MDSmitty

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

handfulz28

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.

seafordguy

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

320es

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.

Chris Sunkin

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.

Wobble

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.

Chris Sunkin

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.

MDSmitty

Thanks for the info.

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

rchevelle71

iTrader: (1)

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

will ins. cover ya???

johnny g

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