I went up to Milwaukee from Louisville and back today. As I went around Chicago on I294 (I think) I was towing an empty (18ft Big Tex) car trailer. In Kentucky personal trailers are not required to be plated. The tow vehicle was a 2023 SXT and the towed vehicle was a 1937 Ford Coupe.

I am curious has anyone NOT been tolled due to the lack of license plates on the trailer?

Second I am curious if the truck plate was photographed when empty but not when loaded?

 

I don’t think it matters if the trailer was empty or not. Illinois charges commercial truck rates for trailers, rv’s, boats, etc. Major extortion. They used to just charge per axle for non commercial trailers but the greed in this state is off the charts. If you don’t have the toll pass such as Ipass or similar you pay double.

 

Ca Bay Area tolls count axles only. No consideration for load

https://turnpikeinfo.com/toll-calcul...ate=california

 

Little off topic but do you get charged a toll when crossing the Ohio river with a TT? I've seen the signs but have never received a bill when visiting a friend in KY.

 

Every state that I know of counts axles.

 

What I am saying is, there is no trailer license plate because my state doesn’t offer them… and my truck plate was blocked by the trailer and the towed vehicle…

I was wanting to know if they can read the plate on your truck if you’re towing something that has NO plate.

 

does your TT have its own plate as required by your home state?

I think this is very clearly on topic! I want to know about people getting tolls when towing and your vehicle plate is blocked by the trailer!

 

Illinois resident here. When I tow my enclosed snowmobile trailer the trailer plate is hidden way under the trailer (typical Triton trailer mounting location behind the left rear wheel) and I'm still charged for having a one axle trailer. Not sure if the camera reads the front plate on the truck or can get a quick snapshot of the rear truck plate from those overhead cameras.

 

ok, that is what I was wondering. In regards tollway, I have tolls from driving on Thursday with no trailer, but nothing from Saturday when I drove with the empty trailer. And nothing from Saturday when I drove loaded. Wasn’t sure if the Ipass website takes a day or two to update with new tolls or if they couldn’t read my plates…

 

Might be a day lag. Let us know if they charge you $26.50 each way. I'm presuming you got on 294 at 80 and took 294/94 up to Milwaukee and back the same way. They are bandits.