Do I have to title it as an RV?

the_experience03 · 10-05-2009, 12:08 AM

In Minnesota you can get BY plates which are simply bus plates. The price should be on par with RV plates as it's all weight based anyway. However, you will then be subject to DOT regulations which is a hassle I assure you you don't want to deal with. Even more concerning will be the insurance costs. I was quoted $1500/6 months through Progressive without RV tags.

I don't know that you're going to find anyone that will cover you with less than a commercial policy with those tags on it. Doing the full on conversion only has to be as hard as you want to make it. Remember, objects need only to be permanent. There is no requirement that they be pretty or 100% functional. If you're still unsure I would consider an extended van or a shortbus with a capacity of no more than 15 including driver which will be insurable under normal policies.

lapeer20m · 10-05-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_experience03

In Minnesota you can get BY plates which are simply bus plates. The price should be on par with RV plates as it's all weight based anyway. However, you will then be subject to DOT regulations which is a hassle I assure you you don't want to deal with. Even more concerning will be the insurance costs. I was quoted $1500/6 months through Progressive without RV tags.

I don't know that you're going to find anyone that will cover you with less than a commercial policy with those tags on it. Doing the full on conversion only has to be as hard as you want to make it. Remember, objects need only to be permanent. There is no requirement that they be pretty or 100% functional. If you're still unsure I would consider an extended van or a shortbus with a capacity of no more than 15 including driver which will be insurable under normal policies.

if you are registered as a bus, but for private non commercial use i don't think you have to follow all the dot guidelines. dot is concerned with commercial vehicles.

In michigan, i have had all of my buses titled as a non-commercial bus. i don't need commercial registration, dot numbers, commercial insurance, or commercial drivers license to drive it.

the_experience03 · 10-05-2009, 12:00 PM

Minnesota is a bit goofy like that. Pulling your pure stock race car on a light flat deck trailer with your half ton pickup? You better have DOT numbers, a physical, and a log book. There are rules pertaining to implied commercialism meaning that certain vehicles are typically considered commercial whether they are or not. More importantly, you do not necessarily get that great RV reciprocity from state to state. They would likely be ok (aside from the insurance thing), but let's face it...a bunch of 18-19 year old guys traveling cross country in a bus is deliciously tempting for officers of the law. It would be best just to do what needs to be done to make it legally an RV in this state. The cost of insurance alone would likely offset the majority of the cost of the conversion.

GoneCamping · 10-05-2009, 08:58 PM

Toss in a small kitchen and a port-a-potty and get that thing registered as an RV...

Quote:

In michigan, i have had all of my buses titled as a non-commercial bus. i don't need commercial registration, dot numbers, commercial insurance, or commercial drivers license to drive it.

Here in Va it's the same way, I have regular car plates on my bus...

Sojakai · 10-06-2009, 06:14 PM

Iceni, dont drive it through Ventura County. The Police Force there tends to look for ANY excuse to pull someone over to give a ticket or arrest.

I use to live in Ventura, a cop pulled me over because, he claimed, I was riding my bicycle after dark without a light. Kinda hard to do with a flat tire, and walking it across the street to my friends pickup truck. Or the half dozen times I was stopped while riding my bike home from work after my closing shift, I had my light and it was on...

the_experience03 · 10-06-2009, 09:45 PM

He could put regular Y-plates (weight based like a 1 ton pickup) if it had a capacity lower than 15 passengers. I'm not sure that it will fly to take out the seats. There is a huge umbrella of grace granted to vehicles with RV plates that is well worth the effort. Without RV plates it is likely going to be very expensive to insure because again, everything is based on GVWR in this state.

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