Trailer license plate

[Doctordestiny]

I have two small utility trailers. ONe has a license plate, the other does not. Can I use the plate from one on the other or do I have to get its own plate? I believe that license plates for these trailers are for the life of the trailer and don't have to be renewed.

[Ford Prefect]

As I understand it trailer license plates are linked to the owner and not the trailer. When I got mine they told me to keep it if I quit using it on the trailer that I got it for and use it on any future trailers I might own. Therefore I don' see why you couldn't transfer the plate back and forth between a couple different trailers.

[jolinar of malkshor]

You need a plate for each trailer, however, once you register it once it is good for a life time. If you do sell the trailer the plate cannot be transfered to the new owner, hence, that is why ford perfect was told that the plate is linked to the owner.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

You need a plate for each trailer, however, once you register it once it is good for a life time. If you do sell the trailer the plate cannot be transfered to the new owner, hence, that is why ford perfect was told that the plate is linked to the owner.

I was also told I could use it on any subsequent trailer, be they boat, RV or just for hauling. Perhaps the lady at the registry office was wrong, but that's what I was told. That's why I figured a person can swap the plate from trailer to trailer freely.

PS-It's Ford Prefect, rather than Perfect. He's a character from a series of novels. I just wanted to clear that up because I don't want people thinking I'm a Ford automobile fan ... Fords suck for the most part IMO.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

I was also told I could use it on any subsequent trailer, be they boat, RV or just for hauling. Perhaps the lady at the registry office was wrong, but that's what I was told. That's why I figured a person can swap the plate from trailer to trailer freely.

PS-It's Ford Prefect, rather than Perfect. He's a character from a series of novels. I just wanted to clear that up because I don't want people thinking I'm a Ford automobile fan ... Fords suck for the most part IMO.

You can use it on any subsequent trailer in the sense that if you sell your current trailer and buy another one, you can transfer the plate to the new trailer - but it cannot be used at the same time.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Madman

You can use it on any subsequent trailer in the sense that if you sell your current trailer and buy another one, you can transfer the plate to the new trailer - but it cannot be used at the same time.

Okay ... that makes sense.

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by Madman

You can use it on any subsequent trailer in the sense that if you sell your current trailer and buy another one, you can transfer the plate to the new trailer - but it cannot be used at the same time.

That may be true for any trailer that does not have a serial number, but any with a serial number requires it's own plate. (i think)

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Frankster

That may be true for any trailer that does not have a serial number, but any with a serial number requires it's own plate. (i think)

That's definitely not what I was told when I registered my holiday trailer. She said very clearly that I could use my plate on any subsequent holiday trailers I might buy, and one would expect holiday trailers to who serial numbers. That's all assuming the registry lady that told me this know what she was talking about.

[4X4]

I have a trailer plate that I've used on a few different trailers. It says permanent trailer on the sticker and I know I don't have to renew it. As far as I know, I can use it on anything attached to my vehicle. I assumed that my trailer plate was registered to my drivers license number and any time the plate is visible, they know who (assumably) is operating the vehicle towing the trailer.

[Doctordestiny]

So is there much risk if I just just move my one plate over to the other trailer for the occasional time I would use it without getting the second trailer its own plate?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Doctordestiny

So is there much risk if I just just move my one plate over to the other trailer for the occasional time I would use it without getting the second trailer its own plate?

I'd do it, but you might want to check with a registry agent just to make sure in case the person I got my info from didn't know what she was talking about.

[Doctordestiny]

Or I could just say (if ever stopped): "Gee, officer, I was told that I could move plates between my trailers. Are you sure this isn't okay? Guess I'll have to get it registered when I get home, huh."