Anyone ever registered a trailer in a different state? Maine? Kentucky?

Alright, hive. I need your help. I've owned my 18ft Big Tex open car trailer for 13 years and never worried about registering it because KY doesn't require that a private-use trailer be plated. I've dragged this through at least 10 states and never had an issue until my last trip through GA. I was pulled over and ticketed for failing to display a license plate. The officer knew the KY law and didn't care. Fair enough. The law is what it is, and I was breaking it in GA. This prompted me to try to register the trailer in KY when I got back home. I have the certificate of origin (from 2003, two owners ago), but it was never 'converted' into a title because it has been in KY since new. I took this Certificate of Origin to the County Clerk's office and they said they can't do anything with it because I'm not the original owner of this 21 year-old trailer.

According to the clerk, there is no path to registering this trailer in KY in my name. Bill of sale, Certificate of Origin, whatever. They won't do it. Man. I just wanted to give them some money and not get pulled over again when I'm traveling. 

I remember reading about getting a Maine trailer tag years ago. It might've even been here. There are services that assist in registering trailers (physically located in Maine or any other state) in Maine, and they'll mail you a license plate after doing so. All I'd need is a bill of sale, which is easily attained since I got this trailer from my uncle all those years ago. It looks very similar to the old register-a-car-in-VT-if-you-lack-a-title thing, but maybe a bit less legally questionable. Have any of you ever done this? Does it feel dirty to you guys as well? This is one of the sites that will do it.

I'm at a loss here.

How can you get a ticket from an out of state officer for something your state doesn't enforce if you're only passing through said officers jurisdiction? 

That's like getting a ticket for no front license plate while passing through a state that requires it when your home state doesnt. 

yupididit said:

How can you get a ticket from an out of state officer for something your state doesn't enforce if you're only passing through said officers jurisdiction? 

That's like getting a ticket for no front license plate while passing through a state that requires it when your home state doesnt. 

 

I agree. I said as much to the officer on the side of the road. His response was along the lines of 'You are in GA. Not KY. And in GA, all trailers on the highway have to be plated.' I can't really explain it beyond that. It was an unpleasant experience all around, but I just paid the fine and went on with my life because I didn't have the bandwidth to fight it. That's EXACTLY what they were going for, I'm sure.

In reply to yupididit :

I asked that same question to an officer in North Carolina one night.....

I have 3 trailers, all registered in Maine. I did it so I didn't need to remember every year to mail in for a new sticker. Zero issues, one has been at least 10 years because I had to re up it 2 or so years ago. 

My car trailer is registered in Maine via the website you linked. I don't recall much about the process other than the fact that it was quick, easy, and considerably less hassle & expense than my home state. I still have it titled in my home state - primarily to make it easier should I decide to sell. 

In Ohio personal use trailers can be titled without a title; my old trailer had a new tongue welded on after a run in with a semi and in so doing it lost its vin. When I sold it the guy said he just went and weighed it and took the weight slip to the dmv and they registered it. I read the rules and it does appear that's how it works.

I'm on my second trailer registered in Maine, going back to 2011. About to go the same route for a third.

yupididit said:

How can you get a ticket from an out of state officer for something your state doesn't enforce if you're only passing through said officers jurisdiction? 

That's like getting a ticket for no front license plate while passing through a state that requires it when your home state doesnt. 

because the very large majority of officers do not know but about 2 % if the laws they are hired to enforce. 
A "somewhat " smaller amount of them know, but do not care!

he could have traveled back to ga for court and won. But, the cop knew he wouldn't. Been there a few times. 

I wrote this up for my brothers (and sisters) on improvedtouring.com back when I ran my Jagermeister BWM in SCCA.  This was written in 2007 (wow were has the time gone...) , and while the prices have changed, the procedure is the same.  Since 2007, I have registered all 6 of my trailers in Maine through STAAB Agency, and have saved HUNDREDS of dollars vs registering them in my home state of NY.  I have never been pulled over for pulling a Maine plate behind my NY dually.  Just look at ANY tractor trailer in the northeast - they ALL have Maine plates.   I highly recommend going this route.  I am sure there are other agencies in Maine to do this, and other states too, but STAAB Agency has been awesome.

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https://improvedtouring.com/showthread.php?22873-Registering-your-out-of-state-trailer-in-Maine

STAAB AGENCY
Shirley St. Pierre / Statutory Agent
P.O. Box 942 / 259 Goose Hill Road
Jefferson, ME 04348
800-648-8805 Tel.
207-549-7541 Tel.
207-549-7638 Fax
207-549-5138 Fax.
staab@staabagency.com


Here's an outline of the attached documents that were faxed to me today:

Staab Cover - The Staab agency is a Statutory Agent that represents out-of-state individuals and companies at the Maine DMV in order to obtain a Maine license plate for your trailer. Maine is a 15 year title state. If your trailer is older than 15yrs, all you need to show is a Bill of Sale or a prior registration. If it is newer than 15 years and more than 3000lbs dry weight, you must provide them with a copy of the existing title already in your name, or an original title to be titled in Maine. Under 3000lbs is exempt.

You must provide them with:
1. Phone Number, Date of Birth if an individual customer, or Federal ID if a company.
2. Correct amount of money (Check or Visa/MC accepted)
3. The Power of Attorney form filled out, signed, AND NOTARIZED (paid by customer)
* Maine trailer plates expire on the last day of February for the year in which you register. The company will notify you prior to the expiration.

Staab POA - The Power of Attorney document. This allows Staab to act on your behalf in the State of Maine to license the trailer. The fees collected also apply to the titling of the vehicle in Maine.  This document DOES NOT give them the ability to sell, lease, trade, utilize, or dispose of vehicles. POA fee = $20.00

Staab New Registration Form - Your registration will have your name at the top, with the Staab Agency's Maine address.

Staab Charges - Fee schedule for going through their agency.

Staab Annual Program - Fee schedule for registering annually.

Staab Long Term Program - Fee shedule for multi-year registration of your trailer.
Example: (NOTE - below is 2007 pricing - today's prices I'm sure are higher)
5yr (1-9 trailers) $87/each
8yr (1-9 trailers) $138/each
12yr (1-9 trailers) $206/each

Same Day with Overnight service: 1-4 plates $20.00 per plate. 5+ plates $10 per plate.

Lastly, I asked the very pleasant lady if I EVER need to bring my trailer to Maine to be inspected. She replied that MAINE DOES NOT REQUIRE TRAILER INSPECTIONS.

I hope this info helps everyone. It seem like a no brainer for those of us here in NY paying big bucks YEARLY for our race trailers.

Regards,
Team Jagermeister
'03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10 - ITB NESCCA Enduro Champions

Used maine trailer registrations . com for the previous and current trailer with no issues for ~12yrs now. I needed it for the last one as I only had a bill of sale and no title for a homebuilt. It was so painless (and avoids the painful PA safety inspection) I titled my 24' enclosed the same way even with the title.

Going to second the recommendation for Staab Agency: all I needed was a phone camera picture of a bill of sale (and fees and shipping, it's not the cheapest thing in the world) and I had plates and registration next day.

Having the right Maine paperwork also let me eventually get my trailer titled and registered in another state.