I have a pretty good idea of what the responses will be but I have to ask. Were moving back to AZ from KY. I bought a Cargo trailer that has no plates on it, KY does not require plates on trailers, but you can get one if you want. The MVD here has its head................(add comment), and It looks like I'll never get this registered in my name and plates after multiple attempts. So, we will be heading across I-40 eventually with no plates on the trailer very likely. Some say the law will honor the state you came from and their regs, others say I'll get a ticket and/or possible impoundment of the trailer and of course all of our belongings in it. That's not an option really. Experience's anybody??

 

I drove a brand new F350 from Granger Iowa to eastern PA, with no plate and no problems in route. And I was passed many times by law enforcement.

There was a paper temp tag taped to inside of tinted glass of back window, but it was not visible from outside the vehicle.

I see trailers all the time with every sort of violation, and they seem to not get any attention.

I'd say 90% chance you could drive straight through no problems.

 

Maybe all of that is true, but if you were a trooper and saw someone without plates, what would you do? I know what I would do and hope you are a sovereign citizen so I can bust your window out. How many different troopers are you going to pass and how many times do you want to tell your sob story that you are too cheap to purchase plates?

Is there a transportation tag you can buy? My state has one and they used to be $15 for three days.

The problem with people is that we don't think we are guests when we are not at home. As a guest, we should honor/respect the laws where we are at. That applies to visiting a different country, state, or city. Be a good guest.

 

Oklahoma doesn't require plates except on boat and camper trailers. I've been in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Texas with my untagged trailers dozens of times and not stopped. I did have one Cop slow way down and eased up beside me, but once I believe he could see my truck tag he took off.

 

Pretty simple actually... if you are currently a resident of KY and they do not require a plate, then there's your answer. Even if you are moving to AZ, until you are a resident of AZ and have papers stating such, then you are still a KY resident, bound by their laws. If it concerns you and you have made "multiple attempts" to get something registered, simply bring that paperwork to show proof. If it bugs you that much, just go to the DMV and tell them your plans and ask them if they can provide you with something/anything temporarily, if nothing more than a note saying it is not required... I don't see what the problem is though... when I bought my truck I drove it through MS, TN and into AR with no plates. I couldn't even park in the parking areas that required pay by plate... I simply had paperwork in my truck that showed where I had attempted to get my plate and was waiting on the paperwork to process. Also, while I am a MS resident with MS plates, I am currently in CA driving around with no front plate because my state doesn't require one. I also don't have a smog test, but I am completely legal because my state doesn't require that.

So, if you're a KY resident and they don't require plates on your trailer, you're legal wherever you go. And that won't change until you change your state of residence. If you have already become an AZ resident, then you need to go to AZ and get plates from them, not KY.

 

Since we are all lawyers and like to share opinions. I live in Washington State. As a business, I have transportation plates. These plates allow me to drive/tow any vehicle I put them on. These plates are not honored by every state in the union.

As I mentioned, how may troopers do you want to pull you over to check your papers?

Why ask a bunch of lawyer wannabe's when you can ask Google and check the state laws of the places you are traveling through?

 

Because the simple fact of the matter is that wherever you're a resident from is where your vehicle's rules are set. For instance, I can drive to California and not be subject to their vehicle inspections because they're not required in my home state. I can drive to states that require front plates without one because they aren't required in my home state.

Same goes with trailers. If the trailer isn't required to be plated in your home state, then you don't have to run with plates on it anywhere in the US. Carrying proof of ownership and proof of residency is probably a good idea, because there is a chance that a trooper is going to pull you over and give you a hard time about it...but there's literally nothing they can do, they can't write a ticket for no plate when a plate isn't required in your home state.

 

I understand but I don't believe you understand the fact that I have a transport plate that is legal in my state, but not in any other state. Just because it's legal in my state does not mean it's legal in every state.

I understand that if you have a license plate on your vehicle that you can drive to other states, but if there is no license plate required, then you might have an issue going to another state.

Not that AI is 100% factual, Google 'If there are no license plate laws for trailers in my state, does that allow me to go to other states without plates'. The answer is "No, having no license plate laws for trailers in your home state does not automatically allow you to travel to other states without plates"

I still believe if you want to find facts, research it yourself. Asking a bunch of people what their opinion is, is not going to help when the Trooper pulls you over and writes you a ticket. Heck, can they even tell you to unhitch your trailer right there? You can insist that the people on Ford-Trucks says I don't need one, but I really don't think the trooper is going to care.

You do you, but I tend to research and listen to facts vs opinions.

Do yourself a favor and research every state you are going through and ask. I am certain the DMV website can assist with that. Better than all the opinions shared here. Yes, that includes mine.

 

Well, I had a whole response typed up, then my vpn dropped, grrr...

IME, respect, kindness and common courtesy go a long ways with LEO's, maybe print out the regs from KY stating no tags required on trailers there and have that with you in the glove box. I've had many interactions with LEO's in numerous states, one of them turned into a friendship after a traffic stop here with the CHP.

As stated, you are required to be in compliance with the state you are licensed in, not the state you are traveling through or in, until you become a resident. Now obviously, if you are speeding, driving recklessly, bald tires or blatant unsafe equipment, you get a coupon from the LEO in accordance with the infraction/s, however, in my many experiences, 94.523%+ of our nationwide LEO's are good folks doing a mostly thankless job and will appreciate your respect and common decency when and if pulled over.

Good luck on your journey!

 

I would argue that. In my experience, it's more like 99% are good hard working individuals that are never appreciated when you pull them over. Unless you are in a ditch needing help. The 1% tend to make the headlines and take down the 99%.

 

As a business, the laws for you are different than someone with just a personal tag.

Again, I say, if you're legal for your state, then that is what you should abide by. Absolutely make sure you have papers in your vehicle, because sure, you could be pulled over. But, when you pull out the papers proving ownership and that you are legal in your state, then that's the end of it.

The best thing to do is to obey traffic laws, don't speed, use your blinkers, etc... Besides that, be respectful... that shouldn't be a by state thing, that should be everywhere...

Now, if all other states in the US want to go in and pay to make my personal vehicles and trailers legal by their own state laws, that's great. Otherwise, nope, it is not necessary.

 

You must be a business to buy transport plates. That is all that is required. I got to buy tabs like everyone else, every year.

NOPE? I get it's your opinion but when someone asks for help why would you give them advice that will get them in trouble?

Want more facts what the laws are? Try this website. OMG it is so simple to press some buttons on a keyboard and find out it is not legal. Would you get pulled over? Who knows? But if you did, showing paper work what they do in your state means nothing. I suspect the cop would just tell you 'Sir, you are not in your state anymore and here, we require plates.'

Keep sharing opinions but prove your opinions are based on the legal system.

https://aatrailer.com/do-trailers-ne...te-guide-2025/

 

Make sure to have a bill of sale.

 

You are correct you don't need a plate, but I'm pretty sure you need a title (and pay yearly property taxes). I wouldn't see a LEO impounding you or your stuff, but a ticket maybe? The ticket likely would still be cheaper than renting a trailer, so there's where I stand, lol.There are typical ways to register a trailer, even without a title, so I'm sure a visit to the local DMV will sort it all out. What are your plans in AZ with trailer?

 

YOU ARE NOT LISTENING. You are approaching this from a business perspective, NOT someone hauling their OWN stuff from one place to another.

You're running a business, that is different from personal vehicles. When it comes to businesses and running things inter-state, yes, there are different rules you need to comply with. If you run in Kentucky you need a KY number. If you run in Michigan you need an MI number. There are others too. You also have to follow Federal DOT regs including rest time, down time, etc. I know, I had an RV hauling business, we had to comply with all of that stuff.

WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING YOUR PRIVATE VEHICLE, USING YOUR OWN TRAILER, FOR PRIVATE USE, THE ONLY REGISTRATION/PLATE LAWS THAT MATTER ARE THOSE OF YOUR HOME STATE. As a private trailer, if he doesn't need plates in his home state, he doesn't need plates anywhere - but he SHOULD carry a copy of that law, and a copy of his proof of ownership, in his truck whenever he runs out of state, just in case he gets an LEO who decides to stop him. HE DOES NOT NEED TO GET A PLATE FOR THIS.