Permanent Trailer Identification Plates

JO

JOEALAN

Guest
Good day,

I was talking to my uncle who has a 5th wheel and he applied for and received (State of California) permanent trailer license plates. What he is telling me he doesn't have to pay no more annual registration fee's.
I wish I new that a few weeks ago before I paid mind. The state of California double the fees to registrator vehicles and trailors. I paid $77 in 2008 and this year $144.00.

Just wanted to let everyone know, check with your state DMV and see if it is cost effective to get Permanent Plates. You can search in the net,
Permanent Trailer Identification Plates, California (your state).

May all of you have great camping trips.

Joe
 
JOEALAN said:
Just wanted to let everyone know, check with your state DMV and see if it is cost effective to get Permanent Plates.
Click to expand...


That's Very Good Advice....

Here In Virginia It Was $45.00 Per Year Or $100.00 For A 1 Time Permanent Plate Fee. I Forked Over The $100.00 Now I'm Good For Ever
 
Yeah, I've got permanent plates on all of my trailers down here in LA. We are the king of the fee states, and you never know what kind of increased fees you will get the next year.

You don't want to get me started on insurance costs here. You can pay your insurance for a year in my state, then the company can come back and collect even more from you if they get a rate increase approved during that time frame.
 
Viriginia also has permanent plates. I think it takes about 3 1/2 years to recoup the cost over yearly plates. The plates cannot be transferred, so if you sell the trailer the money is gone. So you gotta kinda figure whether you are going to keep the trailer for a long period or not.

Also, if you have yearly plates, you can get permanent at any time........with additional monies, of course.
 
I have permanent California plates on my TM. They require no additional fees, except $10 every 5 years to "update their records".

Dave
 
Dave,

Living in Ca and just paying two months ago my renewal, how do I go about getting/adding a permanent plate? I went on the DMV website and, of course, got totally confused. Or would it just be easier to go down to my local DMV and fill out the forms there?

Mike Anderson
 
Mike,

I'm sure your local DMV office could do it or you....I doubt you'd have to take the trailer there to get the VIN inspected, but that thought process involves logic, which doesn't really apply there.

If you are a AAA member, just go to an AAA office, and they could do it there at no charge -- I think they will also give you the plates on the spot. Plus, they are much friendlier than the DMV folks, and the wait is WAY shorter. They also will help you with the application. If you're not an AAA member, this may be a reason to become one!

Here's the form you need.

Dave
 
Even if you get the permanent LA plates, you still have to get an annual safety inspection which requires dragging the TM to an inspection station. An interesting side note is that a commercial over the road trailer can be inspected with paperwork only.

Mike
 
Thanks Dave,

The joys of living in a small town, although a AAA IS here, is that they won't be bothered about dealing with license plates, of any sort. I CAN get all the maps I want :p.

The other side of this is that the local DMV is also small and I have never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to get taken care of...

I will follow up next time I am in the neighborhood of said DMV..

Mike
 
Well, I finally got around to calling CA. DMV AND going to the nearest DMV office. End result is that the TM is NOT to be considered for these permanent plates.

Dave, how you managed to get those plates is beyond me, unless the person did not know what they were doing. What they did for me was check the license plate in their database and it immediately popped up as a regular travel trailer. And that was the end of the story. According to both people I talked too (phone and in person) those plates are only for things like boat trailers and little trailers that you might use to go to the dumps. The guy at the DMV did ask me how long it was, and when I said it was 20 feet, he just smiled. So Dave, be thankful they made a mistake for you....

Mike Anderson
 
Here is the law concerning CA permanent plates:

-----------------PTI explanation---------------------
Trailers

What trailers are subject to Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI)?

All trailers except park trailers and trailer coaches are subject to PTI.

NOTE: A camp trailer or fifth-wheel trailer (depending upon maximum length, width, or size) can be registered as a trailer coach, or camp trailer. Camp trailers are subject to PTI, but trailer coaches are subject to annual registration and excluded from PTI.
-----------------Camp Trailer Explanation---------------
242. A "camp trailer" is a vehicle designed to be used on a highway, capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes, that does not exceed 16 feet in overall length from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body and does not exceed 96 inches in width and includes any tent trailer. Where a trailer telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a camp trailer shall not be deemed to be a trailer coach.

Added Ch. 1536, Stats. 1971. Operative May 3, 1972.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/commercial/cvra.htm
Scroll down to where it says, "Trailers"

------------------------------------------------------------------

The shortest TM that I am aware of, is 18' overall (while towing) and thereby is classifed as a "Trailer Coach" and does not qualify for PMI.


Having said all that.......DMV makes mistakes all the time. Give it a try. If they ask how long it is while towing, you may want to say, "Not very long at all........it's a folding trailer". All TENT trailers qualify.
 
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My TM is a Travel Trailer, according to my California registration. My ATV trailer is a utility trailer and has permanent registration.
 
PopBeavers said:
My TM is a Travel Trailer, according to my California registration. My ATV trailer is a utility trailer and has permanent registration.
Click to expand...

That's because, "All trailers except park trailers and trailer coaches are subject to PTI."

Your ATV trailer falls in the "All trailers" category and the TM (and all other camper trailers over 16'....except tent trailers) falls in the "trailer coaches" category.
 
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harveyrv said:
That's because, "All trailers except park trailers and trailer coaches are subject to PTI."

Your ATV trailer falls in the "All trailers" category and the TM (and all other camper trailers over 16'....except tent trailers) falls in the "trailer coaches" category.
Click to expand...

Theoretically, I think, if I removed the toilet then it is no longer a trailer coach and also would not require brakes unless the weight were more than 3,000 pounds (which it is anyway) instead of the current weight limit of 1,500 pounds.

But removing the toilet also means that the interest ion the loan is no longer tax deductible as a second residence.
 
PopBeavers said:
Theoretically, I think, if I removed the toilet then it is no longer a trailer coach and also would not require brakes unless the weight were more than 3,000 pounds (which it is anyway) instead of the current weight limit of 1,500 pounds.

But removing the toilet also means that the interest ion the loan is no longer tax deductible as a second residence.
Click to expand...

The toilet theory is rumor. What I posted is the actual CA law as it is written (see the link provided). There is no mention of "Toilets". The key is the 16' rule. If the trailer is over 16' and is a "Camping trailer" (tent trailers exempted) it does not qualify.
 
The California definition of a trailer coach is:

A "trailer coach" is a vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed for human habitation or human occupancy for industrial, professional, or commercial purposes,

Since my TM is not industrial, professional or commercial, then that rule ought not to apply.

My TM is for recreational purposes.

So I wonder what it actually means.
 
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