Registration? Own a place but not a "resident"

[Old Hubbard Rd]

Originally Posted by Elbowguts

I want to apologize for posting this since it has been posted in other areas, However I did not see the answer to my specific question.. I just purchased a new seadoo spark pwc from a dealer in Massachusetts, I have a place in the lakes region and want to register the ski in NH. The "issue"'is that my cottage doesn't get usps and we don't get mail. My drivers license, cars and trailers are all registered in mass. I prefer to give the local town a few bucks and save on sales tax in mass.Will the NH reg have my mailing address in mass? So, in a nutshell, although I have a place in NH, I'm not a resident. What do I need for documentation and proof of residency? The sales slip has by NH address.. thanks for any info.. btw-- I have had my boating safety course for many years.

I think you are asking more about saving the sales tax that you would pay in MASS than can you register the PWC/boat in NH. I think if you are a NH resident and drivers license then maybe you can get around paying the tax in MASS but if you are a MASS resident then you may need to pay the tax in MA on the purchase. If you purchase the boat in NH you should not pay sales tax and you can easily register it in NH. Either way you can definitely register it in NH. I am really not sure so I am sure someone else can confirm.

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by Old Hubbard Rd

I think you are asking more about saving the sales tax that you would pay in MASS than can you register the PWC/boat in NH. I think if you are a NH resident and drivers license then maybe you can get around paying the tax in MASS but if you are a MASS resident then you may need to pay the tax in MA on the purchase. If you purchase the boat in NH you should not pay sales tax and you can easily register it in NH. Either way you can definitely register it in NH. I am really not sure so I am sure someone else can confirm.

If the boat is purchased in NH, registered in NH, and used/stays in NH, then no tax is due. I went through this many years ago when we still lived in MA and were purchasing our boat. Since it was going to stay on Merrymeeting (and has), no issues and no tax.

Interestingly, we still needed to register the trailer in MA. If you pull the boat, and something happens, it turns out that the insurance coverage comes from the pulling vehicle. Since our vehicles were registered in MA, the trailer needed to be registered there too. (in hindsight, we shouldn't have bothered. The only trailering ever done is twice a year to put it in and out at the marina, and they use their tractors to pull it)

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

If the boat is purchased in NH, registered in NH, and used/stays in NH, then no tax is due. I went through this many years ago when we still lived in MA and were purchasing our boat. Since it was going to stay on Merrymeeting (and has), no issues and no tax.

Interestingly, we still needed to register the trailer in MA. If you pull the boat, and something happens, it turns out that the insurance coverage comes from the pulling vehicle. Since our vehicles were registered in MA, the trailer needed to be registered there too. (in hindsight, we shouldn't have bothered. The only trailering ever done is twice a year to put it in and out at the marina, and they use their tractors to pull it)

I agree that the liability insurance for the trailer comes from the vehicle towing it but I don't think it matters where the trailer is registered. In other words, if you help a friend by towing their NH registered boat trailer to the launch ramp with your MA registered vehicle it would still be covered under your vehicle insurance.

[Descant]

Sure. You could rent a U-Haul trailer and it is insured under the car's liability policy. It might have plates from Utah.

[AC2717]

correct way to look at it is this insurance wise:
while the trailer is attached to the vehicle the vehicles liability covers the trailer again while it is attached. The minute or second it is detached from the vehicle the vehicle liability stops covering the trailer. You can purchase separate physical damage coverage for the trailer for if it gets lost or stolen. Physical Damage (if you have it on your vehicles) DOES NOT cover physical damage on the trailer

My suggestion to you and my customers is add the trailer to your auto policy. It is peanuts for liability and when that trailer detaches from the car on a roadway and something happens as a result, you will be glad you got the liability on it. again the way most polices interpret it is that the second it becomes detached it is on its own. Doesn't matter that the car set it in motion. Liability and Physical damage on a trailer is minimal to say the least, and most boat or PWC policies basically will through in trailer liability and physical damage, or you can always schedule it on your auto policy

[Merrymeeting]

Thanks AC2717. You explained it better.

It was on the recommendation of our insurance company that we registered the trailer in MA. Now that I recall, for the reasons you suggest.

[ishoot308]

I did what ac2717 recommended above and added trailer to my policy. It was ridiculously cheap something like $12.00 per year.

Dan

[4Fun]

Originally Posted by AC2717

correct way to look at it is this insurance wise:
while the trailer is attached to the vehicle the vehicles liability covers the trailer again while it is attached. The minute or second it is detached from the vehicle the vehicle liability stops covering the trailer. You can purchase separate physical damage coverage for the trailer for if it gets lost or stolen. Physical Damage (if you have it on your vehicles) DOES NOT cover physical damage on the trailer

My suggestion to you and my customers is add the trailer to your auto policy. It is peanuts for liability and when that trailer detaches from the car on a roadway and something happens as a result, you will be glad you got the liability on it. again the way most polices interpret it is that the second it becomes detached it is on its own. Doesn't matter that the car set it in motion. Liability and Physical damage on a trailer is minimal to say the least, and most boat or PWC policies basically will through in trailer liability and physical damage, or you can always schedule it on your auto policy

I talked with my Allstate agent and they are saying the liability stays with the trailer even if it detaches as long as it was a consistent motion. Ie: The car hits a bump and the trailer detaches and hits another car. Comprehensive and collision are not covered unless added.

They seem to contradict your experience. What company are you referring to?

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by 4Fun

I talked with my Allstate agent and they are saying the liability stays with the trailer even if it detaches as long as it was a consistent motion. Ie: The car hits a bump and the trailer detaches and hits another car. Comprehensive and collision are not covered unless added.

They seem to contradict your experience. What company are you referring to?

that is what the agent says, speak to a claims representative at the carrier directly (they are the ones that determine if coverage exists or not) I have been in the industry as an underwriter and agent for over 13 plus years specifically in transportation, I know not 20 or 30 but a long time. Policies read that "while attached," (or something around those words depending on carrier) it does not say "if it becomes detached." Insurance policies are written the same as legal documents and are interpreted as written, and not implied.

The reason it is covered while attached is because it becomes part of the vehicle at that point and extension of the vehicle if you will

While a carrier might do you a solid or to save face cover the claim, it is not covered in the policy directly, why else would they sell you the liability separately and allow you to list it on the policy by itself. I would bet my lively hood that if the claim was major and being sued for big bucks the carrier would decline the claim because it is not specifically covered in the auto policy, again unless you list it

sorry if I sounded snotty above, wasn't trying to be and did not know how else to write it

[TiltonBB]

I will respectfully suggest that you, the vehicle owner, are responsible for yourself, your vehicle, and anything attached to or set into motion because of it.

As an example: If you hit a fence post and it flies through the air and hits something, you are responsible for any damage or injury.

The same logic applies to a boat and trailer. If you are towing them you are responsible for any damage that ocurs. If it becomes detached from your vehicle, you will still be responsible for any damage that occurs because you are the party responsible for the damage.

[Descant]

Originally Posted by AC2717

While a carrier might do you a solid or to save face cover the claim, it is not covered in the policy directly, why else would they sell you the liability separately and allow you to list it on the policy by itself. I would bet my lively hood that if the claim was major and being sued for big bucks the carrier would decline the claim because it is not specifically covered in the auto policy, again unless you list it

Twenty-five years insurance sales, personal, not commercial, now retired. I don't recall adding liability for a trailer, just comp and collision, because the liability was automatic when the attachment occurred. Think of other examples. Your hubcap goes flying when you drive through a pothole, and hits the windshield of another car. You're liable, covered under your policy. The hubcap was not attached, and you never asked for additional coverage. Same if ice flies off your roof. It's illegal in NH to drive with snow and ice on the roof, but if it happens, you're covered for damage to the other party. The claim will not be denied even though you were in violation of the law. That is considered "contrary to the public good." Policy language seldom varies much because that's what the insurance department approves, and that's what the courts have interpreted.

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by Descant

Twenty-five years insurance sales, personal, not commercial, now retired. I don't recall adding liability for a trailer, just comp and collision, because the liability was automatic when the attachment occurred. Think of other examples. Your hubcap goes flying when you drive through a pothole, and hits the windshield of another car. You're liable, covered under your policy. The hubcap was not attached, and you never asked for additional coverage. Same if ice flies off your roof. It's illegal in NH to drive with snow and ice on the roof, but if it happens, you're covered for damage to the other party. The claim will not be denied even though you were in violation of the law. That is considered "contrary to the public good." Policy language seldom varies much because that's what the insurance department approves, and that's what the courts have interpreted.

while I do not disagree with you, the hubcap and the ice don't have their own axles Hub cap is part of the vehicle and the ice you are liable for as well and will cover because it came off the car. Again not disagreeing with you, but in case studies done while I was working at a carrier that we were made to sleep through, I mean go through lol, this was one of them, also during my CIC training. As you will know, it's all in the size of the claim before a carrier can start looking at loopholes or towards other exclusions to get out of paying for a claim, for the few dollars it's not worth the risk.

the other liabilities comes into mind as well, with the trailer just sitting there, and someone foolling around near it or on it, and then the occasion while it sitting there for some reason it gets loose and starts rolling down the street. - Actually had a claim on this one - liability was denied

[4Fun]

Originally Posted by AC2717

that is what the agent says, speak to a claims representative at the carrier directly (they are the ones that determine if coverage exists or not) I have been in the industry as an underwriter and agent for over 13 plus years specifically in transportation, I know not 20 or 30 but a long time. Policies read that "while attached," (or something around those words depending on carrier) it does not say "if it becomes detached." Insurance policies are written the same as legal documents and are interpreted as written, and not implied.

The reason it is covered while attached is because it becomes part of the vehicle at that point and extension of the vehicle if you will

While a carrier might do you a solid or to save face cover the claim, it is not covered in the policy directly, why else would they sell you the liability separately and allow you to list it on the policy by itself. I would bet my lively hood that if the claim was major and being sued for big bucks the carrier would decline the claim because it is not specifically covered in the auto policy, again unless you list it

sorry if I sounded snotty above, wasn't trying to be and did not know how else to write it

Thanks, My agent did call there "coverage expert" at Allstate and they confirmed as long as the car was towing the trailer when it detached it would still be covered. She also went on to say there is no way to add liability to just a trailer with Allstate so I couldn't if I wanted to. I can, and did, ad comprehensive in case a tree falls on it but she was sure the liability was passed through the car.

Maybe it does vary between states and companies...

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by 4Fun

Thanks, My agent did call there "coverage expert" at Allstate and they confirmed as long as the car was towing the trailer when it detached it would still be covered. She also went on to say there is no way to add liability to just a trailer with Allstate so I couldn't if I wanted to. I can, and did, ad comprehensive in case a tree falls on it but she was sure the liability was passed through the car.

Maybe it does vary between states and companies...

glad to read, always check, as stated previously and by you above it depends on the carrier and state. For Arbella, Safety and Travelers personal lines, you can add the liability in MA and NH for the trailer as well as the physical damage.