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Dreamnair · 06-20-2015, 06:25 AM

We own an Airstream titled and registered in Texas but kept full time in Minnesota. Every year when we want to renew the license we get grief from the county clerk because we can't provide a state inspection (so far they've waived it but I'm not sure that will last).

Would we be better off re-titling in MN (where we understand there is no inspection requirement)?

Is there another state that caters to RV'ers? We heard that Maine is a great place to license trailers (5 year renewal, no inspection requirement), but their plan doesn't apply to trailers with sleeping facilities.

Is there a downside to having title to a trailer in a state other than where you live?

Rich W · 06-20-2015, 07:02 AM

Kentucky requires the initial out of state inspection which includes a safety inspection for mobile homes. After that it's an annual renewal of the license. I don't think you can title it here unless you live here. There is also property tax that must be paid each year.

dkottum · 06-20-2015, 07:12 AM

No inspections in Minnesota. The only downside I can see is if your insurance company is licensed (or whatever) to cover the Airstream titled in Minnesota. You may have to provide an address in the state, call a licensing office in the county where you keep it and ask.

Zil · 06-20-2015, 08:08 AM

Do you have to renew the tags if you are not in texas?

**Kevin245** · 06-20-2015, 08:13 AM

Is the rig sitting on a permanent site, or do you move it on public roads? If the rig isn't on the road you could consider simply forfeiting the license tags and do away with your recurring trouble.

shermantic · 06-20-2015, 08:20 AM

West Virginia Requires NO Inspection on RV's.

PeterH-350LE · 06-20-2015, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin245

Is the rig sitting on a permanent site, or do you move it on public roads? If the rig isn't on the road you could consider simply forfeiting the license tags and do away with your recurring trouble.

Yes, you can do title only in Texas and still have it insured.
No plates, but it is now mandatory in Texas to have inspection to get license and plates

Mrjkq · 06-20-2015, 08:44 AM

To my knowledge most if not all states require a instate address to register a motor vehicle. Many RVers use the state of Montana to avoid sales tax (no state sales tax) & register there RV's. It is necessary to form a LLC in Montana & establish a Montana address. Their are companies that specialize in setting up this LLC, provide the address, take care of the registration & provide the license plate. The one time fee for this depending on the provider is usually around a thousand dollars. The incentive to do this is in the sales tax savings. Also. Montana has no annual inspection and for travel trailer the registration & plate fee is a one time event, not annual, once done you're registered for as long as you own the trailer

m.hony · 06-20-2015, 10:32 AM

Mississippi requires no trailer inspection whatsoever. We just go to the courthouse with a Bill of Sale and buy a license plate.

graysailor · 06-20-2015, 10:46 AM

South Dakota.

beatrix1 · 06-20-2015, 11:02 AM

I keep the trailers (and cars) titled and registered in Indiana because no inspection, low registration cost and lower insurance. We are Indiana residents. But two of the trailers live in Georgia where we have a house. Looked into moving the license but would cost lots more to do so. Both states will do bill of sale titles, which is nice dealing with "project" trailers where no title can be found.

Ag&Au · 06-20-2015, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graysailor

South Dakota.

I believe I see more RVs with SD plates than there are people in SD. There must be some good reason.

Ken

dino242 · 06-20-2015, 12:45 PM

I believe in Louisiana we are supposed to get an annual inspection, but, you can register the trailer with a "permanent" plate for $70 (plus whatever other state fees).

gr.austin · 06-20-2015, 02:52 PM

South Dakota works great for us. We set up a mail service since we travel a lot and registered our trailer there. NO Inspections, NO Sales Tax, just a 3% excise tax. Registration can be done by internet no extra fees or the girls at my mail service will do it for you. Mail service is great. Done by Dakota Post in Sioux Falls.

cwf · 06-20-2015, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zil

Do you have to renew the tags if you are not in texas?

Yup.. And inspect over 4500#. Yearly. If out of Texas you can renew online and specify the trailer is "not in the state" and you have 4 days to inspect once back.

Dreamnair · 06-20-2015, 08:40 PM

I believe whoever oversees trailer parks in MN requires that all trailers have current stickers/plates. We also have to move the trailer to storage in the fall and back in the spring, so a current license is pretty much required.

Dreamnair · 06-20-2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwf

Yup.. And inspect over 4500#. Yearly. If out of Texas you can renew online and specify the trailer is "not in the state" and you have 4 days to inspect once back.

Great tip on renewing online. I think part of the problem is that some county clerks don't know about the self-certification option.

Thiatt55 · 06-21-2015, 06:46 AM

No sales tax, permanent trailer plates after 1 years fee. You need to form a montana LLC but there are numerous firms that will provide that service. I did it for my truck and AS. There was no inspection required. Most importantly here in California you do not want to register your vehicles in your personal name (in another state) and then drive around with a CA drivers license. That will cost you. But once they are in an LLC then the vehicles are the property of the corporation, they can live (be licensed) where ever they want. So far no one has questioned it. Has worked great.

07007 · 06-21-2015, 11:08 AM

Ditto Austin on full time 6 yrs with Mailbox America from rapid city SD. Plus insurance rates lower for auto and Medicare all you have to do is stay one night in SD and register for citerenship. We reg veh and voted the same day we arrived! 5 yr driver lic but with new Homeland securiy rules you must reg in person in every state in your lic state you r reg in

Minno · 06-21-2015, 11:19 AM

You need to be a resident of MN in order to title the trailer in MN. Our Navy son ran into trouble getting insurance for his trailer that we were going to store for him when he got transferred to Hawaii. No one would give him insurance if he wasn't living in the state the trailer was in, or if the tow vehicle wasn't licensed in the same state as the trailer was in. He ended up transferring title to us so we could store and insure it while he was gone.
I don't think, for you, that will work.

Kay