Trucks & Trailers - Does a Boat Trailer need to be Registered and have License Plates in the State of NY?

Hello,

I bought a boat and its trailer last week from Out of State. I received the Title for the Boat, signed off to myself, and I received the Title to the Trailer. It has no license plates on it.
However, when I presented my paperwork to the DMV (NY State), they want me to Register the Trailer and put License Plates on it. My telling them that it was a custom boat trailer meant only for that boat, did not mean much in front of them.

Am I being mis-guided by a Supervisor who knows less, or have rules recently changed?

Thank you for any information.
Rgds

...when I presented my paperwork to the DMV (NY State), they want me to Register the Trailer and put License Plates on it. My telling them that it was a custom boat trailer meant only for that boat, did not mean much in front of them.How to Register a Trailer that is Homemade or Custom-built (http://www.dmv.ny.gov/trailer.htm).

Tipsy

If other boat trailers in your state have to be registered to be hauled down the road then so does yours. If you can somehow prove the trailer will not be used on public roadways you might have a chance at getting by without registration but I doubt it......it is after-all tax NY wants to collect.

It only needs to be registered if it is to be used on the street!

needs to be registered and have a plate, just like every other trailer in NY.

Folks,
Thank you.

Prishi,

I just wanted to pass along a tip. Unlike a boat or car, NY State trailer registrations are for the calendar year: Jan through Dec. Since you probably won't need or use your trailer for the first 3 months of the year, you can delay the registration until the month you will start trailering (in my case April) and DMV will pro-rate the registration amount. It saves you a bit of cash and this year it only took a week from the time I submitted my renewal (online) and the time my new license plate sticker showed up in the mail.

Enjoy your new boat.

-- Fly Rod NYC

Seriously??

Yes, seriously. From the NY State DMV FAQ page:

Can I renew my trailer registration later in the year?

Yes. Trailer registrations are valid for one year and expire on December 31. If you will not begin to use your trailer until after December 31, you can renew the registration on a later date, but the expiration date of the renewed registration will be December 31. The pro-rated registration fee you pay is a lower fee. The amount of the fee depends on the date that the DMV processes your renewal.

You must have a valid registration and a plate sticker to use the trailer. Make sure that you process your online registration renewal a minimum of two weeks before the date that you need the registration documents.

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/renew/rrnFAQ.htm#trailer

Have fun! ;cool;