I have two trailers with farm tags that are used for farm purposes. Both registrations are due so I was digging into the newly enforced requirement that trailers must be inspected before registration is renewed.

In doing so, I found this:

quote:

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Sec. 502.146. CERTAIN FARM VEHICLES AND DRILLING AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT.
(a) The department shall issue specialty license plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b) or (c). The fee for the license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.(b) An owner is not required to register a vehicle that is used only temporarily on the highways if the vehicle is:

(1) a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross weight of more than 4,000 pounds but not more than 34,000 pounds that is used exclusively:
(A) to transport seasonally harvested agricultural products or livestock from the place of production to the place of processing, market, or storage;
(B) to transport farm supplies from the place of loading to the farm; or
(C) for the purpose of participating in equine activities or attending livestock shows, as defined by Section 87.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code;
(2) machinery used exclusively for the purpose of drilling water wells;
(3) oil well servicing or drilling machinery and if at the time of obtaining the license plates, the applicant submits proof that the applicant has a permit under Section 623.142; or
(4) construction machinery.

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From the sounds of this, all I need is the trailers to have plates. Neither trailer has to actually be "registered" annually and thus neither has to be inspected.

Anyone have further insight/experience with this?

I don't understand what you mean at the end of your post by " trailers don't have to be "registered" just need plates".....or something to that effect. It is my experience that in the act of paying the fee for annual tags you are "registering" the trailer. Farm trailers do not have to be inspected.

Tags = registration.

From the quoted text, it appears that trailers don't need to have "tags".

I just renewed my tags on my farm trailer. No inspection.

in the past I've had to register my construction company trailers and get a TXDOT inspection on the ones rated over a certain weight.

Anyone know how they handle BBQ pits on wheels/trailers?

Die Hard Ag: Get regular old trailer tags. $60something I think. You may have to have the trailer inspected if it has never been registered. DMV wants to be sure your trailer isn't stolen etc.