Maine Trailer Plates

[JJZ 109]

I received an email reply from Trailer Registrations for Individuals and Fleets Countrywide - MaineTrailerRegistrations.com this morning. I scanned and emailed them my old NY registration upon their request.
They phoned me this afternoon. Gave them the credit card info and for $99 the trailer will be registered for 5 years. Plate should arrive in 10 days.
It was that simple. In my situation, no other forms had to be completed and returned to them.
I'm sure that in certain cases the other paperwork linked on their site like power of attorney, bill of sale and homemade trailer forms would have to be used. Fortunately none of this paperwork was mentioned because the trailer had already been registered to me. Although I was not asked, I also possess the title and there are no liens on the trailer. So the transaction is being processed, apparently pretty smoothly.

 

[JJZ 109]

The Maine tag arrived within the promised 10 days. It's on the trailer now.
The registration has my name, but the corporate address (I assume) of Scarborough, Maine on it.
Not sure how this will fly with NY law enforcement, but hopefully I never give them a reason to pull me over. :laughing:
I think it was worth a shot to go from $75 per year to $99 for 5 years on a trailer that's only used a couple of times yearly.

 

[Dmace]

I'm certainly thinking about this for my dump trailer. At 9,990 GVWR it cost almost $150 last year for a 12 month registration. $99 for 5 years would be nice...

 

[JJZ 109]

I'm certainly thinking about this for my dump trailer. At 9,990 GVWR it cost almost $150 last year for a 12 month registration. $99 for 5 years would be nice...

It seems that there are several different opinions on how legal it is from one state to the next. Heck, there are even several opinions from within the same state.
But for the savings I thought I'd give it a shot and see how it goes. Worst case scenario I get a ticket for an expired NY registration and re-register it here.

 

[civesnedfield]

Guys it may not matter for you flatlanders that are sending us your money, but----------A trailer registered for more than 10K in the state of Maine requires a yearly inspection.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Heck if you are going for out of state, go all the way, Ark is permanent tag and no inspection required. I think I paid $25 each for boat and 2 wheel utility. When I register my new 20 foot 12K GVW I will see if it is more.

 

[JJZ 109]

Guys it may not matter for you flatlanders that are sending us your money, but----------A trailer registered for more than 10K in the state of Maine requires a yearly inspection.

Not an issue for me. 7,000# gross.

 

[SPMMD]

I can't see how it would be a problem or legal issue. The new car dealerships, as well as the trailer shops and virtually every commercial/ landscape trailer( that carries tags) all have Maine Plates!!!!! When I asked the new car dealership in NY why their trailer had Maine plates, (assuming they also had a dealership in Maine), they told me all the pluses already sited above!!!!!!

 

[Gary Fowler]

Personal cars dont require inspection either. I dont have any commercial so don t know about those. The did it for a while and then quit for some reason.

 

[JJZ 109]

I can't see how it would be a problem or legal issue. The new car dealerships, as well as the trailer shops and virtually every commercial/ landscape trailer( that carries tags) all have Maine Plates!!!!! When I asked the new car dealership in NY why their trailer had Maine plates, (assuming they also had a dealership in Maine), they told me all the pluses already sited above!!!!!!

Hmm. Something to think about. I've got 2 other trailers with NY tags. One is on the road almost every day during seamless gutter season. That's the one that I worry about getting pulled over with. The truck and trailer are all lettered up and truck has DOT numbers on it. That, too is a 7,000# gross trailer.

 

[radioman]

It seems that there are several different opinions on how legal it is from one state to the next. Heck, there are even several opinions from within the same state.
But for the savings I thought I'd give it a shot and see how it goes. Worst case scenario I get a ticket for an expired NY registration and re-register it here.

I dont see how you can get expired NYS registration ticket? you have no NYS plates, nor NYS registration to show. its just maine.

I have been trying to find more info on how insurance will be affected, my insurance agent will not say its legal or not for trailers since vehicles MUST show address for both plates and regs in state but may not apply to trailers. I also been trying to find REAL documents that we would STILL own trailer even though address of regs is out of state since I want to register a boy scout trailer in maine since it would be cheaper and easier.

 

[downslope]

I would not worry about a trailer. My company registers our airplane in Delaware and its worth 20 million. Reason, taxes. I would venture to say 85% of the airplanes that I have flown, well over 125, have been registered in Delaware and I would guess that holds true for all airplanes in the US.

Same thing with boats. I have owned 15 or more boats registered most out of my state due to the 7% tax. Pretty significant when you are buying a $140,000 boat. I register it out of state and paid a life time registration fee for less than $150 versus nearly $10,000 in tax. All my boating buddies do the same thing.

What I am trying to get at is I would not worry about a $4000 trailer when large ticket items are getting away with this for years.

By the way, I live down the road from a large Indiana based grocery store chain that must own 200 semi's. Every ones trailer is registered in Maine. As far as I know they don't have any stores in states other than Indiana.

Chris

I'm surprised you can get away with the planes and large boats. In NY the state has people going around to the airports and checking regs on planes that are always on the ground at the same location. Same for large yachts at marinas. My friend's cousin, a medical doctor, got nailed good on his plane a few years back. Maybe IN isn't that agressive, for now anyways.

 

[77bronco]

I'm surprised you can get away with the planes and large boats. In NY the state has people going around to the airports and checking regs on planes that are always on the ground at the same location. Same for large yachts at marinas. My friend's cousin, a medical doctor, got nailed good on his plane a few years back. Maybe IN isn't that agressive, for now anyways.

A lot of planes maybe bigger boats are owned by corporations that incorporated in the low tax states,and since that is their legal address, I don't think the other states can ***** about where they happen to be at any given time.

 

[rsewill]

You could leave a semi-trailer parked in the same place for decades with a permanent out of state plate, rarely pulling it and no one looks at it twice.

I would be surprised if there isn't a (tax) law against avoiding paying the tax for a regularly used vehicle that stays within a state.

 

[leduecb87]

I did the same thing, think its a few dollars more, but i faxed over my registration, paid with a CC# and had them in no time
(www).mainetrailerregistrations.com :thumbsup:

 

[big lar]

I was the long-hauling trucking for many years and registered my semi-trailers in Maine. The advantage then as now, is: no sales tax on the purchase,no annual city or excise tax, and no annual inspection.

The Maine address is that of your "resident agent",

Best way to avoid any possible problem with locals re same name on both registrations is to use a "made up" rental or leasing co. on the trailer registration.

When I 1st heard about this 35 years ago, I didn't believe it either, but researched it and eventually had 6 trailers registered in Maine.

Look at the plates on all the container chassis' running around; they are all Maine.

Note to States who are always raising taxes: it doesn't work' drives people to states where fees and taxes are low. Maine has been doing this for decades.

It used to be though that you couldn't use it for camper , and it may not be worth it for light duty trailers (under 3,000).

Some asked about insurance; liabilty is covered by the pulling unit.

Hope this helps.

 

[tlbuser]

MBItrailers (mainetrailerregistrations.com) really are easy to do business with. I misplaced one of my registrations and they couldn't have been more helpful in getting a duplicate.

Jack suggested using, "I have a business interest in Maine." clean, simple and truthful.

 

[SPMMD]

After following this thread from the beginning, I moved forward and now have 2 trailers registered in Maine! It couldn't have been any easier. 2 trailers, registered for 5 years each, all costs included $250 total!!!!!

I dealt with Jennifer@countrywidetrailerregistration. The service was professional, and quick. Had my plates in hand in 8 days( actually arrived@po box in 7!!!!). After my experience, I couldn't imagine registering my trailers any where else!

 

[LWG]

I've used MBItrailers, and they are very good. Everybody down here is using Maine for trailer registration. This state has gotten insane with its fees.

 

[JJZ 109]

Because of the great experience and easy transaction with Trailer Registrations for Individuals and Fleets Countrywide - MaineTrailerRegistrations.com for my 7,000# flatbed trailer, I'll be doing the same thing in December for my 6x12 enclosed motorcycle hauler.
Sorry, NY but $75 per year for one trailer and $40 or so for the other makes it pretty easy to decide to go with Maine's $99 for 5 years.