Trailer tag question on interstate purchase
 

Newbie question.

If I went to look at a boat in another State, and I wanted to look at it, buy it and trailer it home all on that same day, what do you do about trailer tags, since you don't have tags yet and the trailer still has the old owner's tags?

I live in Maryland if that makes any difference.

Thanks

Get a temp tag from Maryland DMV. They might say get one from whatever state you are buying from. Might need to get seller to get temp tag. Either way, one of you gets a temp tag and execute a bill of sale. Should be no problem.

I would just drive it home and not think twice about it. If you for some reason get pulled and you have all the paperwork showing that you just bought it not many policemen are going to ticket you for it.

If it makes you feel better I left Virginia in my wife's sedan, bought a Dually on the side of the road on the way up there, picked up the boat in Connecticut, and drove it home without tags on the truck or trailer.

That is probably not the legal and technically correct answer you were looking for though ;)

IL and MO allow 48 hours to register a vehicle after a purchase. I would bet that other states are the same. If not just use the plates from another boat trailer for the ride home.

Many states have no temporary tags. I bought a truck in Michigan and drove it for almost a month before they sent the title. All it had was a piece of cardboard in the plate frame that was printed "I Just Got My New Car From Dick Gozinya Ford".

When I bought the Cig in November, I just towed it back- no plate.

In Texas that would be called a fictitious plate, much bigger ticket than no or missing plate. Bill of sale would be the key document for that trip.

I have a buddy with a completely clean record that was stopped, arrested (of course towed) tried, convicted and sentenced to a week in jail and a $2500 fine for a fictitious plate. No plate is way better- especially out-of-stste. It's like lying to a cop. Like Martha Stewart- she went to federal prison for lying about something that wasn't illegal in the first place.

Thanks for the info.

I guess it's not as big a deal as it seemed.

what happens if ya get in a wreck while towing it unregistered???

will ins. cover ya???

Rick, i say yes.
because even if you have it taged the insurence is on your truck not on the trailer.
But maybe wrong?:rolleyes:

best bet is to check with your DMV, most states give 30 days to register.

If you buy from a dealer they can give you a temp to get home.

I drove from the west coast to the east coast with a new truck and new trailer, neither of which had tags. I had no problems, not even at the weigh stations! Then, on the way back, I bought a different trailer and towed it to the west coast with no tags on it!

About the insurance....I called my insurer, USAA, and they said I am covered for a short time after any vehicle purchase. I forget the length of time, but they offered coverage.

I can say from personal experience that the fine in Connecticut for an unregistered trailer is $100.00. After he gave me the ticket the cop said to plead "not guilty" that they probably would not pursue the case.

Apparently, if you go to court the cop has to come and testify and they are not likely to drag him to court for $100.00

When i bought our first boat in NM, i towed it back w/ the orginal owners tag. He didnt need it anymore anyway.

When i bought seafordguys trailer, i towed it back w/ no tag.

Had all papers both times.

When I bought a boat in Maryland I came home on the previous owners reg. He promised not to cancel it until I got home. Not sure of the legality since he had signed the title over, but since I had not tried to register it myself I figured I had a leg to stand on. Great trip through Atlantic, and NYC. Everybody ought to do it.

I've been pulling boat, car, motorcycle and utility trailers up and down the road regularly between Ohio and FL for 35 years without a tag and haven't been stopped yet, but I guess there's always a first time. Cops are usually more interested in stopping you for something that is going to cost you a lot. License and insurance are 2 completely seperate matters. Insurance company doesn't insure the license plate, they insure the vehicle or property, and your liability insurance is supposed to cover any towed unit for the liability, or at least that's the way my insurance is. You still have to buy insurance to cover loss or damage to the trailer or its contents.

Towing without a plate or proper registration is not too smart. In Jersey they will make you leave it then have it towed. It's very costly.

I will second Bowtie on having your trailer towed if you get stopped without reg. The cop that stopped me ask where I was going. When I told him I was going to a nearby repair facility he said that he would cut me a break and not have it towed. Seems like an oxymoron to drop your tow so someone else can tow it.

I bought a boat from a state that doesn't issue tags for trailers (Kentucky). Towed it home no problem. Figured the bill of sale would be enough if I got stopped. Also, I had checked with my insurance agent since I was buying on the weekend. I think I was covered for 72 hours after purchase even without calling him.