Trailer Title Issue

[greggabbate]

Ok here we go..

A friend of mine bought a boat last year from a private owner. The owner had the title for the boat but no title for the trailer. he said the previous owner never gave him one either. suspicious sounding I know. So my friend goes to the MVA and tries to register the trailer and he cant because he dosent have the title. He tells the story to the MVA worker and they say that withoutthe title they can not prove that he didnt steal the trailer. I know there has got to be a way to retitle this trailer. Does anyone have any info for him. The advice I gave him was to say that he bought the trailer at a junkyard and refurbished it, since a junker wouldnt have a title either. Let me know.

Thanks,

G-

[lreops]

Produce a bill of sale for proof of ownership, if a brand name trailer, try to find a serial (vin) number. If not able to locate number or not sure of brand name, Stamp a number and tell them it's a homemade trailer. Also, make sure you have it inspected.

If there is more needed, I'm sure someone else will chime in.

[reel determined]

If the title is not a big deal to you just register the trailer in Maine. I bought a boat last year, no title to trailer, someone told me to register in Maine, completely legal and cheaper too! Go to mainetrailer.com, give them a call, nice people. I live in MD

[lreops]

I also have my trailers (2 boat, 2 utility) registered in Maine. Easy process, where it would cost me $306.00 for two years in MD, it was only $139.20 for the same two years in Maine.

I went to and used Staab Agency.
1-800-648-8805
info@staabagency.com

Real easy. They will send all needed info and forms and I had my five year tags in a week. Maryland would of cost me $765.00 for the same five years that Maine cost $348.00.

.....$417.00 Savings

[Clark W. Griswold]

I've heard that MD is moving to make it much more difficult if not illegal to register trailers in another state. They're probably interested more in the trucking industry that does it for the very same reasons people like us do.

That about sums MD up. Rather than change the price structure and make it more attractive for trailers to be registered here (increased registration = increased revenue), this state prefers to find a way to make it illegal and then spend money to fight it.

As soon as they figure out I can buy my bay fishing license cheaper from either VA or PRFC, they'll probably decide to stop honoring those reciprocal agreements. :helpsmilie:

[night nurse]

So I can title the trailer in MD and regester it in Maine. Does Maine require any inspection??

TED

[Bob H.]

Remove the manufacturers tag from the trailer frame, take pictures, and register in MD as homemade, get inspected, get tags. MD will gladly rob you of your money. MVA will give you a new plate to rivet to the frame. To register in Maine you need to show proof of ownership, at least a Bill Of Sale if no title exists. No inspection in Maine for small trailers.

[RYASON]

$160.00 for a trailer here. Just got the renewal and almost fell over. Two year I guess. A 22' trailer cost as much as my F250 that I drive everyday. BS, I say.

[lreops]

So I can title the trailer in MD and regester it in Maine. Does Maine require any inspection??

TED

If the trailer is 3000 LBS or less, EMPTY WEIGHT,the title does not have to be changed AT ALL. Everything stays in your name. You keep the same original title with your present address, the only thing that changes is the address on the registration, which will also stay in your name only with the Maine address. Also, no inspection required.

I've been in the trucking industry for 40 years and this practice of trailer registration has been going on for many years prior to that. I really doubt that anything will ever change concerning this and if it were to change, just re-register in MD. In any case, having trailers registered in Maine is perfectly legal.

[lreops]

Please post your home address (or B-mail it to me) so that I can send the MVA investigator over and be SURE you are legal.

I'll give you my address if you come over here so I can give you something to investigate, though you might not leave quite the same.

There is always one in the crowd that wants to spout a bunch of shit about something that they know absolutely nothing about.

[lreops]

I guess you're right, can't argue with a fool. I guess all of us and myself need to repent.


http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/statusicon/post_old.gif 12-31-2008, 06:41 PM
tksmitty (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/members/tksmitty.html)
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Basser you crack me up. Enjoy your registration compliance crusade.
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http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/statusicon/post_old.gif 01-02-2009, 08:36 AM
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What a great thread for so early in the winter!! By late February things should really be cooking!!

BTW: Just tagged another trailer in Maine. The best part, no inspection.

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http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Maine tags
If this was not legal, then all of the trucking companies through out the country that are pulling trailers tagged in Maine are awaiting a fine. I drove a semi across the country for several years going through hundreds of weigh and inspection stations. Never once received a citation for a Maine registration of a trailer. Say what you want. Call and talk to these agents that have been mentioned. They handle hundreds of registrations every day. The state of Maryland wants to continue to charge a highway fuel tax on the gasoline used in our boats and we can't get some sort of credit. So I spend my trailer registration money in another state. My 2 cents worth.

Charlie
Eden, Md.

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http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Thanks for all of the responses
Thanks for the input guys . I'm going ahead and registering it in Maine . $90.00 for 5 years and no hassles from the MD Proletariat helped me make the decision . The $90.00 included the agent's fees . This is where I went : MBI Trailers - Maine Trailer Registration (http://www.mbi-trailers.com/register/)
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http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Tag your trailer in Maine

cris4tuna (http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/members/cris4tuna.html)
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Yup it is true I paid $100 for 5 years just got back from NC outer banks and I did not have any problems down there. Some people ask if I was from Main and if I had trailer the boat all the way down there but that’s about all.
I heat to do it but with gas so friking expensive I got to save everywhere I can. :-)


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http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Tag your trailer in Maine
I have my boat trailer titled in Maryland and registered in Maine. The reason is because the trailer has to weigh 3000 pounds empty weight to title it in Maine. I have my horse trailer both titled and registered in Maine. It weighed 3080 pounds empty. Once you register it in Maine, you can now renew the tag online without going through a broker. I used the Staab Agency as the broker in which I did my registration through. I know a guy that is a supervisor at my local MVA office that is also a farmer. He has all of his semi grain trailers tagged in Maine. Imagine That! The state of Maryland isn't going to go broke. Maryland collects more than it's fair share of hiway funds from fuel taxes.

C. Blizzard
Eden, Md.


These are only a small handful of comments regarding this issue. There are many, many more. The choice is yours, continue to be robbed or start saving your hard earned cash.

[mikehn]

You guys are busted by the Basser. Are you Peter Franchot in disguise?

[FishFarm]

As long as you have MD tags no one is going to mess with you. If you end up with Maine tags you will be paying out of state ramp fees etc.

At one time I was partners in a rental car company. We had 600+ cars registered to a post office box in PA because the cars didnt need to be inspected unless we moved our storage lot or physical offices into PA and registration in PA was about $50 less per vehicle.

It is the same thing as your local MD bank being registered in and issuing credit cards etc from DE. It is a completely legal loophole that will save you money.