I'm New, But Do States Require Tags On Pop-ups?
NJ does and the the tow vehicle's insurance covers the camper while it is being towed. I always assumed all states required tags :book: .
Some do, some do not. In Minnesota, it depends on the weight of the trailer (I think). But if you cross state lines, better have tags. The state you go to is not going to be familiar with your home state's rules.
Austin
Tennessee does not. I used to carry a copy of the law that said so, just in case I got a smart-aleck trooper, although I have never had any problems with troopers. (For all you LEO's out there, there are 5 smart-aleck nurses for every smart aleck trooper.)
Larry
On edit: I found this out yesterday (see my longer post below): If you register the vehicle, you must buy tags at least once. I had to buy tags for a trailer that I have already traded in. But I'm OK with that.
i am in tn, but if i visit a state that requires a tag, will i need one?
No but you'd better have a copy of the Tenn law so when you do get stopped you can show it to the officer and not have to explain it to a judge after the officer gives you a ticket.
IIRC it's only a $10 fee for a plate in Tenn. JMHO but it's worth it if you do a lot of out of state camping.
Quote from: munchkini am in tn, but if i visit a state that requires a tag, will i need one?
What should apply is the laws of your own state, but that could be a problem.
A state trooper in Kentucky or Virginia is not going to know (or really care) about the rules in Tennessee. If he does cite you, you will need to go to a hearing (months after your visit) and prove to a judge that they are not required in Tennessee, so reciprocity should apply. You'll get off, but it will be a pain in the ***.
States that do not require plates will usually issue them for a fee if you want them.
Austin
Quote from: AustinBostonWhat should apply is the laws of your own state, but that could be a problem.
A state trooper in Kentucky or Virginia is not going to know (or really care) about the rules in Tennessee. If he does cite you, you will need to go to a hearing (months after your visit) and prove to a judge that they are not required in Tennessee, so reciprocity should apply. You'll get off, but it will be a pain in the ***.
States that do not require plates will usually issue them for a fee if you want them.
Austin
thanks everyone!!
Vegas requires that you have tags and it sucks that we have to renew them every year!!!!!
Va requires tags and yearly inspection if equipped with brakes the good side is that you can get permanent tags for a little more than yearly tags. it's the only way to go :-()
Quote from: AustinBostonSome do, some do not. In Minnesota, it depends on the weight of the trailer (I think). But if you cross state lines, better have tags. The state you go to is not going to be familiar with your home state's rules.
Austin
Actually, AB ~ all trailers need plates in Minnesota. RV (including PUs, TTs, etc) plates get new tabs every year. Small utility trailers get a lifetime registration. Details here.
Hey! Did I really just know something AB didn't? [/SIZE]
Quote from: Kelly
Actually, AB ~ all trailers need plates in Minnesota. RV (including PUs, TTs, etc) plates get new tabs every year. Small utility trailers get a lifetime registration. Details here.
Hey! Did I really just know something AB didn't?
Yes, you did, but not quite...you can pay just a little more and get a
two-year sticker for that plate. Our tags expire in February 2009. Also, for small utility trailers (those with a lifetime registration) no tag is issued; a sticker is placed on the tongue. This registration is not available for a "trailer equipped as temporary human living quarters" (a.k.a. camper).
Austin
LMAO ~ I just knew it was too good to be true! ;) :) :D
Quote from: KellyLMAO ~ I just knew it was too good to be true! ;) :) :D
The important thing is you bothered to find the link to the pamphlet; I didn't even look for the rules and just shot from the hip.
Austin
As an LEO in NC who works strictly with traffic enforcement, it is common knowledge that the laws of the resident state cover the vehicle, not the state you are visiting. To be safe you can do what others have said and bring a copy of the law, but that's no guarantee. You have to have some proof of ownership (bill of sale, title, etc). if you don't have tags, carry that with you to show it to the officer. The trailer is required by federal law to have a VIN so if the officer is wondering if it stolen they can run the VIN even if the trailer is not required to be registered in your state.
If you were to get stopped, don't argue. you can explain it to the officer, but don't argue. You'll end up with a ticket for sure. if they write the ticket, just deal with it.....
as others have said, the best insurance is to pay for the tag and avoid any problems.
travis
Quote from: tknickIf you were to get stopped, don't argue. you can explain it to the officer, but don't argue. You'll end up with a ticket for sure. if they write the ticket, just deal with it.....
as others have said, the best insurance is to pay for the tag and avoid any problems.
travis
Agree with Travis.
Without going into too much detail, on our recently-traded popup, the title was damaged. I went to register (and pay taxes and get license tag, etc.), but I was told over and over again that it couldn't be fixed. I went at least twice, I think 3 times, to talk to different people. Basic story was that I couldn't fix it. So, I believed it.
Now that I have traded it, the accepting dealer (appropriately) said they couldn't take the trailer in trade with a damaged title (it had been written on in the wrong places). And that I had to find the person whose name was on that title.
Now, my story is going to have a good ending. Turns out the fellow that owned it and had it titled lives nearby. I got a temporary power-of-attorney (through a simple signed, notarized letter) to go downtown Nashville and apply for a duplicate title on his behalf. I did so (on Tuesday, as a matter of fact), and he then signed the title over to me, as if selling it (we bought the trailer nearly 6 years ago). I have now paid taxes, title and license on the unit, and am waiting on the title that has MY name on it, so I can send it to the dealer. He already has it tentatively sold.
Over the past 6 years, I have done exactly what Travis suggested: I carried a copy of the law that said it didn't have to have tags, and also we carried the title with us in the truck. I also am not an arguer, especially with LEO's. I would have just suffered the consequences had I been ticketed, even though I thought I was doing the best I could. The lesson is that it can be fixed, especially if you can find the original person on the title.
I also must modify/add to a statement in an earlier post: If you register the vehicle, you must buy tags at least once. I had to buy tags for a trailer that I have already traded in. But I'm OK with that.
Larry
We had to follow basically the same process Brainpause went through. The only difference was that the original owner had never titled the camper at all--one stop and that was all taken care of. Our dealer didn't care whose name was on the title, so we didn't transfer the title. (We did pay all fees associated with obtaining the title and tags and got a notarized letter from the owner giving us the authority to trade in "his" camper.) All of this was exactly what the dealer advised us to do.
We have tags on the current pop-up. It costs $14.75/year for this. Pretty cheap and worth avoiding potential head-aches.
New York requires everything that a regular car has. We had to register our new-to-us popup last year($215) and every year after that($21.50). It also has to be inspected yearly, the sticker number having to be put on the new registration request. Also, your TV insurance does not cover your camper. We have amended our auto insurance and put the popup on there. It isn't very expensive and anyone who thinks that their TV insurance covers what you tow, you better look into it. Hope this info helps!
Quote from: Crazy4CampingAlso, your TV insurance does not cover your camper.
This comes up again and again, usually from people who do not know what they mean by insurance. The two main types of vehicle insurance are
Liability and
Comprehensive.
I assure you that in New York, your tow vehicle insurance covers the trailer for
liability (when you or your trailer caused injury or damage) when connected to the tow vehicle. For states requiring insurance, this is all that is required. So if your tow vehicle is insured, you are legal (with one exception below).
What is rarely covered by the tow vehicle is comprehensive (includes things like fire, theft, or damage to trailer that is your fault or that was caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver). No state
requires comprehensive insurance
unless you have a loan on the vehicle.
What is also never covered by the tow vehicle is anything relating to the trailer when it is
not connected to the tow vehicle, such as when parked at home or set up at a campground. Some forms of homeowners insurance extend to the trailer under these circumstances, but not always.
QuoteWe have amended our auto insurance and put the popup on there. It isn't very expensive and anyone who thinks that their TV insurance covers what you tow, you better look into it.
Always a god idea. Another wise idea is to use the same insurance carrier and agent for all three - home, auto, and trailer. If they get in a battle about who covers what, they end up just battling themselves. This arrangement gives us a substantial discount on both our auto and homeowners insurance as well.
Austin
Quote from: badabing67Va requires tags and yearly inspection if equipped with brakes the good side is that you can get permanent tags for a little more than yearly tags. it's the only way to go :-()
Where do you go to get the inspections for these things? I am not sure If I have had an inspection on mine... I live in VA
I go to the local automotive repair shop that does state inspections. They just check the lights and brake function, to check the brakes they pull the breakaway cable and i drive forward the tires lock up and it passes.