Living in NY, Registering a Trailer in Maine

[TrigonDave]

I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic for this forum, but I wanted to ask if anyone out there has registered a trailer in Maine while living in a different state?

I was told by 2 different people that there are large savings by doing this. I live in NY. To register my race trailer in NY is $60/yr. In Maine, the same trailer in $22/yr, and you can register for multiple years if you want.

Anybody have any insight into this?

Thanks in advance.

jagerracer

[NickKent]

If you have property or an address in ME than I think you can do it. IMHO I wouldn't bother about the amount of $$ saved. May end up being more trouble than it is worth when you have to renew registration.

[OMCUSNR]

Recent post on this subject

[Scottb NY]

you do NOT need an address in Maine to register that trailer.

[TrigonDave]

Below are 2 posts from guys on my race forum where I posed the same question about their race trailers. It appears that I can have a company in Maine act as my Power of Attorney in Maine to register the trailer. I am going to contact the company below, get the correct info from them, and then post a follow up here with my results.

JagerRacer
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
Nov 9 2007, 08:42 AM

I always wondered why when looking at big rig trailers on the highway, they were only from a few states...

R. Hunter (who owns a trucking business) and Jake G. let me in on their secret. There are companies where you appoint as the power of attorney for this transaction, and it's totally legal obviously in the trucking business done quite frequently. I did it for my trailer last year and it was a very simple / painless transaction. For the life of me I can't remember the company's name. Jake G., do you know it off hand?

D.G.
--------------------

It's the Stabb agency in, I think, Booth Hill, ME. I used it as an end around, as my trailer is a 1987, and CT would NOT register it because it has no title. It was previously registered in Mass, and THEY don't require a title for an old trailer. CT however, as a ladder shoved up their butt, and wasted hours of my time waiting in line after line just to tell me "Tough luck buddy, think of this before you buy your next trailer".

I called Maine. 8 years of registration for $100, plates delivered the next day. CT always makes themselves look like idiots compared to every other state when it comes to the DMV....

Jake G.
--------------------

[TrigonDave]

OK all,

Here's the Dillio.

To Jake G's point, the agency that he used is:

STAAB AGENCY
Shirley St. Pierre / Statutory Agent
P.O. Box 942 / 259 Goose Hill Road
Jefferson, ME 04348
800-648-8805 Tel.
207-549-7541 Tel.
207-549-7638 Fax
207-549-5138 Fax.
staab@staabagency.com


Here's an outline of the attached documents that were faxed to me today:

Staab Cover - The Staab agency is a Statutory Agent that represents out-of-state individuals and companies at the Maine DMV in order to obtain a Maine license plate for your trailer. Maine is a 15 year title state. If your trailer is older than 15yrs, all you need to show is a Bill of Sale or a prior registration. If it is newer than 15 years and more than 3000lbs dry weight, you must provide them with a copy of the existing title already in your name, or an original title to be titled in Maine. Under 3000lbs is exempt. You must provide them with
1. Phone Number, Date of Birth if an individual customer, or Federal ID if a company.
2. Correct amount of money (Check or Visa/MC accepted)
3. The Power of Attorney for filled out, signed, AND NOTARIZED (paid by customer)
* Maine trailer plates expire on the last day of February for the year in which you register. The company will notify you prior to the expiration.

Staab POA - The Power of Attorney document. This allows Staab to act on your behalf in the State of Maine to license the trailer. The fees collected also apply to the titling of the vehicle in Maine. this document DOES NOT give them the ability to sell, lease, trade, utilize, or dispose of vehicles. POA fee = $20.00

Staab New Registration Form - Your registration will have your name at the top, with the Staab Agency's Maine address.

Staab Charges - Fee schedule for going through their agency.

Staab Annual Program - Fee schedule for registering annually.

Staab Long Term Program - Fee shedule for multi-year registration of your trailer.
Example:
5yr (1-9 trailers) $87/each
8yr (1-9 trailers) $138/each
12yr (1-9 trailers) $206/each

Same Day with Overnight service: 1-4 plates $20.00 per plate. 5+ plates $10 per plate.

Lastly, I asked the very helpful lady if I EVER need to bring my trailer to Maine to be inspected. She replied that MAINE DOES NOT REQUIRE TRAILER INSPECTIONS.

I've scanned in the documents described above. If someone wants to host them on your website, let me know and I'll email them to you.

I hope this info helps everyone.

Regards,

Dave A.

[Greenie]

I've had travel trailers in Maine for over 25 years, I still am really skeptical, but I'll give Staab a call and see what happens. These plates are LT (long term) and not intended for personal use - but as much as I hate giving Maine back what little money they allow me to keep, I'll try and report back.

[TrigonDave]

Fed Ex just dropped off the trailer plate.

Plate Stamped:
Maine Exp 2.28.13

Received 2 copies of the trailer Registration (My Name, their mailing address),
Application for Certificate of Title in Maine (to receive later)
C.Card Receipt for $162.75.

No specific line charge of Maine Sales Tax.

***********************

In my other hand is the NY Registration Renewal for my 16ft enclosed trailer : $60.25/yr.

I don't think so !!

[Greenie]

Interesting. I'll call tomorrow to see if I can get the same deal. Thanks for the update!

[Greenie]

Update,
The state of Maine doesn't permit it's subjects...ahem... residents to register travel trailers or 5th wheels for more than a year at a time. Shelly at the Staab Agency said that if they tried, Maine's DMV would kick it back. So, we're both right, sort of.
Maybe I can register my trailer in New York [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img]

[Scottb NY]

register it for a year and do the renewals via mail. No middleman needed

[Greenie]

The whole point was to get around Maine's excise tax when I re-register the trailer. It's well over $100 a year for a 10 year old trailer. Maine has one of the highest vehicle registration rates in the US.
A $100,000 motor home would cost about $2,800 just to get a plate for the first year of ownership. Sales tax is paid as well, but the registration excise tax is paid every year. The amount decreases as the vehicle ages but in the $100K example cited here the excise tax will never be less than a grand a year.

[benoy]

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