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Old 12-01-2023, 01:16 PM   #1
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Can I register a box truck as passenger vehicle in NJ

Hi everyone. I'm thinking about to buy a 14-15ft box truck (Ford e250, GMC Savanna 2500 etc. originally a truck / van but box mounted over the bed)

I want to make a stealth build not to be bothered when I'm parking in city so regular / passenger plates are must I think. Is there any way to get regular license plates for box trucks in New Jersey? (I will build a door in between driver cabin to box, there will be direct acces to the box without leaving the car, I think in this case box truck is classified as a van instead of commercial box truck)

Thanks in advance.

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Old 12-01-2023, 01:27 PM   #2
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I don't know NJ regs, but here in Arizona our E350 ambulance (a van with a box) is just registered and insured as a simple van.
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Old 12-01-2023, 01:35 PM   #3
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Originally Posted by rossvtaylor View Post
I don't know NJ regs, but here in Arizona our E350 ambulance (a van with a box) is just registered and insured as a simple van.
Thanks for the answer.
Did you do any specific modification to be able to register as simple van? Did they ask anything specific for registration?
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Old 12-01-2023, 02:11 PM   #4
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What is the Make Model and Body Type in the title now?
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Old 12-01-2023, 02:17 PM   #5
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What is the Make Model and Body Type in the title now?
I didn't buy the vehicle yet, I'm looking for it.
What body type should I look for to be able to register as personal vehicle?
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Old 12-01-2023, 03:31 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by Diyconversion View Post
I didn't buy the vehicle yet, I'm looking for it.
What body type should I look for to be able to register as personal vehicle?
I don’t really understand your question unless in NJ you cannot drive a commercial vehicle. In CA you can drive a commercial vehicle on a class C as long as it’s within the weight class. Pickup trucks are commonly registered as commercial vehicles.

Is there a specific problem you’re trying to solve? Insurance is to common problem and I’ve never tried to insure a box truck, but if you told them that you move your own personal stuff around a lot or box trucks are your jam or whatever, I’m sure you can solve that
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Old 12-01-2023, 03:36 PM   #7
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Several years ago in CA I saw a box truck that had a glass front inside the roll up door. I assume plexiglass. It had a sliding glass door in it. The interior looked like a hotel room. Recently in Bend OR I saw a former catering box truck that still has the company logo on it. The owners were turning the interior into a bedroom.
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Old 12-01-2023, 03:37 PM   #8
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I always thought that one that looked like a roofer truck would be pretty stealth.
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Old 12-01-2023, 04:22 PM   #9
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I don’t really understand your question unless in NJ you cannot drive a commercial vehicle. In CA you can drive a commercial vehicle on a class C as long as it’s within the weight class. Pickup trucks are commonly registered as commercial vehicles.

Is there a specific problem you’re trying to solve? Insurance is to common problem and I’ve never tried to insure a box truck, but if you told them that you move your own personal stuff around a lot or box trucks are your jam or whatever, I’m sure you can solve that
I will live full time in my conversion and commercial plates are pain in the ass because of the overnight parking regulations etc. that's why I want regular plates to be able to park anywhere I want with no problem.
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Old 12-01-2023, 04:31 PM   #10
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I’d call your DMV and ask them. Don’t say you’re going to live in it. Tell them that you want to drive a box truck as a personal vehicle because you just think they’re cute AF and since it’s not commercial can it be changed to non-commercial
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Old 12-01-2023, 04:50 PM   #11
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Source: -> https://www.nj.gov/mvc/vehicles/noncomtrucks.htm

New Jersey MVC


Non-commercial Trucks or SUVs
A non-commercial truck (registration code 15) is a vehicle designed primarily for transportation of property but not used for commercial transportation of goods, wares, merchandise and/or used for hire. The most common non-commercial truck today is an SUV.

Vehicles that qualify as non-commercial trucks:

Pick-up Trucks
Vans
SUVs
El-Camino - Chevrolet
Ranchero - Ford
Brat - Subaru

The following vehicles do not qualify:

01 - Wagon
02 - Two door (coupes)
03 - Convertible
04 - Four door (sedans)
06 - Limousine


Rules and regulations

If you are registering your vehicle as a non-commercial truck it may not have the following on the exterior:

Advertising
Signs
Lettering
Names
Addresses

The only exception would be the trademarks and labels of the vehicle manufacturer.

During the registration process, the applicant must confirm that the vehicle will only be operated for personal use by answering the question on the back of Application Form BA-49 (found only at NJMVC agencies – complete on site).

Plates
You will receive regular passenger plates when you register your non-commercial truck.
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Old 12-01-2023, 05:00 PM   #12
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As far as trying to circumvent parking issues, good luck!

Most if not all cities regulate on street parking in residential areas via local ordinance and most if not all ordinances will identify a truck as anything over 1 ton!

So you box truck, even though is has passenger plates, will be over that 1 ton limit. Most ordinances do not make any reference to "passenger"Plates but like I said, weight (1 ton).

Some cities are even crazier, Coral Gables, Florida used to prohibit Dually's, 1 ton pickup trucks, from being parked in your own driveway!

Again, good luck trying to beat the system!


Example - Elizabeth NJ
Source-> https://library.municode.com/nj/eliz...VE_10.40.010DE

10.40.020 - No parking of certain vehicles from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.—Exceptions.

Hereafter there shall be no parking upon streets or sections of streets within the city of all commercial vehicles as defined in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., except that a truck tractor as defined in N.J.S.A. 39:1-1, is prohibited from parking upon streets or sections of streets within the city between the hours of 6:00 p.m. And 6:00 a.m. This prohibition is not applicable to authorized emergency vehicles. A commercial motor vehicle and/or truck tractor as described herein does not have to be registered as a commercial motor vehicle or have commercial motor vehicle plates for the provisions contained herein to be applicable and enforceable.
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Old 12-01-2023, 07:23 PM   #13
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In many states, and I would guess NJ is going to be one of them, any vehicle with "living accommodations" is required to be registered as a camper, camp trailer, motorhome, etc. If you're found to be registered in a different category there are usually going to be penalties.
Here in Oregon even a slide in (to a pickup bed) camper is required to be registered and plated if it has sleeping and cooking facilities. I pulled the stove on my old camper and avoided the license requirement. It's used as a mobile radio shack and so if I need to cook I bring a coleman camp stove. So without the cooking facilities built in, it's completely in compliance with the law to not be plated.... some would call it a "loop hole" but I call it complying with the law.


Also, not disclosing the actual use to an insurance company is begging to have any future claim denied.


Be very careful in how you proceed.
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Old 12-01-2023, 07:50 PM   #14
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In many states, and I would guess NJ is going to be one of them, any vehicle with "living accommodations" is required to be registered as a camper, camp trailer, motorhome, etc.
Yes Sir !!!

Here it is....


New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation 39 § 1-1

Source ->https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-3...t-sect-39-1-1/


“Commercial motor vehicle” includes every type of motor-driven vehicle used for commercial purposes on the highways, such as the transportation of goods, wares and merchandise, excepting such vehicles as are run only upon rails or tracks and vehicles of the passenger car type used for touring purposes or the carrying of farm products and milk, as the case may be.

"Noncommercial truck” means every motor vehicle designed primarily for transportation of property, and which is not a “commercial vehicle.”

“Recreation vehicle” means a self-propelled or towed vehicle equipped to serve as temporary living quarters for recreational, camping or travel purposes and used solely as a family or personal conveyance.
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Old 12-02-2023, 12:27 AM   #15
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Yes Sir !!!

Here it is....


New Jersey Statutes Title 39. Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation 39 § 1-1

Source ->https://codes.findlaw.com/nj/title-3...t-sect-39-1-1/


I figured NJ would have something like that. The usual reason is to get more $$ for the registration. "Justified" by saying RV's are bigger and heavier so they cause more wear and tear on the roadways. Never mind that the vast majority of RV's sit parked except for a few weeks a year while the cheaper to register cars and pickups are driven every day.
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Old 12-02-2023, 08:37 AM   #16
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I thought I read that in order to qualify as a motor home there needed to be reasonably full height interior passsge to the cab. Anyone else read that?
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Old 12-02-2023, 10:21 AM   #17
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In TX it’s strictly a weight thing as far as registration is concerned. When titling/registering you need a weight certificate and the fee is based on that. I recently changed the title on my bus to “motorhome”, and aside from the pics needed to show that, I had to provide was the weight certificate…. Plates remained the same as before - passenger vehicle…some states are easier than others.
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Old 12-10-2023, 01:22 PM   #18
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I don't know about New Jersey, but here in Maryland I was able to register my Thomas b u s as a commercial vehicle for non commercial use. My insurance is actually very cheap.
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Old 12-10-2023, 04:24 PM   #19
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Here in Oregon even a slide in (to a pickup bed) camper is required to be registered and plated if it has sleeping and cooking facilities.
Be very careful in how you proceed.
Here in Kentucky, My slide-in camper doesn't need plates, but I do have to pay property tax every year. Just paid it last week. A bit more than 5 bucks for a 5 year old truck camper.

I guess what I'm getting at is that every state is different.

Your mileage and experience may, and probably will, vary.
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Old 02-20-2024, 03:05 PM   #20
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Not sure if this helps, but our NJ RV (class C coachmen) plate does not have anything on it that immediately labels it as an RV. After your conversion, just due to insurance, I'd insure it as an RV.

I think for now, find a box truck you like below the commercial weight and register it as is.

I agree about telling your insurance company that you just find box trucks cute af haha.

My work truck is registered as personal so I can use it off hours and be covered.

My shuttle bus now is registered as an e450, so it will be interesting to see if I have to change anything once conversion to toy hauler with either registration or insurance as I will not have living quarters.
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