I found this site while looking for a cheaper way to register a utlilty trailer. Come to find out you can register your boat trailer or any other trailer for 5 years for $90 in the state of MAINE and its good in all the states. You can actually purchase a tag good up to 12 years. I have not talked to anyone who has done this but I do see a tone of trailers on the interstate that are Reg in Maine. See link below and please let me know what you think. Good idea or not. I currently pay $60 a year for boat trailer tag.

http://www.mainetrailerregistrations.com/

Interesting.........I'm not sure what to think about this yet.

I am thinking that registering it in Texas is probably cheaper than possibly a fraudulent registration and the ticket that might bring.

I used to live in Kansas. The law there only required you to tag and register your trailer if the trailer weighed 2000 lbs. or more. There are a ton of guys up there who register & tag there trailer needlessly.
When I bought my boat the bank wanted a title. Well they don't title em in Kansas so I was told to title the trailer. When I got the process completed and a title was issued a tag was also issued for the trailer. The bank got to possess the title. After the first year when the tag expired I never bought another tag even though I did still have to pay personal property tax on the entire rig each year.
Now that I live in TN I better find out what the requirements are.

Not to mention the surprises and problems you could possibly encounter with the insurance company precisely at a time when you don't want anymore surprises.

Didn't think about insurance part but the trailer and boat still in my name so should effect it. The REG is more a tax thing then Insurance I would think but I would deff check with Insurance agent first.

If your going to participate in shady and possibly illegal activities, perhaps NOT posting it on the World Wide Web would be a good idea.



just sayin

Or a site where Texas Game wardens and TP&W staff monitor daily....

OR you could just support the State that you live in and the state you fish in even if its a few extra bucks each year....

Wohhhhh Nelly! Have we even established if this sight is doing anything illegal? If so I say we string em to the highest tree. But if not?????

If you dont go out of state in TN you dont have to register it, but if you do , you have to register. Glad to see you finally made the move.

x2 keep the money in the state no need to help out maine

c'mon...$60? my truck reg is only $65 compared to 400 in az...support texas, that's what i say!
i bet you drop 60 every time you go out to dinner and dont blink an eye...
and doesn't some of that 60 go towards fixing texas roads? or lakes? or something?
lol

I agree with Mark and Doug that it probably isn't worth the potential for issues. I don't know why it would be an insurance problem, but I wouldn't want to have to explain it to a state trooper.

How do you deal with having a Texas license plate and Maine registration?

Support Texas???? Come on. I bet every person on here complains about how much Tax they pay on every level. I do support Texas with my high Property Tax and FUEL tax and about 15 other Tax. Support Texas. That's a bunch of [censored]. That's like saying Burn as much money as you can. Sorry. Not trying to get anything started but we are Taxed to death.

I sent the DMV of Maine an Email just to see if this is Legal or not. It appears that they Send you Maine Lic plate. Don't think it Illeagal at all.

If It is Illeagal then NO way would I do it. Just trying to save money for everyone who feels over Taxed.

Texas is way better than most states and I'm lucky to live here. I'm just tired of being Taxed everytime I turn around on both State and Federal levels and then you look at all the waste. Just frustrating to say the least.

No,man. That ain't it. You just don't want to pay. I'm a proud, native,Texan and pay my money to Texas. " Do The Right Thing". Life works out,better,that way.

The company i work for has about 150 trailors registered in Maine. You do get a maine plate and its not illegal at all. And i agree, we are taxed to death, save all you can. You can support Texas with you hunting/fishing liscense and the thirty cent road tax on every gallon of gas you buy.

+1
I'm not a native Texan, but I got here just as soon as I could.
I play here so I"ll PAY here.

+1
I'm not a native Texan, but I got here just as soon as I could.
I play here so I"ll PAY here.

I suggest if your too cheap to register your boat trailer and "pay taxes" here in our state and do whats right, just move to Maine or whatever northern state you care for and want to give them money to repair and build roadways. I personally won't miss you, or you wanting to not pay your own way in our state.

I'll even help you pack.

Why not move to maine if things are so rosy there?

Work the interstate a few days and see how many folks go out of their way to save a couple $ on their tags and still demand the same services here...

I think the state of Maine is only too happy to sell tags and registrations. It works out fine if you live in Maine. I doubt if the State of Maine provides legal counsel as to the legalities of using their tags and registrations elsewhere. My guess is each state has addressed this issue in an attempt to keep revenues from slipping away. I would be surprised if Texas or any other state knowingly permits this. Complying with the law and locating ways to attempt to get around it are two different things.
I understand the OP wanting to reduce his taxes any possible.
The situation I referred to in my earlier post is misunderstood by many Kansas boaters who would buy tags unnecessarily. Even some of the authorities inn that state have had different opinions on the tag requirement issue. After my tag expired (1 yr. ) I removed it and I didn't replace it. In 20 yrs. I only got stopped one time for a tag issue. Lucky for me I had a copy of the statute , along with a documented copy of the attorney general's opinion on the issue with me in my glove box. I didn't get a ticket and I never bought any more tags. There are a ton of other Kansans however that buy tags each year because they are not properly informed. Moral of the story : arm yourself with the facts, not just what someone in Maine tells you.

I suppose there is always a way to "avoid" the statutes and laws of the state in which you reside, but the Texas Transportation Code is rather clear (at least to me):

TEX TRANSPORTATION. CODE ANN. § 502.002 : Texas Statutes - Section 502.002: REGISTRATION REQUIRED; GENERAL RULE
Search TEX TN. CODE ANN. § 502.002 : Texas Statutes - Section 502.002: REGISTRATION REQUIRED; GENERAL RULE

(a) The owner of a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer shall apply for the registration of the vehicle for:

(1) each registration year in which the vehicle is used or to be used on a public highway; and

(2) if the vehicle is unregistered for a registration year that has begun and that applies to the vehicle and if the vehicle is used or to be used on a public highway, the remaining portion of that registration year.

(b) The application must be made to the department through the county assessor-collector of the county in which the owner resides. [emphasis added]

Good advise Steve187. It's not that I'm cheap. It's that I am holding a check for $5800 that I have to pay for property tax. That's like giving away a new 4 wheeler every year. Lol. Funny but not... I love Texas and I pay my fair share plus some but if I can save a little tax money legally then I will. Texas has there hand deep enough in my pocket book.

I have several buddies who bought boats and have them registered in CO for super cheap. I have several law enforcement buddies that say they would never register a boat trailer because it's to much trouble for most cops to jack with. I'm not willing to find that out but thought it was interesting.

Clear enough for me

I tried to look up the applicable Tx statutes concerning licensing boat trailers in Tx. Here is what is in the Tx Dept. of Motor Vehicles web site. Apparently no one knows just what the statutes in Tx are.

I found nothing that stated that trailers owned by Texans had to be registered in Tx.

"Trailers
Texas laws regarding trailers are as varied as the state population, and depend on the type of trailer, its weight, and its intended use. To determine the exact laws for your particular trailer and situation, it would be wise to contact the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to advise you.

Generally, all camp trailers are titled and registered. Also, any trailer that will be used or pulled on public roads will need to be titled and registered.

However, trailers weighing less than 4,001 pounds are considered "non-titled" trailers, so you may need to register it, but not title it.

Farm trailers also receive special consideration, so check with the county to determine whether your trailer qualifies as a farm trailer.

All registration and titling duties can be completed at your county tax office.

Trailer Registration Fee
All trailers and travel trailers weighing less than 6,000 pounds―$45All camp trailers weighing between 6,001 and 10,000 pounds―$54In addition, you'll also be charged a county fee, which, depending on your county, will range from $5 to $11.50."

I do appreciate all input on this. Even the cheap comments. Lol

The reason I put it up on Forum is because I knew y'all would have good thoughts to consider. I was correct. Some smart people on here.

Let me ask everyone who is taking this "you should pay taxes in the state of texas" mentality, EXACTLY what has the state of Texas done for you that YOU HAVE NOT PAID FOR? Call the great state of texas and see if you can be late on your property taxes,etc and see how much they "love" you

I'm assuming non of the people who were quick to jump on the poster about keeping taxes in their state, etc. etc. have NEVER bought anything from Tacklewarehoue?

the guy was simply asking a question about registering a trailer and I'm willing to bet there has been more then one person check into it since this posting! We need to be loyal to the state we live in....what a joke!

Don't mess with Texas.