I’ve searched the forums and am still a bit confused as to how this works. Does anyone in the COTH family live in NY, but have their trailer registered in ME?
Is this legal? Are there potential fines? What does your insurance company say about this?
Can you please share your experience with me?
Thanks for the help and insight!
May have answered my own question, or at least found out that I shouldn’t be doing this.
Just found a blurb in NYS V&T Laws Section 250, which says that if a truck has commercial plates, it is illegal for out-of-state plates on its trailer. So it’s looking like I shouldn’t be doing ME plates it would seem (just renewed my registration last month for the truck, boo!)
Just to chime in for others who may find this search: I’m in MA, with regular (non-commercial) plates, and called my insurance (Farm Family) before going through with my Maine registration this year. They had no problem with it and said I’d still be completely covered. (My trailer does have it’s own insurance, not just covered by the truck.)
Just couldn’t pay MA another $250/year for the 10 times a year I use my trailer. Paid Maine $100 for a five year tag instead.
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I noticed another thread that talked about the benefits of MA folks registering in ME. Not a lot out there about NY / ME. Definitely worth looking into it for the state you live in!
NY and NJ take a very hard line on ME plates.
I’ve had a ME plate in MA for three years. No issues. Trailer on its own policy, they don’t even know the plate number assigned to it.
A friend of mine who is a contractor/excavator in NY, has quite a few trailers for hauling his equipment. He has them all registered in ME (his pick-up trucks are registered in NY) …and has never had a problem.
As far as insurance goes, it doesn’t matter where a trailer is registered – anything you pull is covered by the insurance associated with the truck that pulls it.
That does not cover a trailer that is not hooked to a vehicle. So anything that happens to it while it’s parked at your house/barn/wherever, including theft, is not. Nor is having a tree fall on it, someone whacking it with a tractor, or any damage the trailer does to another vehicle or property when/if it comes unhitched while driving.
The vehicle coverage is not comprehensive coverage.
You CAN get comprehensive coverage for trailers – but since trailers are considered ‘property’ not vehicles, it’s really not necessary because the trailer scenarios/damage you mentioned above would be covered under your home owner policy.
They are not covered under a homeowners policy if they are parked at a commercial facility such as a boarding barn.
And neither of hose cover you for the damage to your trailer in an accident - your vehicle policy only covers your liability.
I am willing to say that I might not be correct, which is why I think each person should talk to their insurance people to make sure they get the right information for them in their state, with their equipment, etc.
I was told that if I have full collision on my truck it covers my trailer if I am in an accident.
I think you might want to check again. I think you’re under-insured, I have carried an additional policy on every horse trailer I’ve owned. Liability coverage comes from the truck, but I’ve never heard of collision being extended to a trailer from the policy.
As for the original topic, this article below was for NY state, not MA, but some states are catching on. I had ME tags for years on a horse trailer, but several years ago switched to my state. It is annoying because we have personal property tax, but I chose to live here and so I should comply with the laws.
http://countryfolks.com/nys-police-host-clinic-for-farm-equipment-usage-on-new-york-state-roads/
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Regarding insurance - my agent let me know that comprehensive with full glass, as well as collision (and contents) are covered under my vehicle policy, and for anything that could occur while it’s parked at my home, the homeowner’s policy picks it up.
I’m sure this varies company to company, but in this case I’m covered.
… But I won’t be doing ME plates due to NY V&T 250.
Thanks all for weighing in!
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Mine is registered in NY. Registration cost is determined by weight, and I think what you’re getting is lighter than my trailer and mine costs $97 per calendar year - Jan 1 to Dec 31 if you register for the full year. If you wait to renew until decent weather and renew at the DMV the cost is prorated. I just renewed mine last week and the cost went down to $77.
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Can someone fill me in on the benefits of the ME plate? And how do you get one if you don’t have a residence there?
Basically what I posted above. MA charges me $250/year (not pro-rated even if I don’t renew the registration until spring show season) for my trailer. My ME plate cost $100 for five years.
In some states this also means you can skip inspections and stuff. MA doesn’t do trailer inspections, so that was a moot point for me.
I used https://mainetrailerregistrations.com/ and had a great experience.
Also, for those states who charge an excise tax, such as MA, there is no excise because the trailer is not registered in MA.
Insurance might not have a problem with it but a MA cop examining your license and documents in a traffic stop might be able to get extra revenue out of you. Be careful.
It’s not illegal. The most they can do is give you a BS ticket for something else, but it is not illegal to register a trailer in Maine nor is it illegal to tow one with plates from another state.
I did a lot of research before I ultimately went with the plate (this is my first year after being a trailer owner in MA for 15+ years), and it’s not illegal. You might get a cop who tickets you for something that usually would have resulted in a warning, but it will take a ton of tickets for bulbs out before I cancel out the $1,150 I’m saving on the registration.
I’ve hauled thousands of miles in the years I’ve trailered in MA, and never once been pulled over with the trailer. If it starts happening all of a sudden, I’ll take my lumps and re-register it in MA. Until then, I’ll enjoy my extra $1000 and they can continue to enjoy all the $$$$$ they get from me in a myriad of other ways. 
