Community Forums

osomanytoys · 10-12-2008, 07:41 AM

we are taking our golf cart from wi to fla and have a 5 x 10 trailer to tow it in. we know we don't have to register this trailer if we are in the state of wi.

but, do we have to have it registered to travel out of state?

it has gvw of 2990 #'s..

any thoughts appreciated.

osomanytoys · 10-12-2008, 07:41 AM

we are taking our golf cart from wi to fla and have a 5 x 10 trailer to tow it in. we know we don't have to register this trailer if we are in the state of wi.

but, do we have to have it registered to travel out of state?

it has gvw of 2990 #'s..

any thoughts appreciated.

porscheracer · 10-12-2008, 08:20 AM

Better safe than sorry. Some states do require full registraton / tags on all trailers. Many don't require them for local use, but almost all do for out-of-state rigs.

Rick Long · 10-12-2008, 08:21 AM

Must be licensed to go through Nevada or California and I'm sure most other states.

tnau · 10-12-2008, 01:33 PM

Yeah, the state lines are what gets you.

Terry
Alabama

TXiceman · 10-12-2008, 03:33 PM

Your trailer has to be licensed and tagged according to the state of residency. So if you and your truck are licensed in one state, you need to meet the requirements for that state on the utility trailer. The other states will recognize the license requirements for the home state.

Now on lighting and braking requirements, you will need to meet the requirements of the states that you travel through.

Anyway, that is how I understand it.

Ken

skipwil · 10-12-2008, 04:56 PM

hi from tennessee... our state doesn't require tags on boat,utility or farm trailers. our state recognizes other states laws. bare in mind that if an officer decides to give you a ticket you'll get one...i regularly travel to florida with a utility trl. w/ no tag. i also have a copy from the Tn Dept of Safety stating the tn. regirements.if a tag isn't expensive or an awful lot of paperwork-that would solve any problem. 23 yrs. LEO but no lawyer. best of luck and safe travels...

Lorna · 10-13-2008, 04:44 PM

As TN residents, we have never tagged any of our trailers, including our pop-up camper. We carry several copies of this PDF in our glove boxes. We keep a couple of then to give to cops. So far we haven't had any problems. We have towed, tagless, in FL, GA, AL, SC, NC, TN, VA.

porscheracer · 10-13-2008, 09:19 PM

Luckily, in AR, a permanent (non-expiring) trailer tag is only $27.50. All my trailers are tagged - it's just not worth the potential hassle not to.

Spikester · 10-14-2008, 05:09 AM

I would check with your DMV to see if your State has "reciprocals'" with other states that deal with the different licensing requirements. Most states, through these reciprocal agreements, honor the various licensing and towing rules of the
State of origin for visitors.

Your lucky you don't live in WA., you will see license plates on the truck camper, and the truck that it is installed on. If you pull a tow dolly unloaded it needs to have a license plate, but if you have a licensed car on it no plates are required. Go figure! Tax $$ generator!

Spike

Nonno · 10-18-2008, 03:59 PM

My basic understanding for a "utility trailer" in NH is:

If under 3000lbs (including its load) registration, plate and lighting are required.

If 3000lbs or more (including its load) also needs brakes and an annual inspection.

Ken Roberts · 10-21-2008, 09:31 AM

To Skipwil and Lorna, I too live in TN and tow a 20' trailer. When initially looking to register it in Dec.'04 I was given 3 options: No registration at all; a conventional and annually renewable plate for $24 or a lifetime plate for $72. I chose the latter as we travel through many states each year and I did not want the hassle of possible pull-overs. Since in 2 months we would have been doing our 5th $24 annual plate we are a few bucks ahead and no hassle running around with an unplated trailer. Safe travels to all, Ken, '04 DSDP...

osomanytoys · 11-02-2008, 05:20 AM

thanks everyone. we just returned from our trip. we drove wisconsin to florida and back. the law in our state for this trailer is that it does not have to be registered/titled in wisconsin because it is under 3,000#s.

so, we went with it not registered/titled and didn't have a single hassle with it . thanks for all the input.

parmm · 11-02-2008, 08:11 PM

Just a comparable situtation - NYS does not consider a tow dolly to be a trailer, and do not required them to be licensed. But as Spikester pointed out, some states do sometime require registration of tow dollys. NYS will provide, for a small fee, license plates for tow dollys if your are going to take them out of state.

I would think your state would provide plates for the trailer if you intend to take it out of states. Not all states have reciprocal agreements concerning trailer licensing. Could save you some time and money by checking this out in your state DMV.