Interpretation of Traffic Laws in States from South Carolina to Texas

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Author Topic:   Interpretation of Traffic Laws in States from South Carolina to Texas

eeemmmnnn posted 08-16-2010 11:50 PM ET (US)
I'm buying a used [Boston Whaler boat] from [a seller in] South Carolina and driving it to Texas. Evidently in South Carolina title and license plates for trailers are not required. Can I drive and transport a newly purchased used boat from South Carolina to Texas without [license plate] tags on the trailer?
tedious posted 08-17-2010 05:21 AM ET (US)
Sure, as long as you don't get spotted by any police. If that seems unlikely, you may want to check with your local motor vehicle department, or your auto insurance company, to get information on how to proceed.
Tim
Hal Watkins posted 08-17-2010 08:12 AM ET (US)
One thing I do know is, every state is different when it comes to trailers. Example...here in Mn, trailers rated at less than 3000-octothorpe recieve a permananent registration "sticker" that goes on the frame. It is a one time fee and there is no title...over 3000-octophorpe, a plate, a title, and annual registration fee. Best to check with South Carolina license bureau--my $.02.
Hal, Waseca, Mn
kgregg posted 08-17-2010 08:41 AM ET (US)
Assuming you live in TX, what are the rules for trailers in TX? I bet you will need to get temp tag. The fact that you are buying trailer in SC is not relevant (unless you live in SC)
Jeff posted 08-17-2010 08:43 AM ET (US)
In every single instance I personally dealt with like this, your bill of sale is what you use to trailer home. This included bringing Whalers to Michigan from Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. This was also the case for buyers taking Whalers I have sold in Michigan to New York as well as Canada.
Your bill of sale should clearly state when and were you bought these items, as well as detailed information on the boat, motor and trailer you bought. Included in that should be all idenification numbers of the hull, motor and trailer, as well as both the seller's and buyer's personal info. If possible as well you should have copies, or originals of the registration for boat and trailer during transport as well.
Each state is different but, most states will let you purchase a temporary tag for the trailing from the state DMV in which you are purchasing in. If you are really concerned about towing without a plate hanging on the trailer this may be the route to take. Be sure and check with local DMVs on hours, payment and documentation needed for this before you leave home.
Whalerdog posted 08-17-2010 08:51 AM ET (US)
In NY you would need a plate no way your on the road without a tag. Unless it is something like a cement mixer.
bruser posted 08-17-2010 09:02 AM ET (US)
2X with what Jeff indicated. I have never purchased a temp tag for transporting a trailer after purchase. The bill of sale should be sufficent to get you 72 hours or so of "grace".
Narragansett Outrage posted 08-17-2010 10:11 AM ET (US)
If you don't want to be stopped and have to explain why there's no tag, get a temp tag. Otherwise you might not be stopped at all, or you might be stopped every mile or so.
You should also get insurance.
Having said all this, I personally drove my newly purchased 22' Outrage w/trailer from Deltona, Florida all the way to Rhode Island without a tag, even making the mistake of driving on the Merritt Parkway in CT (no trailers allowed), and made it all the way to the CT/RI broder before being stopped. Officer was sizing me up when he received an emergency call and had to leave.
tjxtreme posted 08-17-2010 11:09 AM ET (US)
I wouldn't worry about it if it were me... just have all the paperwork ready to show an officer if you get pulled over.
That seems like a lot of paperwork- ticket for a TX guy pulled over in MS on an SC trailer...
Tohsgib posted 08-17-2010 11:13 AM ET (US)
I know somebody here who refuses to tag his trailer and although stopped every decade or so, he seems to be sans ticket so far. You theoretically have 30 day grace period so I would(and do) not sweat it. Tow and be happy with your new boat. Heck slap your Texas tag on it if you want.
eeemmmnnn posted 08-17-2010 12:01 PM ET (US)
Thanks for all the replies - they were very helpful. Although I could have probably gotten by without it, I went ahead and got a 30-day temporary tag from my County Tax Office (in Texas) - just in case.
wstr75 posted 08-17-2010 09:09 PM ET (US)
I live in NC and recently bought a new Magic Tilt trailer in SC. I had a wee bit of hassle from my local DMV office because the bill of sale did not break out the dollar amount of the trailer purchase and the SC tax paid. I would suggest you get a separate bill of sale for the purchase of your trailer showing purchase price and sales tax paid.
Good luck in your travels.
Bill in NC
dgoodhue posted 08-17-2010 09:34 PM ET (US)
Every state is different in term of temp tags & plates. In MA we don't have temps plates are only suposed to attach plates if you are selling the other vehicle that plate is attached to within something like 7 days.
As mentioned in this post, your resident state is the one that matters. Most likely an out of state cop will give you benefit of the doubt with a bill of sale if you get pulled over. I attach a plate illegally when I bought my boat trailer. If you planning to insure your boat/trailer, I would do that before hand as well.
hc803 posted 08-18-2010 10:00 AM ET (US)
You are correct that SC does not require trailer tags/titles. My opinion is that until you transfer your title(s), the boat/motor/trailer remain under SC laws. You shouldn't have any problems towing through the SouthEast without a tag as long as you have the title in hand (and whatever else you need for a TX title).
cinegamma posted 08-18-2010 07:53 PM ET (US)
For what it's worth, Alabama does not require tag/title for boat trailers. However, Alabama does require a tag for travel trailers, utility trailers, lawn mower trailers, etc.

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Author	Topic: Interpretation of Traffic Laws in States from South Carolina to Texas
eeemmmnnn	posted 08-16-2010 11:50 PM ET (US) I'm buying a used [Boston Whaler boat] from [a seller in] South Carolina and driving it to Texas. Evidently in South Carolina title and license plates for trailers are not required. Can I drive and transport a newly purchased used boat from South Carolina to Texas without [license plate] tags on the trailer?
tedious	posted 08-17-2010 05:21 AM ET (US) Sure, as long as you don't get spotted by any police. If that seems unlikely, you may want to check with your local motor vehicle department, or your auto insurance company, to get information on how to proceed. Tim
Hal Watkins	posted 08-17-2010 08:12 AM ET (US) One thing I do know is, every state is different when it comes to trailers. Example...here in Mn, trailers rated at less than 3000-octothorpe recieve a permananent registration "sticker" that goes on the frame. It is a one time fee and there is no title...over 3000-octophorpe, a plate, a title, and annual registration fee. Best to check with South Carolina license bureau--my $.02. Hal, Waseca, Mn
kgregg	posted 08-17-2010 08:41 AM ET (US) Assuming you live in TX, what are the rules for trailers in TX? I bet you will need to get temp tag. The fact that you are buying trailer in SC is not relevant (unless you live in SC)
Jeff	posted 08-17-2010 08:43 AM ET (US) In every single instance I personally dealt with like this, your bill of sale is what you use to trailer home. This included bringing Whalers to Michigan from Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. This was also the case for buyers taking Whalers I have sold in Michigan to New York as well as Canada. Your bill of sale should clearly state when and were you bought these items, as well as detailed information on the boat, motor and trailer you bought. Included in that should be all idenification numbers of the hull, motor and trailer, as well as both the seller's and buyer's personal info. If possible as well you should have copies, or originals of the registration for boat and trailer during transport as well. Each state is different but, most states will let you purchase a temporary tag for the trailing from the state DMV in which you are purchasing in. If you are really concerned about towing without a plate hanging on the trailer this may be the route to take. Be sure and check with local DMVs on hours, payment and documentation needed for this before you leave home.
Whalerdog	posted 08-17-2010 08:51 AM ET (US) In NY you would need a plate no way your on the road without a tag. Unless it is something like a cement mixer.
bruser	posted 08-17-2010 09:02 AM ET (US) 2X with what Jeff indicated. I have never purchased a temp tag for transporting a trailer after purchase. The bill of sale should be sufficent to get you 72 hours or so of "grace".
Narragansett Outrage	posted 08-17-2010 10:11 AM ET (US) If you don't want to be stopped and have to explain why there's no tag, get a temp tag. Otherwise you might not be stopped at all, or you might be stopped every mile or so. You should also get insurance. Having said all this, I personally drove my newly purchased 22' Outrage w/trailer from Deltona, Florida all the way to Rhode Island without a tag, even making the mistake of driving on the Merritt Parkway in CT (no trailers allowed), and made it all the way to the CT/RI broder before being stopped. Officer was sizing me up when he received an emergency call and had to leave.
tjxtreme	posted 08-17-2010 11:09 AM ET (US) I wouldn't worry about it if it were me... just have all the paperwork ready to show an officer if you get pulled over. That seems like a lot of paperwork- ticket for a TX guy pulled over in MS on an SC trailer...
Tohsgib	posted 08-17-2010 11:13 AM ET (US) I know somebody here who refuses to tag his trailer and although stopped every decade or so, he seems to be sans ticket so far. You theoretically have 30 day grace period so I would(and do) not sweat it. Tow and be happy with your new boat. Heck slap your Texas tag on it if you want.
eeemmmnnn	posted 08-17-2010 12:01 PM ET (US) Thanks for all the replies - they were very helpful. Although I could have probably gotten by without it, I went ahead and got a 30-day temporary tag from my County Tax Office (in Texas) - just in case.
wstr75	posted 08-17-2010 09:09 PM ET (US) I live in NC and recently bought a new Magic Tilt trailer in SC. I had a wee bit of hassle from my local DMV office because the bill of sale did not break out the dollar amount of the trailer purchase and the SC tax paid. I would suggest you get a separate bill of sale for the purchase of your trailer showing purchase price and sales tax paid. Good luck in your travels. Bill in NC
dgoodhue	posted 08-17-2010 09:34 PM ET (US) Every state is different in term of temp tags & plates. In MA we don't have temps plates are only suposed to attach plates if you are selling the other vehicle that plate is attached to within something like 7 days. As mentioned in this post, your resident state is the one that matters. Most likely an out of state cop will give you benefit of the doubt with a bill of sale if you get pulled over. I attach a plate illegally when I bought my boat trailer. If you planning to insure your boat/trailer, I would do that before hand as well.
hc803	posted 08-18-2010 10:00 AM ET (US) You are correct that SC does not require trailer tags/titles. My opinion is that until you transfer your title(s), the boat/motor/trailer remain under SC laws. You shouldn't have any problems towing through the SouthEast without a tag as long as you have the title in hand (and whatever else you need for a TX title).
cinegamma	posted 08-18-2010 07:53 PM ET (US) For what it's worth, Alabama does not require tag/title for boat trailers. However, Alabama does require a tag for travel trailers, utility trailers, lawn mower trailers, etc.