Boat trailer license

[270Coastal]

As someone who has talked to other states DMV's and permit services, ( boat is 9'8" wide ). If the state you take your trailer through requires a tag, Legally you should have a tag on your trailer. With that said, I've never tagged my boat trailer, and always given my truck tag # for the permits. From KY to FL I've never been pulled over.

[JUSTINHALL]

Instead of getting in to a peeing match of the law, even though I know what the law is because I checked in to it myself when I moved here 3 years ago I will only tell you my experience.
I have traveled with my boat many times at least 15 times a year with no plate on my boat trailer and these states include, MI, OH, TN, GA, FL, AL, AR and TX and not one time did I get a ticket for not having a license plate on my boat trailer.
Next up, during the summer absolutely ever two weeks I am in a different state for racing and I pull a 32’ enclosed trailer with no license plate. I drive through numerous states all over the US every trip and put on about 35,000 miles a year for racing and not once have I got a ticket for no license plate.

Not stating laws here just experience!!!!!!!!

[rustedhook]

Seems to me if a state wanted your trailor tagged they would also want your boat registered to fish their water.

[creeker]

Here's my two cents... While its not required in Ky, and the cost isn't very prohibitive, why would you not want to just go ahead and get a plate if you're going out of state? I would think it'd be worth it for the lack of hassle. We can spend $100's on gas and new poles and reels and the latest, but not $20 on a license plate?

[artcarney_agr]

If a state requires it's residents to have a license plate on their boat trailer than anyone who enters that state pulling a boat must have one as well.

False.

A non-resident is exempt. Non-residents shall follow the laws of his/her state of residency.

A trailer license allows a state to collect more motor registration taxes. If you live in KY, you certainly don't pay motor registration taxes in TN, or any other state for that matter. Therefore, no trailer license is required.

KY merely sells the trailer license so as to avoid conflicts in other states, and/or lost time.

My gawd this is such a ridiculous display of know-it-alls......

[bigrod]

I'm right!!! Everyone else that doesn't agree with me is wrong!! LOL

[BPenrod]

False.

A non-resident is exempt. Non-residents shall follow the laws of his/her state of residency.

A trailer license allows a state to collect more motor registration taxes. If you live in KY, you certainly don't pay motor registration taxes in TN, or any other state for that matter. Therefore, no trailer license is required.

KY merely sells the trailer license so as to avoid conflicts in other states, and/or lost time.

My gawd this is such a ridiculous display of know-it-alls......

Preach on brother!!!!!

[FlyLie]

So many OPINIONS....

If I had a concern about this issue, believe I would just contact officials at "each state of interest" and inquire as to what "their law requires". Simple, yes.

Good Fishing to All,

[RoadToad]

Rather than just post an OPINION, I really wanted to know for sure what the truth was about this, so I made a few calls just now (hey, I'm home sick, not much else to do ). Of course, I got bounce around a bit, but I finally ended up speaking with a lady at Kentucky's Motor Vehicle Licensing, and she gave me the facts. Kentucky does not require a tag on your boat trailer, and other states are constitutionally required to honor each other's laws. I did a Google search, and found that it's the Full Faith and Credit Clause (Article IV, Section 1) of the Constitution that requires this. However, she also confirmed that it's not uncommon for police officers to issue citations anyway. If you go to court and show them a copy of the statute, you will win, but they strongly recommend just getting the tag to avoid being hassled. And she told me about one guy who went to court to fight one of these tickets, and failed to bring with him a copy of the statute, and the judge almost gave him 30 days for contempt of court, saying "It's not my job to look up other states' laws."

She also gave me another very valuable piece of information. There is a place on your registration for your signature, although in KY you are not required by law to sign it. But they are starting to hear stories of people being cited in other states for having unsigned registrations. It's the same deal, if you go to court with the statute in hand, you win, but me, I'm going sign all my registrations immediately, just to ward of hassles.

[bigrod]

Thank you Roadtoad for your confirmation. I hope you get well soon. I hate being sick and we are coming to a bad time of year for it.

[MagikSmallie]

Why spend the extra money when the law clearly does not require a tag?..I've been into many other states pulling a boat, Oh, TN, SC, Fl...and never had a problem, I did get pulled in ohio and then the officer came to my window and said "ohh I just realized you were from KY...have a nice day!" If its not required by law why spend money on it, thats my view...especially having no previous problems!

[sglass]

Thats what they are taught downtown. I dont think it was "required" but a couple years ago. I agree that if you are nice to the officer then 9 times out of 10 you will be good to go. I have yet to take my boat out of state so I can just speak from what my aunt told me. She has worked for the county clerks office for years so I do believe her when she tells me it is not required in KY but required to haul your trailer out of state. It is more of a "cover your own arse" policy by the state I do believe and probably another way for the state to gain money honestly.