How to register/tag a new trailer while on the road

[Brendan S]

So we're picking up our new Vistabule trailer in Minnesota and then planning to head out west for.. months?
We're Virginia residents.

So.. if we won't have the title until we pick it up, and aren't going back to VA, what do I need to do to avoid being pulled over in each state?

Any ideas?

[bobhenry]

Michigan is real trailer friendly, rather inexpensive and is a one time plate for life.

[CarlLaFong]

First of all, the likelihood of getting pulled over is about the same as being struck by a meteor. Keep the paperwork with you and enjoy the trip.

[deleted]

I'm kind of in the same spot.

1. I'm picking up my trailer in Michigan so I'll have to register it and get a plate when I get there.

2. Upon my return/entry to CA I have to transfer the registration over to CA otherwise I can get a ticket. I believe I only have 20 days to do so.

3. Another reason I have to make the MI to CA transfer is because my comprehensive insurance will be dropped because my insurance carrier has written up a binding agreement that I have 6 days after bringing the trailer into CA to transfer the registration or I lose my coverage. They can only cover a vehicle that has a California registration. The binding agreement is simply to extend me coverage until I can make that happen.

[Kharn]

Mail-in a Maine registration, drive around with 'Tag Applied For' sign (or a temp tag from MN) until a friend can check your mail, find the plate and FedEx it to you?

[wagondude]

Several states don't even require tags on trailers less than 2000# (Kansas is one). Cops see a trailer without a tag and usually won't give it a second look unless they think it's large enough to require one. States that require all trailers to have tags will generally not stop vehicles with out of state tags for no tag on the trailer unless something else is wrong (lights, speed, something falling off). In many years of camping as a kid, we only got asked about the missing tag on our trailer once by a cop (he pulled us over for a light out on the trailer).

[working on it]

Beware > semi-rant follows: Around here, it seems dependent on who's pulling the trailer, and who's pulling you over. I know people with impeccable trailers and current plates getting pulled over in little burgs that need the ticket income, and sometimes just for nothing at all (especially out of state). Don't know if it's because of the racecars on the trailer, or what, but never seems to happen with RV's or tag-a-longs. The other side of the equation is that I see (everyday) really junked-out landscaper or construction (independents) trailers with wheels wobbling, tires and/or bearings smoking, parts and/or boards with nails in them falling off into the roadway, no hooked up lighting, seldom with any license plates (if they are there, then they are expired or hidden), and usually pulled by some yahoo or an undocumented (not politically correct to call them illegal anymore) worker. And you can be sure there's no insurance coverage either. I've had plenty of friends pulled over, fully insured and licensed, pulling trailers, but never have seen the other type pulled over. And I drive 120 miles a day. Personally, I never leave home without loads fully secured, all equipment, lighting, and tags in perfect order, with spare lights and straps to boot. I've not yet been pulled over, towing any type of trailer, yet, but probably because I fit in the middle ....not too flush and not yet crapped out...flying under the radar, so to speak.

[48Rob]

I don't think it is wise to knowingly break the law...

One option is having the dealer you are buying the trailer from do it for you.
Most, if not all dealers can issue tags.
If you are not buying from a dealer most states will issue a temporary tag, good for a few days, up to a couple weeks.
If it runs out before you are done, just get another one.
I use this method for moving a bucket truck that is horribly expensive to plate, since we only move it off propery a couple times a year.
There is usually a limit of two or three issues per year, but I don't have to buy license plates, and it is legal.


Rob

[Verna]

Let the dealer take care of it. I bought my Silver Shadow on a Wednesday, and I left for a two week trip on Friday. I had a perfectly legal paper plate taped to the inside of the driver's window. It was good for 30 days.

I did stop by the BMV on that Thursday to complete my paperwork for permanent plates, but since Indiana mails the permanent plates to your house, I still had the paper plates when I left for my trip.

[TPMcGinty]

I have a Minnesota Lifetime Trailer registration on my homebuilt Tear. Since it didn't have a bathroom or kitchen I was allowed to register it that way instead of as a RV. It was cheap and they give you a sticker to place on the tongue. No plate needed.

[Brendan S]

For my specific case - the law abiding solution seems to be to have the dealer get me a 31 day non-resident registration from Minnesota (where we are picking it up).
That will be good enough to show in any state for 31 days if we get pulled over. (Incidentally, trailers of this size in MN need to be registered but get a sticker not a plate. They'll give you a plate if you request it, but that's to keep other states happy)
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/Pages/ ... n-Resident

Then with title in hand, I'll need to FedEx that title back to Virginia where I can have someone (my lucky father in this case) go to the DMV
with a special Power of Attorney (http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vsa70.pdf) to title & register the trailer in Virginia.
(Since I'm buying a manufactured teardrop, it'll have a proper VIN, etc and shouldn't have a problem getting registered)
Then he can mail me the new plates somewhere out west. Hopefully that can be turned around within the 31 days.

Thanks for the advice - I agree that we're not likely to get pulled over, even without plates on the trailer, since the tow vehicle will have out of state
plates and I'm hoping that police officers have better things to do than to worry about whether Virginia requires trailers to have plates.