Bus registration question

[Kenny7]

I have a bus with a bus plate that's not registered as anything but a bus as it was never converted, I have been working on it for some time and it no longer resembles a bus and I want to register it in Wisconsin here but I'm stuck between if it needs a heavy truck plate 26000 gwv or a RV plate even tho it's not really an RV. It has a flatbed on it it's a toy hauler with a sleeper basically. Which would be cheaper I guess? I know the DMV would not tell me which route is cheaper for a plate on a vehicle that is for private use and not commercial. Thanks for any input. I tried to find if anyone talked about this before but could not find an answer. Insurance is ridiculous anyways with it they claim i can only have a commercial policy because of its vin number, trying to get it done before I do anything with that

 

[Albatross]

A heavy truck is almost certainly going to be more expensive, as there is an inherent assumption that it is going to be used in some kind of commercial capacity, whereas an RV tag is likely to be cheaper as it's merely some kind of a luxury tag that is assumed that it will only be used a few times a year at max.



And getting an RV tag really doesn't say anything about it's weight capacity, either. there are plenty of commercially-produced RV toy haulers out there that are designed to do just that sort of a thing, so it's more than likely your best option.



Also, there is an implied-consent thing going on with a heavy-truck tag that would likely also require you to pull over for weigh-stations when they are open. I would get an RV tag, if I got a tag at all, and would then have the arguments out with the insurance company because it's not a commercial vehicle anymore--it's not being used to make money as a primary function of a business, it's not constantly in motion, and it's likely only going to be on the road a few times a year.

 

[Kenny7]

Oh okay yeah that makes sense I will do the minimum requirement for an RV then thanks, I will be using it only a handful of times a year.

 

[MonroeZ]

Wisconsin DMV has an article: https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/school-bus-conversion.aspx

Basically, if you want to register as anything but a bus, you must repaint, get rid of the flashers, stop sign, signage and front bar. Once you do that, you can register as auto, (regular) bus, heavy truck, light truck, or special X. If you want to register as an RV (motorhome title), there are more requirements like 4 of the following:

A potable (drinkable) water supply including faucet and sink that is self-contained or connects to an external water supply

Ice box or refrigerator

Self-contained toilet

Cooking facilities

100-125 volt electric power source and/or LP gas

Heating and/or air conditioning