Maine trailer registration

[dominiquer60]

Hi All,

I may have found a livestock trailer that is both in my price range and something that I would be willing to own. My question is, I know that many people that have horse/stock trailers register them in Maine because it is cheaper and you don’t have to get them inspected. A local logger told me last week that New Yorkers can’t do this any more because our state wants our money in a bad way. But another NYer that I talked to tonight has a horse trailer and it is still registered in Maine.

So I took the next logical step and looked at the Maine DMV website. I did not see where you could register a livestock or horse trailer. Boat trailers, utility trailers, campers, and semi trailers were obvious, and after some reading I learned that horse trailers with living quarters must be registered as a camper, but this is just a 16′ gooseneck that I am looking at. I am sure that an air mattress in the neck doesn’t count as living quarters. I just don’t see where this type of trailer registration is located on that site, unless they count it as a utility trailer.

Perhaps a Maine person or a New Yorker that has a ME registered trailer could enlighten me as to what the situation is these days. Any help is greatly appreciated, I would rather give money to a state that doesn’t bother my radio station with their campaign adds:)

Many Thanks,

Erika

[Patrick]

I might be wrong, but I’ve never heard of such a thing. If you’re a legal resident of another state, you must register in your state. I’d be very surprised to hear that Maine will knowingly register a vehicle for an owner out of state. But, if you’re sure that this is the case, call the Maine DMV and ask them. I suspect that those you know have some sort of way of circumventing the rules, such as a friend or relative in Maine who’s address they use, illegally of course. BTW, inspection is not always such a bad thing. It does keep you and your animals safer.

[dominiquer60]

In the show horse world many non-Maine residents have Maine plates/tags on their trailers. The ones that I used to know had no connections in Maine. I am not trying to avoid inspection because I like to keep my trailer safe and passable at a DOT roadside stop. I would like to pay less money for a registration than NY charges especially on a vehicle that will only get used a few times a year. This morning I received a phone number for an agency in Maine that deals with out of state trailer registration, I am going to give them a call before I waste phone minutes on hold trying to reach a government agency. I posted this because I was interested in what other peoples experiences have been. I would like to have all of my ducks in a row before I crack my wallet:)

Erika

[Joshua Kingsley]

look at the staab agency in ME. they have a website and that is the place to go to for your reg. They are on Goose hill Rd.

[blue80]

Hope this is not too off the mark- like that planes trains and automobiles conversation when the person asks “Can I get a plane ticket to Dallas?” and the ticket receptionist with a pleasing smile replies, “no, there are no tickets to Dallas, would you like a ticket BACK from Dallas???”:D—-but locals here have in the past set up a shell corp. in Idaho and leased their vehicles and trailers from that corporation.
Lately these people have been pulled over by the police and fined. Even out of staters working here need to get registered in state if they are just
working on a job more than 90 days…..

Times are still changin,

[mitchmaine]

hey erica, you had to register your tractor (truck) in the state you call home, but if you hauled over the road, you were never home anyway so it didn’t matter where your trailer hailed from cause most of the time it wasn’t yours and you were just moving it for the carrier.
maine charged ten dollars for a trailer plate, which made it very popular to register here and the plate had no weight or axle limits beyond the road or state you were in.
good for maine cause it was revenue on trailers running up and down on somebody elses roads.
don’t know how the laws and rules apply now but haven’t heard anything new.

best wishes, mitch

[Plowboy]

Erika, Ours were registered in Maine for years but some of our friends that travel alot have been pulled over and warned to get NY plates on their trailers. I’m sure your right It’s just a revenue thing but we changed back to NY. I hate being pulled over and or arguing with a trooper!

[dominiquer60]

Dennis, that is what I was afraid of. I contacted Staab and they seem to have a good rep and prices are so much more reasonable than NY. However what I would really like is if I could just spray paint “farm use” on the back of my trailer and take to the roads like those red neck tree huggers in VA, that would be best. I guess I will have to consult our friend who is a trooper dispatcher, he may know more about such things.

Thanks for the comments all,

Erika

[Plowboy]

I asked about trailer licenses and DOT numbers when I visited SW Virginia. When he closed the trailer door he pointed out the orange tree marking paint on the tailgate saying “Farm Use” and the same on the loader truck. Apparently many areas aren’t as particular as NY!!

[dominiquer60]

Darn you NY with your taxes against farmers and redneck tree huggers! (said with angry clenched fist).

At this point I just hope the trailer is still an option to purchase if I can get over there tonight.

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