Storage trailers give Indiana warehouses, contractors, construction companies, property managers, and other businesses a convenient way to add temporary storage without expanding a building or repeatedly transporting materials to an off-site storage facility. But using a trailer for stationary storage raises an important question: Does a storage trailer that remains parked at a business or jobsite still need to be registered in Indiana?
The answer depends on the trailer, its legal classification, its registration status, and how it is being used. Indiana distinguishes between vehicles that will be used on Indiana roads and qualifying vehicles that will remain off the road for an extended period. However, simply parking a trailer and calling it “stationary storage” does not automatically create a registration exemption.
One of the most important provisions for owners to understand is Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse, which can allow a qualifying vehicle that will not be used on an Indiana road for at least 90 consecutive days to remain unregistered until the owner intends to return it to road use.
Here’s what Indiana businesses should know before using a trailer for stationary onsite storage.
Important: This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Registration, permitting, and property-use requirements depend on the trailer and the circumstances. Confirm requirements for a particular trailer with the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and, where applicable, local authorities.
Understanding Indiana Trailer Registration Rules
Indiana vehicle registration is governed primarily by Indiana Code Title 9, Article 18.1. For a business using a storage trailer, one of the most important distinctions is whether the trailer is actually being used on an Indiana road.
A trailer routinely transported between facilities or jobsites presents a different registration situation from one delivered to a warehouse and left there as stationary storage for an extended period.
It’s also important to understand that “storage trailer” describes how a trailer is being used. It does not necessarily represent a separate statutory vehicle classification under Indiana law.
Trailer vs. Semitrailer
The legal classification of the unit matters when determining the applicable registration requirements. Many commercial storage trailers were originally manufactured for highway transportation. A trailer doesn’t necessarily stop being a trailer or semitrailer under vehicle law simply because a business decides to use it for stationary storage. Indiana’s registration system also contains specific provisions and fees for semitrailers. The Indiana BMV currently lists permanent registration categories for semitrailers, as well as certain other qualifying trailers. Businesses should therefore identify the actual classification of the equipment rather than assuming all units marketed as “storage trailers” are treated identically.
The Key Question: Will the Storage Trailer Be Used on an Indiana Road?
For a trailer being used as stationary storage, road use is particularly important. Consider two examples.
A warehouse has a storage trailer delivered to its facility, positions it onsite, and uses it for overflow inventory for several months.
Another company routinely moves a trailer between construction sites as different projects begin and end.
Both businesses may describe their equipment as “storage trailers,” but the way the trailers are being used is substantially different.
Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse specifically focuses on whether a vehicle will be used upon an Indiana road.
That means businesses should avoid assuming that any informal characteristic automatically creates an exemption. Parking a trailer for a certain amount of time, removing wheels, or describing it internally as a stationary storage unit isn’t a substitute for determining what Indiana law and the BMV require.
Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse for Stationary Vehicles
The Indiana BMV Affidavit of Nonuse — State Form 56164 is particularly relevant when a vehicle will remain off Indiana roads for an extended period. According to the BMV, an Affidavit of Nonuse may be completed instead of obtaining a timely new registration or renewal when the vehicle will not be used on an Indiana road for at least 90 consecutive days. Once the affidavit has been timely completed by the registrant and validated at a BMV branch, the vehicle is not required to be registered until the owner intends to use it on an Indiana road. That can potentially be relevant to a qualifying trailer being used exclusively as stationary storage.
When Does the Affidavit of Nonuse Need to Be Filed?
Timing matters. For a newly purchased or acquired vehicle, the affidavit must be completed within 45 days after the purchase or acquisition date. For an existing vehicle approaching a registration renewal, the affidavit must be completed on or before the current registration expires. The BMV requires the owner to visit a branch to request and complete the affidavit. The form becomes valid when it is signed by the owner and validated at the branch. Owners should also retain the completed original affidavit because the form states that it must be resubmitted when subsequently applying for registration.
Does the 90-Day Rule Mean a Storage Trailer Is Automatically Exempt?
No. This is an important distinction. The 90-day requirement is part of the eligibility criteria for Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse. It should not be interpreted as a blanket rule that any trailer parked for 90 days automatically becomes exempt from registration. The owner must satisfy the applicable requirements and complete the affidavit within the BMV’s deadlines.
In other words:
“My trailer hasn’t moved in 90 days” is not the same as “I completed an Affidavit of Nonuse.”
Planning ahead is especially important if a business purchases a trailer with the intention of immediately placing it into long-term stationary storage.
Does an Affidavit of Nonuse Eliminate Registration Fees and Taxes?
No. The Affidavit of Nonuse can prevent an administrative penalty associated with delayed registration when its requirements have been satisfied. However, the BMV specifically states that the affidavit does not eliminate registration fees or taxes that become due when the vehicle is eventually registered. The BMV form explains that when the vehicle is later registered, applicable registration fees and taxes become due. Depending on whether the vehicle was previously registered, taxes may apply back to the purchase date or the expiration of the previous registration. That distinction is important when calculating the long-term cost of a stationary storage trailer.
What Happens When a Stationary Storage Trailer Needs to Be Moved?
A trailer that has spent months sitting at a warehouse doesn’t necessarily retain the same registration status when it’s time to put it back on the road. The Indiana BMV states that a vehicle covered by an Affidavit of Nonuse becomes subject to registration on the date it will be used on an Indiana road. That matters when a business needs to:
- Move a storage trailer to another jobsite
- Relocate it between company facilities
- Return it to transportation service
- Move it after a long-term construction project
- Otherwise transport it over Indiana roads
Businesses should determine what registration or permit requirements apply before the trailer is moved, rather than discovering the issue when transportation is already scheduled.
Can You Get a Temporary Permit to Move an Unregistered Trailer?
Indiana provides several types of temporary vehicle permits, but eligibility depends on the circumstances. For example, the BMV offers a 96-hour temporary delivery permit that allows an eligible vehicle to be operated without ordinary title or registration during that period for certain specified purposes. One permitted purpose is delivering a vehicle to a place of storage, including the owner’s residence or place of business. The permit can also cover qualifying movement to a BMV branch or provider location for registration. The BMV requires documentation for the permit, including proof of ownership and proof of financial responsibility. Indiana also offers a 30-day temporary registration permit for certain situations, but its permitted uses are specifically defined. Don’t assume that a temporary permit is available simply because a stationary trailer needs to be relocated. Verify eligibility with the BMV before putting an unregistered trailer on the road.
Are Some Vehicles Specifically Exempt From Indiana Registration?
Yes. Indiana law identifies categories of vehicles that aren’t required to be registered. Those statutory exemptions shouldn’t be confused with the Affidavit of Nonuse process. Indiana Code includes specific categories of vehicles that may be exempt under particular circumstances. These include certain government vehicles and certain equipment not designed or employed for general highway transportation and only incidentally operated or moved over highways. Indiana law also expressly addresses categories such as disposable trailers. The important point for commercial storage users is that an ordinary trailer doesn’t necessarily qualify for one of these statutory categories merely because it has been parked and repurposed for storage. If you’re relying on a specific statutory exemption rather than an Affidavit of Nonuse, verify that the trailer actually satisfies the requirements of that exemption.
What About a Storage Trailer Kept on Private Property?
Keeping a trailer on private property raises a second issue that is easy to confuse with vehicle registration. Registration rules and property-use rules are not the same thing. Even when a trailer isn’t being operated on public roads, its placement may be affected by local requirements involving:
- Zoning
- Property use
- Setbacks
- Fire access
- Jobsite requirements
- HOA rules
- Lease provisions
- Local permits
- Length of placement
For example, Indianapolis-Marion County has land-use rules addressing vehicle and trailer storage in certain zoning districts. A business therefore shouldn’t assume that resolving the trailer’s BMV registration status automatically gives it permission to keep the trailer anywhere on its property. For a trailer that will remain onsite for an extended period, check both Indiana vehicle requirements and applicable local property-use requirements.
Stationary Storage Trailer Compliance Checklist
Before placing a commercial storage trailer into long-term stationary use in Indiana:
☐ Determine whether the unit is legally classified as a trailer, semitrailer, or another type of vehicle.
☐ Determine whether it will be operated or moved on an Indiana road.
☐ Estimate how long the trailer will remain stationary.
☐ If the trailer will remain off Indiana roads for at least 90 consecutive days, determine whether the BMV Affidavit of Nonuse is appropriate.
☐ For a new purchase, address the affidavit within 45 days of purchase or acquisition if applicable.
☐ For an existing registration, address the affidavit on or before the registration expiration date if applicable.
☐ Keep ownership, rental, VIN, registration, and trailer-identification records available.
☐ Retain the original Affidavit of Nonuse if one is completed.
☐ Verify registration or temporary-permit requirements before moving an unregistered trailer.
☐ Check Indianapolis-Marion County or other applicable local zoning and property-use requirements separately.
☐ Review the rental agreement if the trailer is leased to determine who is responsible for registration and transportation.
☐ Contact the Indiana BMV when the trailer’s status or intended use isn’t clear.
Why Stationary Storage Trailers Make Sense for Indianapolis Businesses
Registration is only one consideration when deciding whether a stationary storage trailer makes sense for a facility. For warehouses, manufacturers, contractors, construction companies, retailers, and other businesses, an onsite trailer can create additional capacity without requiring inventory to be transported to a separate storage facility. Potential benefits include:
- Keeping inventory close to the facility
- Storing tools and equipment directly at a jobsite
- Reducing trips to off-site storage
- Adding temporary warehouse overflow capacity
- Managing seasonal inventory peaks
- Supporting construction and renovation projects
- Creating temporary capacity during facility changes
A business experiencing a temporary increase in inventory, for example, may not need to lease another warehouse. A storage trailer positioned at the existing facility can provide additional space while keeping materials accessible. Similarly, contractors can use stationary trailers to keep equipment and supplies near an active project rather than repeatedly transporting them between a jobsite and an off-site storage location.
Storage On-Site provides storage trailer rentals in Indianapolis and surrounding Central Indiana communities for commercial, industrial, construction, and other onsite storage applications.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stationary Storage Trailers in Indiana
Does a stationary storage trailer need a license plate in Indiana?
Not necessarily in every circumstance, but stationary use alone doesn’t automatically eliminate registration requirements. The answer depends on the trailer’s classification, registration status, ownership, and intended use. Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse may allow a qualifying vehicle that won’t be used on an Indiana road for at least 90 consecutive days to remain unregistered until road use resumes, provided the affidavit is properly and timely completed.
What is Indiana’s 90-day Affidavit of Nonuse rule?
Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse may be completed instead of timely new or renewal registration when a vehicle won’t be used on an Indiana road for at least 90 consecutive days. For new purchases, the affidavit must generally be completed within 45 days of purchase or acquisition. For renewals, it must be completed on or before the existing registration expires.
Can I just let my trailer registration expire if the trailer isn’t moving?
Don’t assume that simply allowing registration to expire provides the same protection as following the BMV’s Affidavit of Nonuse process. The affidavit has specific eligibility, timing, validation, and documentation requirements. When appropriate, completing that process can avoid the registration administrative penalty when the vehicle is subsequently registered.
Can an unregistered storage trailer be moved to another jobsite?
Moving the trailer over an Indiana road can change its registration obligations. The BMV states that a vehicle covered by an Affidavit of Nonuse becomes subject to registration on the date it will again be used on an Indiana road. Before relocating an unregistered trailer, determine whether registration or an applicable temporary permit is required.
Does keeping a storage trailer on private property eliminate Indiana registration requirements?
Private-property placement and vehicle registration are separate questions. Keeping a trailer on private property can be relevant to whether it is being used on an Indiana road, but private property does not by itself create a universal registration exemption. Owners should evaluate the applicable BMV requirements based on the trailer and its use.
Are rental storage trailers treated differently from trailers a business owns?
The practical responsibilities can differ. With a rental storage trailer, the rental company may retain ownership and may be responsible for certain registration and transportation matters. The customer may still have responsibilities involving placement, property access, site conditions, and permitted use. Review the rental agreement and confirm who is responsible for registration and road transportation before the trailer is moved.
Rent a Storage Trailer in Indianapolis
Stationary storage can affect how Indiana vehicle-registration requirements apply, but simply parking a trailer doesn’t create a universal registration exemption. The trailer’s classification, registration status, road use, length of nonuse, and completion of applicable BMV procedures can all matter.
For trailers that will remain off Indiana roads for at least 90 consecutive days, Indiana’s Affidavit of Nonuse is particularly important to understand. Businesses should also address registration or temporary-permit requirements before putting a stationary trailer back on the road and evaluate local zoning or property requirements separately.
If you need convenient additional storage at your warehouse, facility, or jobsite, Storage On-Site offers storage trailer rentals in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Our storage trailers can provide flexible onsite capacity for construction projects, commercial and industrial operations, seasonal inventory, renovations, and temporary warehouse overflow.
Contact Storage On-Site today or call 317-358-0380 to discuss storage trailer availability and find the right size for your storage needs.