Easy, Painless and Cheap way to Register your Trailer

[Dean in Ct.]

Got my plate and registration today! Very happy guy. $44 and 22 days to process it. Thank you state of Maine! Hope to get some more done this weekend if the weather is decent!
Dean in Ct.

[parnold]

That's probably more a question for the insurance company... if they want a reason to get out of paying, they will find it.

On a sad side note, I backed into a car (my daughter in laws brand new Rogue) with one of my trailers. I do not pay for trailer insurance. When I called the insurance company, they never asked if the trailer was registered (it is). They are paying for the damage to the other vehicle. I'll know in a month or so if this will affect my rates. This is the first time in fifteen years I've had a claim on my insurance that was my fault. I happen to have a "nice" insurance company. My trailer is covered by liability while attached to my vehicle, but this may not be true of all insurance companies. A call to your insurance company will tell you that, or if your in need of sleep you can try to read your policy .

What I found strange is that they asked about damage to my trailer? I broke a $10.00 light, which I told them.

[Oldragbaggers]

Sorry to hear about your accident Paul, but very happy that it all worked out for you. Does your nice insurance company have a lizard working for them?

[chiefjacknic]

Great tip, I plan on using this, can't take the NJ MV fees anymore. Great Tear design, ever think of making it an iron on for NJ tear jerkers? I'd like to make some iron on prints...... send you one free....

[parnold]

Jack:

Which design were you referring to? The NJ Chapter of Tearjerkers has a logo of the state, and of course their regular logo of the car/trailer. What type of iron on's do you do? I do Dye Sub, and I have a couple vinyl cutters so I do single color stuff with iron on media. Hotmark I think is the brand I usually get.

[TJinPgh]

Did it, done it and got the answers.

The 30 days null & void is only if you move from one state to another. The ME. registration is specifically for Non-Residents....I have verified this by both PA. State and Local Police.

Not saying you're wrong about this. Just curious, though... did you verify it with PennDot or the police?

PennDot has so many rules and regulations that the odds of the police, at any level, knowing them all is practically non-existent.

Heck, I had to go through multiple reps and a couple of managers from PennDot itself before I could get definitive answers on the last title issue I had.

I agree, ask questions...but ask the right people!

Call the Number! 1 207 624 9000, Ext. 52151

Happy Trails

Len

Agreed.

But, in this case, you may be better off calling the DMV in your respective state rather than Maine. They aren't likely to know all the state regulations either.

I lived next to a couple of independent truckers a while back. Certainly wasn't uncommon for them to have trailers with out of state registrations around.

The main difference, though, was that the trailers weren't theirs. They were owned by somebody else.

Out of curiosity, I did a search on the PA DMV website about what "vehicles" do NOT require a permanent, PA registration.

Here is what it says about trailers...
(Non-Relevant Parts deleted)

PA Code
Chapter 13
Registration of Vehicles

1302. Vehicles Exempt From Registration
(16) Any trailer registered in another state towed by a motor vehicle registered in this Commonwealth provided:
(i) the owner has as many trailers registered in this Commonwealth as combinations so registered; or
(ii) the towing vehicle is being operated under a permanent lease to a person meeting the requirements of subparagraph (i).

So, if I am reading this correctly, I would say that it "depends."

The truckers I knew fell into the 2nd category. Most of us would be provisional under the first, I would think.

I currently have ONE trailer titled and registered here in PA. As such, if I read this correctly, I would be allowed to register ONE trailer in Maine.

However, if I build a TD I have no plans on keeping my current trailer. I figured to sell it. Which means that I will likely be illegal at that point.

This is what I mean about it being virtually impossible to know all of the rules and regulations that a state like PA has.

Now, I will say that the odds of getting caught with that sort of violation may well be non-existent. I seriously doubt that any police officer at any level WOULD know you were in violation.

Still, if you're of mind to care about such things and like to do things "by the book," I'm still not convinced that everyone would be completely legal with this.

You may read it differently, though.

[olds-cool]

So, after reading through all of this thread, I have come to the conclusion that ME issues a registration but no title for our sub-3000lb trailers. In my opinion, that would classify them as a no title state, at least in this situation. Now let me tell you of an experience that I had with getting a title on a bike. Different vehicle but the process should be similar.
I bought a bike frame from a non-title state. The frame came with the last registration card. This was all PA needed to issue me a title. I went to the local notary and explained to her that the state I bought from does not do titles but from my research all PA needed was that last registration to transfer. She made a quick call to her DMV contact and 5 minutes later had a form filled out for me. Within a few weeks I had a title in my name for said bike frame. Again, I understand that we are talking about the difference of a motorized vehicle and a non-motorized but I would expect the process to be almost identical. I plan to go the Maine route and will likely be calling them this week to discuss the details. Len, I appreciate your efforts on helping us poor schmucks get on the road!

[TJinPgh]

I'm curious. When was it that you did that with the bike frame?

[len19070]

Please!

This thing works!

Even in Pennsylvania!

I wouldn't BS ya.

My son and I will be starting a new Trailer next week.

I will start a new thread documenting that and the process to get it registered.

It won't be long....we're very fast.

Happy Trails

Len

[TJinPgh]

I never said it didn't work. Nor did I suggest you were being anything less than honest.

What I posted there, though, is a direct quote from the PA DMV website. I, personally, don't know any other way to read that than to say that if you don't already have trailers registered (and titled) here in PA that this method won't make you legal in accordance with the law.

Do I believe you when you say that a state cop says you'd be fine? Sure. I doubt very seriously that they know. And, so long as the registration is correct they probably wouldn't have any need to look any further into it.

Being fine and being legal are two entirely different things.

It does seem, to me, that doing this is, indeed, an end run around the law here in PA. Legal for some. Not for others.

For you, if I would be correct in thinking that you already have some PA titled trailers, then this method is pretty much legit.

For me? If I decide to sell my existing trailer then it's not.

Like I said, I don't doubt anything you've said other than the legality part.

For me.. and this is just for me, I just don't know that it's worth the couple of bucks it costs to get a trailer titled and registered here in PA.

[len19070]

Len, I appreciate your efforts on helping us poor schmucks get on the road!

Your quite welcome.

Happy Trails

Len

[Oldragbaggers]

Oh, come on TJ...take a walk on the wild side!!!

Seriously though, if you're not comfortable with it, then just don't do it.

[len19070]

I've heard 4 different types of responses to this Post.

1. Thank You.....Your Welcome

2. I did it and am very happy with the results.......Glad it worked out for you

3. Hey! in my State its easy........thanks for rubbing it in

4. I'm skeptical........

Oh, come on TJ...take a walk on the wild side!!!

Seriously though, if you're not comfortable with it, then just don't do it.

Happy Trails

Len

[TJinPgh]

Oh, come on TJ...take a walk on the wild side!!!

Seriously though, if you're not comfortable with it, then just don't do it.

You'll note that I didn't tell anybody not to do it.

It's just always been common practice in the forums I've belonged to over the years that, if you see something that skirts the edge of legality that you point it out to other potential readers.

Call it a legal disclaimer, if you will.

If the information isn't appreciated it can always be ignored or deleted.

[olds-cool]

TJ, it was 2 years ago that I did that bike title. Again, there may be a difference with a trailer title since it isn't motorized...but I doubt it. Stop into a smaller notary in your area. The smaller ones are usually willing to give you a few minutes worth of time to answer title questions. Just reciprocate the favor and go back when it's time to transfer