There are a few legal requirements when it comes to towing your own trailer. You need to check it is within the maximum legal width (usually 2.55m), that you have connected trailer lights to it, that you are using approved tow bars, and that you’ve got a number plate displayed on the back. If, for example, you don’t have the right trailer lights then you should go to Truck Electrics (truckelectrics.com) and buy lights that will be right for your trailer and car. Otherwise, other motorists won’t be able to see you indicate or break which isn’t legal. However, before you can worry about any of these legal requirements, you need to make sure it’s registered.
The past week, two people have mentioned how they register their trailer in Maine and how much less expensive it is to do than to register in Massachusetts. In addition to saving money on registration, trailer owners may want to look at getting something like 205 75r14 trailer tires to ensure that the tires wear evenly resulting in less frequent replacements. I went on the web and found this article from the Portland Press Herald in Delaware. Here are some hi-lights:
- Unlike most states, Maine allows nonresidents to register trailers for one to 12 years at a time, at a fraction of what other states charge – about $12 versus at least $40 in Delaware. Agents also make it easy to register via mail, fax or email.
- Trailer registrations account for $13.7 million of the annual revenue generated by vehicle registrations in Maine, said Barbara Redmond, Maine’s chief deputy secretary of state.She said Maine has nearly 771,000 registered long-term trailers and 280,000 annual trailer registrations. Officials would not provide a breakdown of registrations by residency.
How easy is it? Check out this website National Trailer Registration. I wonder how much revenue the Commonwealth of Massachusetts loses on this??
