Trailer Tags when towing to Michigan/Ohio

[goatee_guy]

I'm headed up to Lake St. Clair near Detroit Michigan next week for some smallmouth fishing and was wondering if anyone knew what the laws were there for trailer tags/registration for out of state visitors, and if I could possible get pulled over for not having them on my trailer (as well as Ohio, Indiana since they also require trailer title/registration unlike Ky).

Any help is appreciated. My KY DMV was not very helpful, and said if I'm concern, then title/register it (but I don't want to spend the $ every year if I don't have to).

Thanks all!

[yellow20xd]

Your state laws apply... Dan

[Fisherjoe]

As long as you are legal in your home state, you should be OK. To be on the safe side, make sure you have a copies of titles and any other paperwork to show ownership of the boat in the state of KY. Some states, such as Florida I believe, want proof of insurance as well. My insurance company has a standard proof-of-insurance form that they will issue for going out of state.

You might also contact the Michigan DMV for more details.

Good luck fishing!

Joe

[Grumpy]

My fishing buddy and I have been going to Michigan almost every year since 1989. We have gone up through Indiana (I-65 & I-69) and through Ohio (I-71/75) and all over Michigan. We have been followed and passed by many State Troopers and never pulled over for a trailer violation.

Grumpy

[walkeraviator]

This is like going to a state with a front bumper tag. You will see every cop in teh world take the extra effort to check your rear tag to make sure youa re out of state, then they just keep going. I was in TX once in my old wrangler and a motorcycle cop almost wrecked as he rubber necked to see my plate while he was driving past me in the oposite direction.

[twise7]

Actually, I just went in to renew my trailer’s plate two weeks ago and the lady at the DMV here in Oldham County specifically told me that when it comes to boat trailers that you have to follow the laws of "whatever" state you are in.
I quote, "Even though Kentucky does not require you to have a plate on your trailer, if you travel to/through a state that does, per that states law you are required to have a plate on your trailer".
Honestly, do I think a cop will pull someone over because of this "oversight"? No - but why take the chance? Seems kinda ridiculous to me (and the lady at the DMV) but for a few extra dollars and a little paper work, it’s well worth it.

[creeker]

If you don't go up there every year, you won't have to have your trailer plated each year. You can do it just for this year, can't you?

[bigrod]

Lady at the dmv is wrong. You don't have to tag a boat trailer in KY therefor that applies to every state we travel through. Now if you are taking it too Canada or Mexico it needs a tag.

[MagikSmallie]

Lady at the dmv is wrong. You don't have to tag a boat trailer in KY therefor that applies to every state we travel through. Now if you are taking it too Canada or Mexico it needs a tag.

I second that!

[dac244]

My father inlaw and I was pulled over in florida one year for no plate on the boat trailer. we told them we had fished all week and was on are way back home even though it was are first day there. The officer told us the trailer needed to be licensed if we was staying for any period of time.

[goatee_guy]

Thanks guys for all the responses.

I've posed the question to the Michigan DMV and will share their answer when I get it.

I'll be making the MI trip about once a year, as well as travel to other states with similar trailer registration laws, so the question has been bugging me a little. It's one of those things that would ruin a perfectly good fishing trip.

[RoadToad]

Kentucky doesn't require the tag, and the Interstate Commerce Act requires other states to honor that law. Thing is, cops in other states aren't required to know what Kentucky's law is, so they can, and do, write tickets to Kentucky drivers who don't have their trailers tagged. Go to court with the proper documentation and you'll beat it, but do you really want to have to drive back to wherever you got the ticket just to go to court? The tag is cheap in comparison.