"Light trailers have a loaded weight of 8,000 pounds or less, except trailers for hire (for-rent), travel trailers, fixed loads and special use trailers. You do not have to title or register trailers with a loaded weight of 1,800 pounds or less."

 

Jeez 1800 lbs is low. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that basically everything except for a raft trailer needs to be titled in Oregon.

 

1800 lbs is a lot... I've never hauled that much in a utility trailer. 😉

 

 

I have a utility trailer built on a harbor freight base (48" x 96") and it has a max capacity of 1720 so no license required in Oregon. I bought it used in Washington and they had to have a license.

Best part when refurbishing it was having the Home Depot paint associate scan his apron for the paint color. It made his day also...

 

I wonder how much the ticket would be if you got pulled over for not registering a trailer? I am guessing it’s less than the registration….

I have never registered a small single axle trailer

 

I wonder how much the ticket would be if you got pulled over for not registering a trailer? I am guessing it’s less than the registration….

Expired tags are a class d misdemeanor according to my buddy in the sheriffs office. $136 at the time of my asking several years ago. So about the same as 2 years worth of tags.

 

When does the brake requirement kick in?


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When does the brake requirement kick in?

Oregon does not have a trailer brake law. But other states do.

I think the reason there is no law is that most people in Oregon have common sense in regards to safety.

 

I see what the OR.gov says; however, wondering if that might be a type-o. I just today picked up a big tex flat deck trailer, it's a tandem axle and weighs right around 1800lbs. The sales guys said I didn't really need to title and to register it, but that it was a good idea so that I get an actual OR title. He said it is 1800 dry weight is what mattered.

 

FYI - It's loaded weight that matters ............ Here's a portion of statute that applies:

803.305 Exemptions from general registration requirements. This section establishes exemptions from the requirements under ORS 803.300. ...............
(5) A trailer is exempt from registration if it is equipped with pneumatic tires made of elastic material and is not operated in this state with a loaded weight of more than 1,800 pounds. ...........

 

I have a hand me down 4'x8' homemade utility trailer that my dad built when I was 12 (I'm 63 now). Never licensed, never an issue. And it's been all over the state....

 

Wow. That sentence makes my head hurt. So if you have solid tires it needs registration? I guess my kid's Radio Flyer wagon needs tags and a plate now???

 

An unloaded utility trailer typically weighs less than 500lbs empty, don't need a plate for that. It's when it weighs more than 1800lbs (with a load) then it needs one. I never plated my utility trailers.

 

Word!

 

I have a 5x10 dump trail with 1200 load limit.i have a title but no license.looked at other dump trail and most are not licensed in my area.see if other people have license on similar trailer

 

Yup. 1,800#, as loaded. Regardless of width, length, or axle count.

If you have an Oregon title for the trailer, it was registered and a plate issued for it. Whether that plate was ever mounted is a different story.

If the trailer was not titled, you would have a Certificate of Origin. No title, no registration, and no plate. When you buy a new trailer, you can have the dealer handle the title and registration for you, or you can do it yourself at the DMV. It’s simpler to have the dealer handle it, but you can easily buy your big heavy trailer and tell them you will handle the DMV stuff. The dealer doesn’t care if you actually do it.

They’ll also often derate a trailer to save on registration fees. Prime example, my 10K pound flatbed is registered as 8K. I didn’t ask for this, and it was 100% the dealer’s choice when the paperwork was filled out. Allows me to register it as a light trailer, rather than have a H plate. Shady? Yeah. I’m not concerned for two reasons. I’ve never been stopped by enforcement to check my weight, and I’ve never loaded the trailer past 7,600 gross. I just have more trailer than I need.

 

1,800 pounds? So only a couple ex wives.

On another note, has anyone been checked for license & registration on a small single axle trailer? I don't recall ever hearing about one.

 

No, and not for a double axle equipment trailer with no plate either.

Friend of mine from Oregon has towed his 5th wheel all over the country with no plates.

I got pulled over by a sheriff and state trooper within a couple hours in Colorado for a bad headlight this year. Sherrif deputy asked me if I knew my boat trailer plate was expired, I said yes and he proceeded to tell me his boat trailer was expired also. State trooper walked right up to it and never said a word.

There's only 1 way to know you won't get hassled, but experience tells me trailer plates are way down the list and if you aren't doing anything else wrong you probably won't be bothered.

 

I recently bought a new 10K lb flat bed trailer, the dealer said they will register it for me with a permanent HV plate, I didn't find out till later, but to legally tow it, my truck needs to have T plates.

 

Surprise.

 

I see double axel boat trailers (over 1800# rating) in boat launch parking lots all the time with no license. Enforcement is basically non existent in Oregon but you might be checked on that if you are stopped for some other violation.

 

Simple question? When was the last time anybody ever checked your trailer? Just dying to know.🤣🇺🇸

 

About 5-6 boats ago, a 21’ ski boat. Didn’t really pay attention and neglected to put my new tags on the trailer plate. Passed my cop friend, Randy. We both waved, then he flicked me some poo at the next light for having expired tags.

Other than that one time? Never. And I’ve towed many, many thousands of miles. Randy has since retired and moved home to Montana, so I’m not too concerned anymore.

 

The plates on my motorhome expired during covid, I didn't renew them for 2 years and was never pulled over. That was a nice savings!

 

If it''s under 1800# you dont need plates, if buying new get a MSO sheet if used get a bill of sale. Don't think DMV will issue title. Just keep the paper work.

 

arizona forced me to plate an oregon small trailer snow birding years ago.

 

I have a homemade utility trailer almost these exact dimensions. No title or registration. Sits on an old 6 lug truck front axle. It has been all over Oregon and Washington with no issues from Johnny Law. Get yourself an updated LED trailer light kit off of Amazon or from harbor freight and haul away!