So, you’ve caught the truck camper bug. Maybe you’re dreaming of mountain adventures, beachside sunsets, or simply having the freedom to camp wherever the road takes you. Before you load up your new truck camper and head into the wild, there’s one question you’ll want answered:
Do you need to register your truck camper?
The good news? In most of the United States, the answer is no.
Instead of spending hours navigating confusing state motor vehicle websites, here’s a straightforward look at truck camper registration and title requirements across the country.
Do Truck Campers Need to Be Registered?
Fortunately for truck camper owners, only eight states currently require truck campers to be registered.
Some states require registration every year, while others only require a one-time registration when the camper is purchased. Owners in those states may also be responsible for paying applicable sales taxes.
Why do some states require registration while others don’t?
The simple answer is revenue. Registration fees generate income for state governments, and some states extend those requirements to slide-in truck campers.
Many truck camper enthusiasts argue that truck campers are fundamentally different from other RVs. Unlike motorhomes, fifth-wheels, or travel trailers, a truck camper has:
- No axle
- No wheels
- No tires
- No independent chassis
In many ways, a truck camper functions more like cargo than a separate vehicle. Some truck campers don’t even have a traditional Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) like other recreational vehicles.
Apparently, most states agree with that logic. In fact, 42 states do not require truck camper registration.
States That Require Truck Camper Registration
If you live in one of the following states, you’ll likely need to register your truck camper:
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Utah
- Washington
If you’re a resident of one of these states, be sure to check current registration requirements and fees with your state’s motor vehicle agency.
Do Truck Campers Have Titles?
Registration and titling are not always the same thing.
While only eight states require registration, nine states currently require truck campers to be titled.
At first glance, a title may seem unnecessary for something that sits in the bed of a pickup truck. However, a title serves as official proof of ownership, which can be valuable when buying, selling, or financing a camper.
What Happens in States That Don’t Require Titles?
Great question.
Every truck camper manufacturer issues a Certificate of Origin when a camper is built. This document includes the camper’s VIN or other identifying number and is transferred to the buyer at the time of purchase.
Think of the Certificate of Origin as the truck camper equivalent of a birth certificate. If your state doesn’t issue titles for truck campers, this document becomes your primary proof of ownership.
If you ever decide to sell your camper, you’ll likely need it.
Pro tip: Store your Certificate of Origin in a safe place. Replacing it later can be difficult and time-consuming.
States That Require Truck Camper Titles
The following states currently require truck campers to be titled:
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Washington
Notice that this list differs slightly from the registration list. A state may require a title but not require registration, or vice versa.
Traveling Across State Lines? Don’t Panic.
One common concern among truck camper owners is whether they need to register their camper when traveling through states with different rules.
The answer is simple:
No.
Registration and title requirements generally apply only to residents of the state that issues them.
For example, if you’re an Arizona resident taking a road trip through Utah, you do not need to register your truck camper in Utah just because you’re visiting. Your home state’s rules are what matter.
The Bottom Line
Truck campers occupy a unique space in the RV world. They’re not quite cargo, not quite vehicles, and that gray area has led to different regulations across the country.
For most truck camper owners, life is easy—42 states don’t require registration at all. However, if you live in one of the handful of states that do require registration or titling, it’s important to understand the rules before hitting the road.
As regulations can change, always verify the latest requirements with your state’s motor vehicle agency before purchasing or registering a truck camper.
After all, the last thing anyone wants standing between them and their next adventure is paperwork.
Hello Mike
I have a 1983 Lance truck camper that I have completely customized, I live in Florida, tax collector says it needs title and registration, catch is I bought it cash 20 years ago and have lost the title, used it to sleep in while road racing motorcycles in the 2000’s, now we’re traveling in it, do I need to register it in my home state of Florida.
It does have the model and vin# plate under the dinette seat still but lance doesn’t have record that old.
Thanks
Dutch
Does a 1990 inbed camper with no vin# need to be titled in ut? Only has a serial number.
So, I am a PA resident looking to purchase a cheap TC. So if I am reading all of this correct – I don’t have to do a damn thing? I searched out DMV site and kind find any specific info on TCs. Thanks in advance!!!
In Indiana, the BMV states that all “RV’s” need to be registrated. Upon attempting to identify the definition of what an RV is defined as. The Indiana general assembley statute 9-13-2-150 clearly excludes truck campers. I am still not sure if Indiana requires registration or not.
I just verified again with IN BMV (January 2024) that a “truck camper” is specifically excluded under the definition of “RV” and although a Title is required, annual registration is OPTIONAL, and if you do register (and pay the $12 fee), they will NOT issue plates. The IN BMV website, BMV Kiosks and telephone renewal system won’t even allow renewal of truck camper registration, so if you do elect to register, you must have local BMV branch OVERRIDE in order to process.
Appreciate your knowledge! Have a question for you. We live in Calif. and bought a new Truck Camper from a dealer about 10 years ago. We did not receive a Cert of Origin from them at that time. We recently posted our camper for sale and a couple from Oregon bought it. When trying to register and title it Oregon, their dmv requires the Cert of Origin, and luckily, our dealer still had it and was able to send it to us. My question is, where do we sign, to transfer it to the new owners? It isn’t a title.
If there isn’t a place for a signature then simply pass it down to the next owner. Like you said, it isn’t a title.
If we bought a truck camper in Indiana, live in Michigan, and never registered it or titled it, are we going to have an issue with selling it to a private party?
You shouldn’t as long as you have the Certificate of Origin.
Moved from California to Oregon in 2015. I want to sell my 2001 lance camper. It has sit at my house since. Do I need to register it before I can sell it.
I wouldn’t. Let the person who buys it worry about. Their state might not require it.
Would love to check yours out if selling it!
I live in CATAX, (new state abbr.) I guess I got away from both as I bought mine in WA.I hung the plate on the wall with my personalized CA collection that one can no longer add to unless they want to pay $45.00 for each set annually even without being on a vehicle!
Thank you very much for these lists!
Do I have to title/register my camper as a non-resident (foreigner) if I title/register the carrying truck in one of the states in the lists above?
I’m especially interested in the situation in Washington State and Michigan.
No, non-residents and foreigners are not bound by these laws. Only residents of these states.
Thanks for that answer!
Do you also think that Michigan’s 90 day rule for titling does not hold for campers used by foreigners? ( https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-5647_12539_48268-179824–,00.html )
the RV dealer in the state of Wisconsin told me that my new truck camper has to be titled ( fee of $69.95) is this true
That may be so. It might be a new law. Can you check into it for us and report back?
Nebraska requires registration, but not a title.
Ohio require residents to title their truck campers, no registration/tag required.
This is incorrect.
After talking with a county sheriff deputy and looking up the regulations in the Ohio Revised Code, I found Ohio requires both titling AND registration.
Stuart,
I don’t think that is correct. Can you copy and paste and statute here? Ohio requires registration for other types of RV’s including travel trailers and campers, but not truck campers as far as I know.
Correction to your listing – Montana requires pickup camper title but NOT registration. Here’s an excerpt from the state of MT website:
Registration: General Information
Under state law, all motor vehicles including motor homes; motorcycles and quadricycles; travel trailers; utility trailers; all-terrain vehicles; sailboats over 12 feet in length; motorboats, jet skis and other motorized vessels; and snowmobiles must be registered with the state. Pickup campers are an exception—they must be titled, but are not registered.
Thanks, Robb, for letting me know. The listing has been updated.
Hi Mike, I have lived in WA ST. most of my life. I bought my first used camper in 1990. It came with no license, but had a title of ownership. Used it on my truck for 5 years. My second camper, I bought at a lot used, it too had a title of ownership, it had no license. I had this on my truck for ver ten years. My third camper came with a title and license. I bought from a private party as I did my first camper. The license had tabs and were good for another six months.
When the tabs expired I went to the DMV to ask if having a license and tabs were optional. Afer all I drove around with my last two camper without tabs or license for over fifteen years and nothing was ever said! I not only got a song and dance, but was threatened with mayhem, all sorts of license violation, prison and fines up the ying-yang. I might be slightly exaggerating, but you get the point. Not only that, I need to display both plate on my camper, because it hangs over the truck plate.
Case-in-point; I have never seen another Truck and Camper with two plates on the camper even though the truck plate was not visible. I had always assumed the plate on the rear of the camper was that of the truck. I have never seen a plate on a camper that fit completely in the truck bed, only the truck plate.
Because my truck is high and the legs of the camper will not reach the ground I can not get to the truck plate. I just put the new truck tabs in the glove compartment. Now I need to figure out a way to remove the truck plate and mount it on my camper. I took it to an RV lot, they wanted $120 an hour to get the plate. Any suggestions?
Kentucky has always required a title for TC, but that law was never enforced. Unfortunately, I found out in May of 2017 that they will begin to enforce this law in the state of Kentucky. You will have to title, but not tag or register, if you are a Kentucky resident. According to the DMV in Frankfurt, they are not backdating this, but only enforcing it going forward.
Indiana does not require, nor can you get a tag for your truck camper. Either you must move the plate back and forth or you can follow Doyle Crews suggestion and duplicate a copy. You can obtain a voluntary registration/title for your TC, but, it comes without a plate. I ran into this a couple of years ago when trading in my previous TC. I have re-verified this information with both the Indiana Bureau of motor vehicles and the Indiana state police.
Steve
Thanks, Steve, for letting me know. The list has been updated.
Why does both list of registration and title have Indiana but the visual map has Tennessee?
How about driving to Alaska thru Canada??
Same thing. You’re not a Canadian. They don’t care if your camper is registered or not or if you have a title.
Hi Mike;
I have a Calif registered truck with old TC (1970’s) no reg, no title…How safe is it to travel thru states where
Reg and/or Title is required???
Thanx Joe
Hi Joe,
You don’t have to worry about the other states. The registration requirement only applies to residents of those states.
My husband purchased a truck camper years ago in a state where titles are not required, however we now live in Michigan and apparently one is needed here. Does anyone know how you obtain a new one? We would like to trade/sell but not having a title seems to be causing an issue.
I believe you can apply for one in MI having the VIN or by providing them with the documentation you got with the camper.
I know that this is an old post but just an FYI the selling dealer is required to keep the original MCO in the file and you can call them to get it.
Dear Mike, congratulations for your nice truck camper site.
My name is Takashi, I live in Brazil.
I'm planningo to go to Central and North América and travel in the USA during one year.
I would like to know if I must register may pop up Truck Camper in all States where I'll go.
Thanks so much.
Hi Takashi,
No, you will not be required to register your camper in each state you visit.
Enjoy your visit.
After seeing Missouri needs registration for truck campers on your list I called the state DMV & I can tell you that there is no titling or registration on a truck camper in Missouri. For extra measure I called the state highway patrol & he came up w/nothing specifically on truck campers in the statutes just travel trailers/5th wheels. This draws the conclusion that Missouri doesn't recognize a truck camper as an rv but rather cargo in the truck bed.
Excellent! Thanks, Justin. I'll update the list.
SC no longer requires TCs to be titled or registered..
there is one big fall back with campers when you trade it in to a dealer in a state that requires a tiltle you have to have the original mso so it can be resold and titled so be careful with used campers in states that do not title them
Maine requires that truck campers are registered. The fee is $12. Not many truck campers out this way; I don't think that this is heavily enforced!
Thanks for letting me know. I'll update the list.
I am new to truck campers. What do you do in the situation if you live in none of these states and travel there or through them? Does this only apply if your truck is registered in the particular state requiring registration?
Hi Kenneth. Good question. Registration of your truck camper applies only in the state in which you live or in your home of residence.
Kentucky does not require you to license or register a truck camper. You do not have to license a travel trailer either unless you pull out of state.
Only thing (camper related) you have to license in KY is a motor home, as it moves under its own power. Again unless you pull out of state, but even then a truck camper does not require anything as its the same as a truck topper…
Thanks. I appreciate the feedback.
Idaho is tricky on truck campers. it is required to be registered if its made after jan 1 2009. there are a couple other factors also. here is a link to help out:
http://itd.idaho.gov/dmv/vehicleservices/TruckCamperFAQs.htm#1
thanks for the list you have made.
Thanks and thanks for your link. I've linked it back for Idaho.
We agree with you about getting off the road etc., the truck camper is idea. A little close in Canyonlands.
Yeah, I agree. LOL!
I'm very surprised that California isn't on both lists. They tax us for everything – looks like they missed this one. 🙂
Shhhhhh! Don't say that too loud. Don't want to give them any ideas! 🙂
TCs in California fall under The Dept of Housing, paying the fee depends on how you bought that TC. We bought our from a Lance dealer and had to pay that fee (45$ one time) private party sell usually don't pay that fee.