How To Register Trailer In Maine From Out Of State

Even for a Massachusetts native, there are plenty of reasons to visit New England's northernmost state. Go for the legendary lobstah. Bank check out the vast beaches or historic hiking trails. Shop the famed outlets, and score your favorite fashions for less.

But if you're looking to score a bargain on your trailer'south registration, y'all're wiser to stay close to home.

In recent years, many Massachusetts residents and business owners accept succeeded in registering their semi- or utility trailers in Maine. Learning that registration fees and taxes are lower there, these drivers have made the trek up I95, the appropriate documentation in hand. They've headed back down with Maine-issued registration for a trailer that their Massachusetts-registered vehicle will pull.

The continued prevalence of this practice is understandable. It'due south an up-front cost saver, and there's a widespread notion that the Bay Country allows it. Unfortunately, this notion is inaccurate in near cases, and a registrant'south lack of awareness may be irrelevant to a state trooper who catches the infraction.

Maine-ly illegal

Country police force requires that if a commercial or consumer vehicle registered in Massachusetts pulls a trailer, that trailer also must be registered in Massachusetts.

Exceptions apply for "apportioned" vehicles (more on that below).

The state potentially loses hundreds of dollars in taxes for every trailer that "lives"hither but is unlawfully registered elsewhere. Given the increasing number of Maine-plated trailers traveling Massachusetts highways and byways, that puts missing revenue in the millions for a unmarried yr. The country's active and escalating crackdown on this problem is non only unsurprising; it'due south been a long fourth dimension coming.

To be fair, "offender" probably would exist a harsh label for many of these trailers' registrants, who are honestly unaware they've even broken a police until they learn the difficult way: a fine of up to $500 for every yr of illegal registration. Even professionals in the transport and related industries may lack the facts.

So why such pervasive defoliation around this statute? A couple of primary reasons are likely:

The "apportioned" exception. But await, a trailer owner might think, I see legit Mass.-based businesses hauling Maine-plated semi-trailers all the fourth dimension. Are they all breaking laws? Not necessarily. Side by side time, discover the plate on the vehicle itself. If a Massachusetts license plate displays APP, PRP and/or the word APPORTIONED, that vehicle may legally pull a trailer registered in Maine (or some other country). Apportioned registration is based on regular interstate travel and other specific criteria, and generally just applies to large commercial trucks.

It doesn't matter to Maine. The law in question is a land law, and the state is Massachusetts. Therefore, if a trailer owner comes to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) with the required documentation (such as bill of sale) and payment, the BMV is by and large within its legal rights to upshot the registration. Indeed, there are even independent companies that provide online services for obtaining Maine trailer registrations. But as one of these businesses, Maine Trailer Registrations, explicitly states on its web site: "It is your sole responsibility… to get educated of whatsoever applicable laws specific to your land regarding trailer registration."

Insurance companies take a responsibility, too: their client's financial protection. To this end, some may refuse to insure a Maine-registered trailer that a not-apportioned Massachusetts vehicle plans to pull. Inconvenient, maybe, but a registration transfer today beats a hefty citation tomorrow.

Your best bet? Work with your Dowd agent from the get-go to brand certain your choices are legally sound. Stops effectually town or destinations abroad, you can get there from hither—and we tin help.