Trailer title/tag in South Carolina (finally got it)

[les45]

Update - see later post below

I've decided to title and tag my NT trailer in South Carolina. I'm going for a simple utility trailer tag since it technically is not a camper. South Carolina will tag utility trailers fairly cheaply but they do not enforce tags on anything under 2,000 gvw. I am not concerned about getting stopped within SC but I don't know how other states will look at it .
My first two attempts with the DMV have not been very successful. I tried to use the Statement of Origin that came with the trailer kit but the lady said it has to be signed over by the "dealer". I went back much later and tried to declare it as home made and found that involves a totally different set of hoops to jump through that is even more complicated. Has anyone had Northern Tool or Harbor Freight sign their Statement of Origin as a way of getting a title in South Carolina or any other state?

[TPMcGinty]

I went to a small town registrar here in Minnesota. They took the Statement of Origin and gave me the utility trailer sticker. It is a one time fee and I never have to pay again. No plate but I did get the sticker to stick on the tongue to show out of state police. I find going to a large DMV office can cause you problems.

[CarlLaFong]

You need to go back to the DMV and ask for the manager or someone that can look up the rules and laws. An MSO is a legal document, that the manufacturer provides, so a vehicle can be registered. It may be for the entire vehicle or just a major component, like a motorcycle frame or engine. Very often, these items come straight from the factory to the consumer. There is no dealer. I'm certain this is done every day and in every state with trailers, bikes, hot rods and so on.
I suspect your DMV lady is a numbskull, but knowing how competent civil servants are, I will reserve judgement

[Jiminsav]

just search on here about getting a tag in Maine, then wwhen you get it, transfer it to south carolina.easy peasy

[CarlLaFong]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^What he said^^^^^^^^^^^^

[jandmz]

Yeah, check with a supervisor. In Ohio, my wife just took the MSO down to the county registrar, and they issued the tag on the MSO. There was no sign off on the MSO. It is a manufacturer's statement, and does not state ownership like a title does.

[Backroads4me]

While I didn't need a title or plate for my TD in Wisconsin---I got one anyway for various personal, financial and estate planning reasons. Took my "Certificate of Origin for a Trailer" from the manufacturer, the invoice (which showed sales tax was paid at time of sale) and (thank friggin' goodness) a bunch of photos of the TD.

At the licensing desk, the clerk look mystified as to what to do, asking me "You do know you don't have to register this trailer?" (Uh, yeah, I know ), had to go to several other clerks and then he finally ended up at the desk of the "clerk who used to be with the Highway Patrol". At which point he and she spent considerable time looking over my paperwork and gawking at the photos. FINALLY, he comes back and says he'll register/title it, I can put RV plates on it---$67 for the title fees and it will be $15 dollars a year for the tags.

Apparently, (according to the exHWPatrol lady), the trailer "was pushing the limit" as to whether it was a utility trailer, or a camper. The original clerk mentioned that he and she decided the photos showed that the "RV" contained at least 50% living space.

I can't possibly be the only person in the state of Wisconsin to have ever registered a TD trailer. Hope you have an easier time registering yours

[les45]

I should have mentioned that this is the same DMV office that wanted a dead man's signature on an out of state transfer of an estate vehicle. I had to go to the DMV in another town to find someone who would accept the executor's signature. The supervisor at our DMV seems to be the dumbest one of the bunch. I guess DMV's are hit and miss anywhere you go.

[les45]

Update - I happened to be in Columbia, SC today where there is a Northern Tool store so I took my MSO and had the manager to sign it and put their company stamp on it. No problem. Then went to the local DMV when I got back home and just happened to find the right person who even helped me fill out the forms. For $90 I got a permanent utility trailer tag and title and didn't have to pay any property taxes (small utility trailers are exempt from property tax in SC). I am now legal.

[mickeydsc71]

Les - glad I came across your post. Wish I had saw it sooner, as in before the two previous trips to the DMV.

I was all prepared to step into the 'inspection' abyss, but your mention of getting a permanent utility plate put me on the path to success. In addition to the $90 for the registration and the plate, I had to pay sales tax due to the builder not having charged any, but that was just for the utility frame so it wasn't bad. No property tax for a permanent plate, so I'm also due a refund back from the county treasurer. Thanks for the tip!!!

The only downside to the permanent plate is that it's HUGE - a full size plate that will no doubt flap uncontrollably until it breaks off from the chinzy plate mount that came with the frame. I'm going to have to relocate it somewhere else on the back.

Question - is it a requirement that a plate be lit at night? Looking for some options on how to mount where there is no power to illuminate it.

[les45]

I did a quick search online and could not find a specific law or regulation addressing a license plate light. I did find a general statement from AAA that it is a requirement in South Carolina and I believe that is the case. Here is how I mounted mine:



Mine was a little easier because of the beveled bottom at the rear of the weekender and all my tail light wiring ran through this area.

They make brackets with the lights built into them so it should just be a matter of running a wire (or two) from your running lights to the license plate frame.

[mickeydsc71]

Thanks, I also checked around in the forum and found some links confirming the need for the plate to be lit. But I'm hoping I won't have to relocate the plate, and instead just replace the flimsy plastic bracket with a steel one.

I went over to etrailer.com and saw they had a 'heavy duty' steel bracket that looks very similar to the one currently on the left taillight:
http://www.etrailer.com/p-LP15SB.html

I just have to make sure the measurements are right.

[bigblockbarry]

The law in TN states that the plate has to be lit after dark. I found these streetrod plate bolts with leds in them that work great.

[working on it]

The law in TN states that the plate has to be lit after dark. I found these streetrod plate bolts with leds in them that work great.

I used them also, but felt that they didn't give off enough light. I wired in an over-plate LED fixture to supplement the "bolts".

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