licensing in Maryland

[bobwirtz]

Hey all, I found a similar question dated 2017 and wanted to see if there is later information available.
We are picking up our new 19 in Sumas on August 30, and will then be driving back to Baltimore over the following 6 weeks or so. We went in to Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration this morning with Bill of Sale and Origin documents to get title and tags for the trailer, only to be told that we also needed EPA and Entry documents. Not sure why EPA cares about a towed vehicle, and we certainly won't have Entry docs until the trailer enters the country on the 30th.
I have seen some recommendations to simply drive the trailer home without any tags, keeping all new ownership papers handy to show law enforcement if asked.
How have others dealt with this? Anybody in Maryland done a similar pickup and drive home?
Thanks,
Bob

[cpaharley2008]

I did it from Pennsylvania and others have done it from all over, no issue without tags........

[MyronL]

I would ask to speak to a supervissor, or try going to a different motor vehicle agency office. That's what worked for me, well, pre-Covid.

[bobwirtz]

Thanks for the advice to speak to a supervisor. We did that today (were at the MVA for 2 hours) , and she called somebody even higher up. Same answer.

[bobwirtz]

Thanks for the feedback about driving to Pennsylvania without problems. Looks like we may be doing something similar.

[Centex]

Originally Posted by bobwirtz

... I have seen some recommendations to simply drive the trailer home without any tags, keeping all new ownership papers handy to show law enforcement if asked....

This, with no worries!

BTW, the document likely referenced incorrectly is the US DOT form HS-7, which is not "complete" until the trailer crosses the border and it is stamped by US Customs. Nothing to do with EPA, that form is what certifies the trailer meets FMVSS / NHTSA safety standards (lighting, etc) for trailers in the USA. Many if not most states now require presentation of the original of that form for gaining a title/license tag.

Congrats on your imminent pickup, Have Fun!

[bborzell]

I just went through a similar online chat with California DMV. She gave me a link that read very much like it pertained to motor vehicles. She also suggested that I needed to get a temporary permit from Washington and maybe Oregon.

I downloaded all the forms from her link, will fill them our, staple the transcript of the chat with DMV and will add them to the ownership docs from ETI and call it good until we return to California after a few weeks breaking things in in Canada. We will drop into the first DMV office after we cross from Oregon into California (maybe Weed or Shasta), pay the taxes and registration and head on home.

[cpaharley2008]

Correct, a lot of states do not allow pre-registration. Sometimes you have to wait.......

[Steve Clark]

Originally Posted by bborzell

I We will drop into the first DMV office after we cross from Oregon into California (maybe Weed or Shasta), pay the taxes and registration and head on home.

Yes! Make an appointment in advance along the route you intend to take. Many folks have had good success with the Shasta office. If you happen to take the coastal route, we had an advanced appointment and were in and out of the Eureka office in 40 minutes! Bring your check-book!

[Jwinfrey]

Originally Posted by Steve Clark

Yes! Make an appointment in advance along the route you intend to take. Many folks have had good success with the Shasta office. If you happen to take the coastal route, we had an advanced appointment and were in and out of the Eureka office in 40 minutes! Bring your check-book!

If you walk out of any California DMV office with a plate, your transaction was not completed correctly. It doesn’t matter what county, jurisdiction, etc. Any foreign-born vehicle needs to have paperwork go to a special department in Sacramento for verification and approval. If the DMV office is ever audited, your registration renewal will be held up until satisfied. My paperwork and inspection was not completed correctly (DMV fault) and I’m on almost month 5 of trying to get my registration complete. There were no issues with Escapes paperwork packet and they have been very helpful providing additional paperwork (normally not needed).