MN trailer (under 3,000 lb GVRW) license registration question

Mark W

Mark W

Well-known member
Purchased another watercraft last weekend. Boat was originally from WI but I am registering it in MN. Trailer also was part of the purchase.

As I was speaking with the lady behind the counter regarding the lifetime trailer registrations sticker, she said to make sure I put it on the right (as in correct) side of the trailer. When I asked which side that was, she said I can look it up. I did look it up and all the reg's say is that it has to be up near the tongue. Nothing special about which side of the trailer it needs to be on.

Trying to call the DMV is impossible (was on hold over an hour last week and never got to anyone) due to the MNLARS major fiasco. Anyone know if there is a requirement for placing the sticker on one side or the other?

Thanks -

Mark
 
Good question Mark, I think mine are on the left(facing foreword) side of the tongue. You probably will have to wait until they spend all the surplus budget on fixing the system to get an answer. Since I have so much free time I can help you search. :<)) It makes sense that the only common sense DMV reg. in recent history would get messed up. Just leave it all registered in Wisc.
 
Subd. 3a.Small trailer.
If the vehicle is a trailer with 3,000 pounds or less GVW with lifetime registration, the numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the trailer frame tongue near the hitch.

After reading the statute, my conclusion is on the either left or right side, not the "top side".
 
Ron Schuna said:
Subd. 3a.Small trailer.
If the vehicle is a trailer with 3,000 pounds or less GVW with lifetime registration, the numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the trailer frame tongue near the hitch.

After reading the statute, my conclusion is on the either left or right side, not the "top side".
Click to expand...

Yep, this is what I could find and no particular side was mentioned. Maybe the lady at the license center was confused. I have a week before going back to stick it to the trailer.

Mark
 
Tom Scholberg said:
Good question Mark, I think mine are on the left(facing foreword) side of the tongue. You probably will have to wait until they spend all the surplus budget on fixing the system to get an answer. Since I have so much free time I can help you search. :<)) It makes sense that the only common sense DMV reg. in recent history would get messed up. Just leave it all registered in Wisc.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought about leaving the trailer "registered" in WI but I was titling/registering the boat in MN so I don't have to pay a sales tax. Thought it would be goofy to do the boat tin MN and the trailer in WI so I just did them both in MN. $87 for the trailer in MN if you can believe it. $51 for the boat. Would have been a lot more if all done in WI.

Mark
 
Would make sense to put it on the drive side (left side facing forward), since law enforcement usually approaches from that side.
 
Mark W said:
Ron Schuna said:
Subd. 3a.Small trailer.
If the vehicle is a trailer with 3,000 pounds or less GVW with lifetime registration, the numbered plate or sticker must be adhered to the side of the trailer frame tongue near the hitch.

After reading the statute, my conclusion is on the either left or right side, not the "top side".
Click to expand...

Yep, this is what I could find and no particular side was mentioned. Maybe the lady at the license center was confused. I have a week before going back to stick it to the trailer.

Mark
Click to expand...

It would make sense to me that it be adhered to the left (drivers) side of the tongue. Reasoning being the left hand taillight has the built in light to illuminate the trailer plate (when plate is required) therefore putting the sticker on the same side would be reasonable. An officer stopping you on a roadway will typically be walking up to you and your vehicle on the left side as well. Putting the sticker on the left side means he does not have to step over the tongue or walk around the rig, to check said sticker.

PS: Carl types faster than I and we both come from states which pass laws which make sense, unlike Mark's home state. "near" the hitch??? as in 5 inches? 5 feet? 5 meters?
 
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you guys are lucky you have never been to CT's DMV, which is in the land of make believe.

Every time I want to buy another boat i think about having to go back. its such a pain in the ass, i just swap plates to drag around an unregistered trailer anyway.
 

Here in AL, we don't even have to register boat trailers, its covered under the boat registeration.
 
Mark

Trailer registrations are not required in MN, correct? But I believe for insurance or tracking you have the choice to do so. If not, I may have some paperwork to do [:)]
 
MARK,
HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM HERE IN N.J.THEY THINK THEY ARE GOD HERE N.J. AS WELL, THEY CAN BE A REAL PAIN
WHAT I DID TO SOLVE IT WAS GO TO A LARGE BOAT TRAILER DEALER ,SAW WHAT THEY HAD ON ALL THERE NEW TRAILERS TOOK A PICTURE OF THERE DECAL WHICH WAS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE,. AND MADE UP A DECAL JUST THE WAY THE NEW MFG. DOES IT PUT ON THE TRAILER I BOUGHT USED ,TOOK A PHOTO OF IT TOOK IT IN TO THE N.J. MV. DEPT & THEN MADE A NEW REGISTRATION FOR ME WITH NO PROBLEM
 
The local license agent told me to mount the sticker on top of the trailer tongue. That is how all of my (3) trailers are marked, and they can be seen easily by a passing vehicle since the hitch is fairly low to the ground.

Miller
Wabasha, MN
 
James A. Miller said:
The local license agent told me to mount the sticker on top of the trailer tongue. That is how all of my (3) trailers are marked, and they can be seen easily by a passing vehicle since the hitch is fairly low to the ground.

Miller
Wabasha, MN
Click to expand...

Given how the statute is worded, it is a bit vague. One could correctly argue that there are four "sides" to the trailer tongue. Those sides being the left side, the right side, the bottom side and the top side.
 
This is design by committee...

Likely, the loose definition waa created to cover the person with a tongue jacjbthst viukd be on the left OR the right side of the trailer, and when it us folded up that person would be guilty of covering their license.

Like sooooo many yhings Minnesota, i'I just thankful they actually got lifetime license passed.... the details, meh.
 
Dave~

Would it be thinking outside of the box to consider mounting it on the "inside"???

In NYS, our stickers go on the license plate - a new one each year.

All the best,

SJS
 
Steve Sanford said:
Dave~

Would it be thinking outside of the box to consider mounting it on the "inside"???

In NYS, our stickers go on the license plate - a new one each year.

All the best,

SJS
Click to expand...

Steve,
LOL ; First you say outside then you say inside,,,,,,,,,,,,, make up your mind!!!!!!!!! [;)] I can't with a clear conscious recommend the "inside".
 
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