Trailer registration in Maine

[Tomtint]

I have 3 trailers, 2- 10k GVW equipment trailers and 1- 7500 GVW enclosed trailer. In Mass they cost 230.00 for the 7500 and 260.00 each for the 10k ones...each year plus yearly 39.00 inspections and yearly excise tax. What is the downside to registering in Maine @ 100.00 for a 5 year tag?

 

[Fixemall]

None, all my business and personal trailers are registered there, I got pulled over once by a local cop and he asked what was the deal and after I told him he asked "do you think I can register my boat trailer there?"

 

[grsthegreat]

yikes......

here in Idaho my personal trailer is $30 for 10 years and my 7500# commercial trailer cost $18.75 per year.

you sure get ripped off there.


oh... and NO inspection fees

 

[Tomtint]

We get the shaft on just about everything here. I have a F350 dump truck that I use for my property and the state requires commercial plates which are 260.00 per year and 130.00 per year for a DOT inspection. I'm also supposed to have lettering on it because it has commercial plates. What do they want me to do? Put my first and last name on the door and cell phone number. Frigging ridiculous.

 

[Sterff]

Here you go...

Trailer Registrations for Individuals and Fleets Countrywide - MaineTrailerRegistrations.com

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

What is the downside to registering in Maine @ 100.00 for a 5 year tag?

The only downside I'm aware off is just that your local Gov't gets less of your money.......

Our family has been doing this (buying Maine trailer tags) for about 10 years. We checked with the insurance company first and they said it doesn't matter to them since we aren't required to carry a separate policy on the trailer -- whatever is towed is covered by the vehicle insurance.
Over the past few years, I'd bet half the trailers in our state are now sportin' Miane tags as the prices keep going up. I even see commercial trailers with them (landscape companies) very often. Being in business where we deal directly with the motor vehicle admin., the lady that handles titles / tags first told me it's not legal to do since the state requires anything that you "own" be registered here......but once she got the bill for her big boat trailer renewal, she was asking me how to go about getting Maine tags:laughing:

 

[smstonypoint]

None, all my business and personal trailers are registered there, I got pulled over once by a local cop and he asked what was the deal and after I told him he asked "do you think I can register my boat trailer there?"

Just curious. Do any of the states go after their residents who register their trailers in Maine but do not otherwise have ties to that state?

Steve

 

[tlbuser]

None if it's allowable. Somewhere in your state rulings, there is language that says something about vehicles being titled, registered and tagged in the applicable state. Some states require both to be tagged in the state of residence, some allow for only the tow vehicle to be tagged in the state of residence. In Md., the language is buried in the transportation articles of the Code of Maryland Annotated Regulations (COMAR). And sometimes, you have to look for exemptions to the rule like Agricultural.

 

[rockshaft]

That's the first I heard of a reasonable registration cost in Maine! I lived there for 35years and the only legal way was to pay the yearly fee (or it could have been 2years) and EXCISE tax every year or two to my local town. There are usually ways around these things, but I agree they aren't strictly legal- you might get away with it, just like some people do by swapping tags between trailers...

 

[Scotty Dive]

I tried everything to get my trailer registered in ct, but after 3 months and many trips to dmv I was told that I could not. Then the guy at dmv suggested I register it in Maine...legally it should be in registered in ct but I had no options. I did the paper work with the staub agency and it was simple. If I get stopped by a Leo I will explain all I did and hope for compassion.

 

[Sterff]

Do you get a new plate then since it's registered to Maine?

 

[aczlan]

Do you get a new plate then since it's registered to Maine?

Yes, it is a Maine plate that is labeled as "Apportioned" The one my parents have has a expiration date stamped into it (Feb of some year).

Aaron Z

 

[Tomtint]

My 5 year plate showed up yesterday. Whoo Hoo! just that one plate change is a savings of more than 1700.00 over the 5 years. I will be doing 2 more in November!

 

[nybirdman]

I live in NY state..see Maine trailer tags all the time.

 

[Ductape]

I know someone will correct me if i'm wrong, but I researched this as well. The cost to register trailers here in NH is getting out of control also (along with everything else).

For those who claim its illegal if you live in a state other than Maine:

My understanding is that when you file the paperwork with the broker, essentially you become a 'partner' with them in maine. Since you now have stake in a business in Maine where your trailer is registered.... all is legal.

No?

 

[F250DSLPWR]

I would go the cheapest route possible. Start looking at all the bills you get and look at all the fees, charges, recovery fees extra taxes that have nothing to do with the service or product that are being added to everyting... The working man is just being nickled and dimed... I recently found out that if you get a new loan for a home there is now a 1/10 of 1% fee added to be given to Congress supposedly to pay for the pay role tax cut. However the funds put into Congress general fund... I will get off the soap box now... I just think it is aburb to have to pay such large fees for a trailer license plate...

 

[aczlan]

I just think it is aburb to have to pay such large fees for a trailer license plate...

I agree. It costs about $60 to register my wife's Caravan for 2 years here in NY. It gets driven for 8-12k miles each year weighing at least 3500# at all times.
A one year registration for a 3000# trailer that gets used once a month (if that) is about $40.

Aaron Z

 

[mjncad]

I saw a dry van semi trailer with Maine tags yesterday, and I'm in Colorado.

Some trucking companies open a minimal office in Wyoming to quit paying Colorado's exorbitant license plate fees by registering their vehicles there.

As far as I know, we're the only state that penalizes people for buying new vehicles with ridiculous license plate fees. A $50k vehicle will easily cost about a $1,000 or more per year to register and the slow decrease in license fees can take easily 10-years or more before they bottom out to a flat rate.

Colorado bases it's fees on year of manufacture, manufacturer's cost (~2%), vehicle type, and weight.

We are getting more like Taxachussetts and Mexifornia every year.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I agree. It costs about $60 to register my wife's Caravan for 2 years here in NY. It gets driven for 8-12k miles each year weighing at least 3500# at all times.
A one year registration for a 3000# trailer that gets used once a month (if that) is about $40.

Aaron Z

It would not be worth the hassle for a $40 trailer to me but for one that is more than a few hundred like my old GN its what I did.

Chris

 

[aczlan]

It would not be worth the hassle for a $40 trailer to me but for one that is more than a few hundred like my old GN its what I did.

The hassle is getting it inspected $10/year, plus an hour or more to get the inspection done.
So, to register in NY for 5 years it would be $250 ($40/year for registration and $10/year for inspection).
To register in ME for 5 years would be $90 (per Maine Trailer Registration Pricing Information - MaineTrailerRegistrations.com ).
Worth it to me not to have to get the stupid thing inspected every year.

Aaron Z