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08-06-2013, 10:51 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5
Year: 2001
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GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
I have a GMC Thomas Built 3500 short bus that GVW is 10000. I've read that in MA any vehicle over 10,000lbs needs to have commercial plates. I have also heard that any vehicle with more than 4 wheels needs commercial plates. Can I get away with noncommercial plates?
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08-06-2013, 01:36 PM
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#2
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
I would call the local DMV and just ask about getting weighted tags for your "truck" and be done with it...see what they say
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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08-06-2013, 01:47 PM
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#3
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: West Lafayette, IN
Posts: 832
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Engine: 3126
Rated Cap: 72
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
I would call the local DMV and just ask about getting weighted tags for your "truck" and be done with it...see what they say
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Ditto, what he said.
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08-06-2013, 02:01 PM
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#4
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 337
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Why not just register it as a 3500 gmc van? That is what the title says right? I was looking at a Ford cutaway E350 Startran shuttle here in TX and the guy had it registered and insured as an E350 because that is what the title says and that was way cheaper than RV or private bus. Run the VIN in your state and see what the state thinks it is, then you can see about changing it to what you want it to be. Also I find it really hard to believe that all RV's over 10K lbs are registered as commercial vehicles....even in the law crazy state of Mass.
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08-06-2013, 02:38 PM
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#5
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
that's a good start also!
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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08-07-2013, 09:30 AM
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#6
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5
Year: 2001
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Quote:
Originally Posted by Malkieri
Why not just register it as a 3500 gmc van? That is what the title says right? I was looking at a Ford cutaway E350 Startran shuttle here in TX and the guy had it registered and insured as an E350 because that is what the title says and that was way cheaper than RV or private bus. Run the VIN in your state and see what the state thinks it is, then you can see about changing it to what you want it to be. Also I find it really hard to believe that all RV's over 10K lbs are registered as commercial vehicles....even in the law crazy state of Mass.
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That's exactly what I've done already. I'm just concerned because of friends who own large trucks who told me that I need a commercial plate or I will get pulled over and they will take the bus. The debate now is does the law require everything above 10,000lbs or is it everything 10,000lbs and above because the bus GVW is 10,000 exactly according to the sticker. I'm on hold with the RMV hopefully I will get an answer today.
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08-07-2013, 10:44 AM
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#7
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
I don't know, but if your not using it for commerce why do you need the tags to be commercial?
maybe they meant weighted tags ; here in TN regular tags are like 5000 lb rated (don't hold me to that exact number) they don't ticket people that have them on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks though
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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08-07-2013, 11:43 AM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 5
Year: 2001
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Just found out that my GVW is fine the restriction starts at anything above 10,000, unfortunately because its a dually I am required to get commercial plates.
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08-07-2013, 04:13 PM
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#9
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Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Central MN
Posts: 143
Year: 1977
Coachwork: Chevy
Chassis: C/60
Engine: 350 V8
Rated Cap: 54
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Commercial tags are WAY expensive ... that sucks to hear. Does it have RV plates on it ??
You need to move to a less restrictive state ... Like good ol' Minnesota.
License things however you want, no emissions inspections, and out in the country, you can drive things like this and get away with it ... My old high school ride.
__________________
Passes everything but gas stations.
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08-07-2013, 06:14 PM
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#10
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MNT CITY TN
Posts: 5,158
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Please double check that,that means every dual pickup would need those tags.
Once you registure as commecial....you will play hell to go backwards.
Look around and see what all the pickups have and then bring that up!!
Commercial here in TNwould add a lot plus possible DOT numbers etc
Please be careful here
__________________
Our build La Tortuga
Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.
George S. Patton
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08-07-2013, 09:39 PM
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#11
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Moodus, Ct.
Posts: 1,062
Year: 1996
Coachwork: Champion
Chassis: Ford e-450
Engine: 7.3 Powerstroke
Rated Cap: 14
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Well-here in Ct, if you are over 10k, you need commercial plates. (no biggie-i think it was like $135 a year for my cube van @ 10.7k.) But I didn't have to do emissions. My buddies cubie was 9900 gross-and he could get "combination" plates for his-but had to deal with emissions. On my bus I got "camp trailer" plates-$85 a year-no emissions-no weigh stations-can use the left lane where commercial vehicles are restricted.
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08-13-2013, 09:19 PM
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#12
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Adirondack Mountains NY
Posts: 1,101
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Re: GVW is 10,000lbs can I register as noncommercial
Well, there is "commercial" as in "not a passenger car," and then there is the other "commercial" as in requires a CDL and compliance with interstate trucking rules.
When someone says "commercial," think truck plate. I actually saved money on insurance in high school by registering my VW bug as a "commercial" pickup truck. The previous owner had cut the back of the body off, and covered the engine and bus transmission with a plywood box that looked like a pickup with a tonneau cover. Ah, those were the days!
In NY, almost all pickups were required to have "commercial" plates until recently. The exception had been that only personal-use pickups with permanent seats or sleeping facilities in the bed could be registered as passenger vehicles. Very important downstate, as only passenger vehicles are allowed on the parkways, which usually move more smoothly than the "expressways" (Interstate highways). Ticketing pickup trucks with passenger vehicle plates for "improper registration" used to be "low-hanging fruit" for police officers.
Now, the law was changed so any pickup used personally and not in support of a business or trade, and not marked with a business name, has the option of being either a "commercial" or "passenger" vehicle here.
The CDL-type commercial follows Federal designations:
Under 18,000, not "CDL" commercial unless it is a "bus" with over 14 passenger seats
Class C - straight truck/bus 18,001-26,000 lbs, with trailer 10,000 lbs or less
Class B - straight truck/bus 26,001+ lbs, with trailer 10,000 lbs or less
Class A - tractor-trailer or truck-trailer combinations
So having a 10,001 lb. vehicle with "truck" plates does not make you a CDL commercial operator subject to interstate trucking rules. You are 'non-commercial' if not operating in support of a business.
The best thing to do is to check out the local quirks. Go to the RMV website, grab the brochures from their lobby, or if you see a trooper at a truck check point, stop (in a car) and politely ask for his/her understanding. Don't ask the cop on the corner who does not deal with CDL vehicles all day.
Edit: I had skimmed over your middle post that you already had your RMV answer on the type of plate to use. But you are still "non-commercial" commercial if you don't have too many seats.
__________________
Someone said "Making good decisions comes from experience, experience comes from bad decisions." I say there are three kinds of people: those who learn from their mistakes, those who learn from the mistakes of others, and those who never learn.
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