual excise tax, and walked out with a plate. A former governor, who shall remain nameless, "improved the Bureau of Motor Vehicles processes" by privatizing, and now everything - drivers licenses, titles, registrations, plates are mailed. What a pain. Employees in the BMV office only say this is an improved system.
[quote timestamp="1420142667" source="/post/5768/thread" author="@leslie"]It used to be that way in Indiana, where you paid the exorbitant annual excise tax, and walked out with a plate. A former governor, who shall remain nameless, "improved the Bureau of Motor Vehicles processes" by privatizing, and now everything - drivers licenses, titles, registrations, plates are mailed. What a pain. Employees in the BMV office only say this is an improved system.[/quote]here they mail the plate sticker annual sticker when you pay them online but you can get them at the office if you go there
In NY most of the dealers also issue plates and registrations. Typically you have everything you need before you even leave the lot.
In OR you get a temporary tag at the dealer. Good for like 60 days, and you don't have to do anything more but wait for the metal plates in the mail.
I have a QS 6.0 and just moved to TN. No registration or plate (or do you call it a "tag"?) is required. I specifically asked the worker about this and she confirmed it with her supervisor that nothing was needed. I moved from IN, however, where my QS was required to be registered and tagged. Best thing is to check your state regulations for the type of trailer that you have.
[p]I was ticketed in Minnesota, pulling a small camper behind my motorcycle. I was initially stopped for no plate on the trailer. I explained that Wisconsin didn't require a plate, the officer wouldn't believe me. After what seemed like an hour, he came back from his car and gave me a ticket for having an obstructed motorcycle license plate. The trailer was in the way. :([/p][p]
[/p][p]I promptly applied for a lost plate for the bike and attached it to the trailer. :)[/p][p]
[/p]
We recently went on a trip to NY from NC (without our camper), instead I was pulling a small trailer which I was going to use to transport a bike back home. No one blinked an eye at the trailer while we were traveling. However we did get stopped for an unrelated issue and the local officer asked about the trailer. Since it belonged to a buddy who lived in a state where trailers dont get plates thats what I told the officer. His words were "Well unfortunately up here we do" and then he went to run our information. I thought for sure he was going to give us trouble about it. It seems like such an easy target to hit an out of state visitor knowing that for the most part they will never contest the citation. He came back and said he wasnt doing anything about the trailer but still gave us a ticket for the other issue.
I'm not sure how other states can enforce tags or registration on trailers that are from out of state.
-Sean
Sunny Island RV put a permit tag on our trailer with an expiration date of early May. I got a Federal Express PKG two weeks later with what I thought was the title to the trailer. I took this to the GA TAG office in my county and paid the taxes on the trailer got a new GA license plate. The tag lady told me what I had was a certificate of origin with all the trailer info except the price. She asked me what I paid and I told her the exact number and she said OK. She did not need the invoice. I guess I looked honest which I was! She told me I would get a GA title in the mail in about two weeks, but I do have a GA tag now which makes me more comfortable than having the permit tag.
Where I live you are required to have trailers registered and to get them registered they must be safety inspected and insured. Its a bit of a catch-22 in that you need to get it to the inspection station before you register -- but you can't legally tow it to the inspection station without the registration. Of course everyone just tows to get the inspection without worrying too much about the registration. At least there is an excuse!
The bigger problem is how many people will drive without proper insurance. If you have an accident with no insurance on your trailer you can be up shit creek. [I note that between 1975-2012 in the USA there were 15,000 lives lost in towing related accidents. That number likely includes transport truck accidents. That said, towing accidents are far more common than most trailer owners realize and having proper insurance that covers your trailer is the responsible thing to do].
Quote from: @peislander" timestamp="1429663316" source="/post/9732/threadWhere I live you are required to have trailers registered and to get them registered they must be safety inspected and insured. Its a bit of a catch-22 in that you need to get it to the inspection station before you register -- but you can't legally tow it to the inspection station without the registration. Of course everyone just tows to get the inspection without worrying too much about the registration. At least there is an excuse!
The bigger problem is how many people will drive without proper insurance. If you have an accident with no insurance on your trailer you can be up shit creek. .
In my case I bought it in Quebec and they gave me a 30 days registration and there is no inspection in Quebec, but I had my insurance ready before I go pick it up. When I came back in NB I got the proper licence plate and they said I had 14 days to get it inspected which I did.
Quote from: @peislander" source="/post/9732/thread" timestamp="1429663316Where I live you are required to have trailers registered and to get them registered they must be safety inspected and insured. Its a bit of a catch-22 in that you need to get it to the inspection station before you register -- but you can't legally tow it to the inspection station without the registration. Of course everyone just tows to get the inspection without worrying too much about the registration. At least there is an excuse!
The bigger problem is how many people will drive without proper insurance. If you have an accident with no insurance on your trailer you can be up shit creek. .
In a lot of places the tow vehicles auto insurance covers liability for an accident with the trailer. You may be out a trailer, but at least you are covered from damages done to someone or something else. This may not apply to everyone either, so definitely check with your local laws...
I drove through 7 States as well 3 weeks ago after picking up my BC16FK in MN. Not one issue of not having a Plate on the Trailer, there was a 31 day temp Sticker in the rear side Window but it was so small you wouldn't be able to see it driving by.
I took the MSO and the Trailer to the local MVD when I arrived home the next day, everything all legal now.
My temporary tag was ok to go from Indiana to Wisconsin, but I got a plate at the DMV in WI even though I haven't left the state yet becaus I knew I'd need it later. Also, I travel alone sometimes and NEVER want anyone to have a reason to stop me to ask a question.