BajaNomad

Trailer license plate

thebajarunner - 4-5-2005 at 01:26 PM

We are off to the border tomorrow morning and in preparation for the trip I bought a new utility trailer (5'x 10')
Good old California DMV has still not sent my plates, although I did receive the title a week ago.
Sooooooo....
Do I sweat it without plates in Baja?
Do I 'borrow' a plate off an old wreck trailer out back and bolt it on?
Do I worry? (Not my nature, so guess that one does not count)
Any thoughts?

Baja Arriba!!

Mexray - 4-5-2005 at 01:37 PM

A 'friend' of mine, has several utility type trailers around, and he uses only one (wink-wink) lic plate for all of em'....he's only pulling one at a time, around his local area...so he moves the plate to one he needs!

Now, below the border, you might have a problem if the plated doesn't match the documents - in the event of an accident, so you'll probably want the valid 'plate'...now since you don't have your plate yet, and since the rig is new, you might get away without the plate, and only the reg' papers, but that could be chancy too....or if your stopped, tell them it must have fallen off - but you have the correct papers...just no easy answer, I guess.

No Problem

bajaloco - 4-5-2005 at 01:56 PM

The same thing happened to me. Just bring your title and registration. I don't think anyone will even look twice. You could always use the other plates and if stopped claim total confusion.:biggrin:

no plates no problema

jeffg - 4-5-2005 at 02:28 PM

I just came back from a quick trip south, had the same situation. I did get the trailer added to my insurance, they just put "new" in the space where it asks for the license number. No one had any issue about the plates anywhere along the way.

Jeff

Bruce R Leech - 4-5-2005 at 03:01 PM

I think if you go to DMV they will give you a temp. paper or check through the dealer where you bought it.

MrBillM - 4-5-2005 at 04:13 PM

As long as you can show them paperwork that the trailer is legally and currently registered, there should be no problem unless you are stopped by a Municipal Police Officer that is trolling for Mordida. If that should happen, you can simply ask to pay the fine at the station. Since you're not breaking the law, that should end it. Years ago, I ran into that exact situation with those results.

well now you know how it feels to be "Un Mojado Sin Licencia"

BajaVida - 4-5-2005 at 05:22 PM

as the Flaco Jimenez song goes

thebajarunner - 4-5-2005 at 09:05 PM

"License?!?!?! We don't need no stinkin' license?!?!?!?"

Yep, we be winging it with or without the plate (one more chance in tomorrow's mail for DMV to make us honest)

Baja Arriba!!

Worry not. El Comandante is your passenger

BajaVida - 4-6-2005 at 06:18 AM

it is rumored that he can get you out of any trouble in Baja--for a very reasonable price.:lol:

thebajarunner - 4-18-2005 at 04:12 PM

Apparently the answer is "don't sweat the small stuff'
Baja Vida slapped a bright green El Portal sticker over the empty plate holder and we merrily trooped around Baja for over a week with nary a glance.
Same for CHP homeward bound.
No one looked, nor cared about no "stinkin license platos"
(Oh yeah, when we got home the plates were here, arrived the day we left)

Baja Arriba!!

Bruce R Leech - 4-18-2005 at 04:34 PM

it just depends on how much you value your trailer . they can seize the trailer if they want. if it is real ugly they wont want it but if it looks nice?

thebajarunner - 4-18-2005 at 07:11 PM

Well,,,,

a. very nice trailer, brand new, in fact.

b. "if they want" is not in my vocabulary. If I worried about that I would stay home.

I had the title in the glove box, they would have had a very difficult time taking possession.... might have done so on the spot, but in the end "that dog don't hunt"

Baja Arriba!!

Anonymous - 4-18-2005 at 08:31 PM

We're taking an extra quad into Baja next week. The paperwork is in another family member's name than the person transporting it. Is this okay, or do they check I.D.s to match up with papers? Thanks, Wayno

Bruce R Leech - 4-18-2005 at 09:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thebajarunner
Well,,,,

a. very nice trailer, brand new, in fact.

b. "if they want" is not in my vocabulary. If I worried about that I would stay home.

I had the title in the glove box, they would have had a very difficult time taking possession.... might have done so on the spot, but in the end "that dog don't hunt"

Baja Arriba!!
why do you ask for advice if you know everything about the law in Mexico. if you are dead set on bringing a none registered trailer in to Mexico you deserve what ever you git. :lol::lol:

thebajarunner - 4-18-2005 at 09:15 PM

The advice I requested originally was as to how much hassle I might encounter with a legal trailer, without plates (as per our wonderful CalDMV style of business)
Don't think that I indicated anywhere that it was not registered.
Paperwork was not in the trailer, as suggested above, a trip to the station probably would have solved it.
I simply was asking if others had had the same issue.
Gee, I thought that this was the right place for advice, not for snippy answers.

Baja Arriba!!

Bruce R Leech - 4-19-2005 at 10:28 AM

in Mexico if you don't have plates or a temp. permit you are not legal. how they handle it is up to the individual policeman that you are dealing with . chances are you would git away with it but it is always better to be legal when your in Mexico. why take a chance on ruining your vacation over something as simple as this. I have had problems over the years with expired license plates. yet alone no plates. good luck Bruce

Anonymous - 4-19-2005 at 08:33 PM

thebajarunner, I agree, didn't get the help I was looking for here either. What do you suggest, Metcalf's? Wayno

Plates

PacO - 4-19-2005 at 08:51 PM

When my boat trailer was new, 2 years ago or so, I had not recieved the plates yet but had all registration docs. I got the proper permits, showed them when asked for them at the border and then went on my way. They looked my trailer over, checked my regristration and said "bien viaje". There were no hassles anywhere. I wouldn't worry too much about what someone might say that seems to be able to deduce everything about your situation by a simple post.

viabaja - 4-20-2005 at 07:48 AM

Just give em $20-25 and move on! No wait. Trailers are going for $10 - 15. Accidents are more and subject to what you carry! For current Mordida values, go to www.mordida.com