Jump to content

California Dmv Clasifies All Pickup As Commercial Trucks

tmacias

Recommended Posts

tmacias Enthusiast

tmacias

Posted
Posted

I bought my 2007 GMC Sierra in April and have been trying to get the California DMV to change the title. They told me all pick ups, even if not used for payment (hauling people or stuff) are considered Commercial vehicles and charged an additional $156 a year (in addition to normal registration cost).

 

I tried to get them to change the clasification. The Pickup is a very nicely equiped Crew Cab SLT model with a very nice hard top A.R.E. tonneau cover. They sent me an affidavit that I need to sigh that says I had it professionally and permanintly modified to include a shower, toilet, and bed. This is the only way to get it reclasified as a non-comercial vehicle. Of course I did not complete this modification. If I wanted an RV, I would have bought one.

 

Had I known this Calf. DMV requirement 2 years ago when I was determining what to replace our old minivan with, I might have gone with an SUV type of vehicle. I spent quite some time deciding on a pickup, then on the make and model. I then began the search for the one I wanted. Is this California DMV ruling a widely known fact? icon7.gif

jrrod2004 Senior Enthusiast

jrrod2004

Posted
Posted
I bought my 2007 GMC Sierra in April and have been trying to get the California DMV to change the title. They told me all pick ups, even if not used for payment (hauling people or stuff) are considered Commercial vehicles and charged an additional $156 a year (in addition to normal registration cost).

 

I tried to get them to change the clasification. The Pickup is a very nicely equiped Crew Cab SLT model with a very nice hard top A.R.E. tonneau cover. They sent me an affidavit that I need to sigh that says I had it professionally and permanintly modified to include a shower, toilet, and bed. This is the only way to get it reclasified as a non-comercial vehicle. Of course I did not complete this modification. If I wanted an RV, I would have bought one.

 

Had I known this Calf. DMV requirement 2 years ago when I was determining what to replace our old minivan with, I might have gone with an SUV type of vehicle. I spent quite some time deciding on a pickup, then on the make and model. I then began the search for the one I wanted. Is this California DMV ruling a widely known fact? icon7.gif

 

 

 

Yes, as an Insurance rep (now claims adjuster), i have had to deal with this. CA is a no fun state for us, much less the residents, and I dont even live in the state.

96chevy7.4L Enthusiast

96chevy7.4L

Posted
Posted

there a way around it. Look up mydakotaaddress.com they establish residency for you get insurance plates everything. Even give you a verifable address. Plates and insurance are dirt cheap. Cops don't care I have found from what state its registered or where insured as long as its insured and registered. Cheap too. 57 bucks a year for tags and over 200 a year for insurance.

dlstewart01 Senior Enthusiast

dlstewart01

Posted
Posted
there a way around it. Look up mydakotaaddress.com they establish residency for you get insurance plates everything. Even give you a verifable address. Plates and insurance are dirt cheap. Cops don't care I have found from what state its registered or where insured as long as its insured and registered. Cheap too. 57 bucks a year for tags and over 200 a year for insurance.

 

That will get you in a heep of trouble here.....And the cops do care. They are looking for the smallest infraction to generate revenue....

tmacias Enthusiast

tmacias

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the comments. I don't intend on selling my ride over this but sure wish I had known about it before I bought. I am not sure how well known this is in California. I have 4 poker buds with pickups and none knew they were registered as a commercial vehicle. The registration just shows a code that you need to deciper. I wish there was a way or a place to post this so that all potential California drivers would know. I think if this was better known, the drop in revenues to dealers and Truck makers would push them for "convince' the state to change the stupid $$ rules.

AntelopeLTZ Enthusiast

AntelopeLTZ

Posted
Posted

My Dad has a canopy on his truck with a car type plate, but it is a 1973 so there may have been a change in the law since then. Also there is a difference in 1/2 ton, 3/4ton, and 1ton registration fees too.

 

On a side note, I think the temporary increase in the VLF is set to expire sometime in 2011.

L76PWRD Enthusiast

L76PWRD

Posted
Posted

If your truck weighs 5000 pounds or less you can reduce the charge to 80 dollars instead of 154 dollars. But if your over 5001 you have to pay 154 dollars.

bigboyblue Enthusiast

bigboyblue

Posted
Posted
there a way around it. Look up mydakotaaddress.com they establish residency for you get insurance plates everything. Even give you a verifable address. Plates and insurance are dirt cheap. Cops don't care I have found from what state its registered or where insured as long as its insured and registered. Cheap too. 57 bucks a year for tags and over 200 a year for insurance.

 

 

As far as I know, that is tax evasion. If you have a California drivers license, and your license plates or trailer license plates are from a different state, you can get in federal trouble for tax evasion. If its registered in your name and you are the owner, it has to be registered in the same state your drivers license is. Now if you register it under your wife's name and you are driving or towing it, you are clear, but if you own it and you are handling it, it has to be in the same state as your drivers license.

C. Charles Hahn Senior Enthusiast

C. Charles Hahn

Posted
Posted
there a way around it. Look up mydakotaaddress.com they establish residency for you get insurance plates everything. Even give you a verifable address. Plates and insurance are dirt cheap. Cops don't care I have found from what state its registered or where insured as long as its insured and registered. Cheap too. 57 bucks a year for tags and over 200 a year for insurance.

 

 

As far as I know, that is tax evasion. If you have a California drivers license, and your license plates or trailer license plates are from a different state, you can get in federal trouble for tax evasion. If its registered in your name and you are the owner, it has to be registered in the same state your drivers license is. Now if you register it under your wife's name and you are driving or towing it, you are clear, but if you own it and you are handling it, it has to be in the same state as your drivers license.

 

 

I wonder if that site establishing residency also means you can get a D/L from a different state too? Only problem is that you'd then presumably have to pay income tax in that other state, and have all kinds of other problems to deal with.

bronyaur Enthusiast

bronyaur

Posted
Posted

If a vehicle is registered to a non-resident but used in California for more of the year than any other state, the law requires it to be registered in California (4000.4VC). The law also requires you to obtain a California drivers license upon establishing residency.

 

I have, in the past, seen some trucks registered as passenger vehicles when they have a camper shell permanently attached. I don't know if the law still allows it.

 

As far as the police going after it for revenue, that's only partially true. The way I see it, if I have to pay my California registration so do you. Registering your vehicles in another state will only buy you trouble (and back penalties).

r1byker Enthusiast

r1byker

Posted
Posted
I bought my 2007 GMC Sierra in April and have been trying to get the California DMV to change the title. They told me all pick ups, even if not used for payment (hauling people or stuff) are considered Commercial vehicles and charged an additional $156 a year (in addition to normal registration cost).

 

I tried to get them to change the clasification. The Pickup is a very nicely equiped Crew Cab SLT model with a very nice hard top A.R.E. tonneau cover. They sent me an affidavit that I need to sigh that says I had it professionally and permanintly modified to include a shower, toilet, and bed. This is the only way to get it reclasified as a non-comercial vehicle. Of course I did not complete this modification. If I wanted an RV, I would have bought one.

 

Had I known this Calf. DMV requirement 2 years ago when I was determining what to replace our old minivan with, I might have gone with an SUV type of vehicle. I spent quite some time deciding on a pickup, then on the make and model. I then began the search for the one I wanted. Is this California DMV ruling a widely known fact? icon7.gif

 

I've got the same issue going. Funny thing is, a friend of mine was able to get his pickup changed from commercial plates and he only has a cap on his truck; no bed, shower, or toilet. I'm pretty sure they didn't inspect it so maybe he just went to a DMV office that was lax about it enforcing the policy. Or he lied on his affidavit.

Doug_Scott Senior Enthusiast

Doug_Scott

Posted
Posted
I wonder if that site establishing residency also means you can get a D/L from a different state too? Only problem is that you'd then presumably have to pay income tax in that other state, and have all kinds of other problems to deal with.

 

From that site... These services include; a complete mail forwarding service, as a registered Commercial Mail Receiving/Forwarding Agent, assistance in obtaining your new SD drivers license, SD vehicle registration and voters card.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,782
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    ShowMeShooter1332
    Newest Member
    ShowMeShooter1332
    Joined

  • Who's Online   3 Members, 0 Anonymous, 5,823 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • Jsdirt
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By Jsdirt · Posted

      I was around and remember that era very well, so I'm calling b/s on that statement. If they were that bad no police department or taxi company would've bought a single one ... but they were used in both services (and fire) for DECADES. They were bulletproof and proven. Even the early 21st century ones weren't too bad! The early models were legendary.   Mine is proof, but people like atlas are blinded by agenda and refuse to believe facts right before their very eyes.   Even decades after they were built, a new generation started driving them, posting all their builds and shenanigans on Grandmarq.net and Crownvic.net. The failures would show up then, since they all were deep past 100k-150k miles by that point, and younger drivers tend to be a little aggressive, especially with vehicles than can lay a one-tire fire for as long as you hold your foot in it. They've more than proven themselves over the decades.   The only thing that'll really take them out is road salt. The bodies and sheet metal were garbage. A victim of the cheapout FoMoCo and GM have been partaking in before then, and since.   Today it's the stuff that counts - the undercarriage that rots away first!     
    • Jsdirt
      2027 GMC Sierra: Official Discussion

      By Jsdirt · Posted

      Let me know how your vehicles do in 10 years. You don't know ******, kid. 😂    There's a reason that Panther platform was used as police, fire, and taxi service for DECADES ... long before you were born, apparently.
    • davester
      Disconnecting Battery

      By davester · Posted

      If your connector also has a big lever to get the connector on and off, you don't want to force the lever either way, as it becomes a bigger problem if you bust the lever or the mechanism it works.
    • davester
      Disconnecting Battery

      By davester · Posted

      It's just useful to disconnect the battery to prevent odd shorting out when unplugging/plugging stuff together.  I also  touch the two cable ends together (after disonnecting) to drain the small amount of stored battery energy in various modules.   I believe the main system where you need to be more concerned with, so you need to do the above and then wait some time, iss when you are working on the air bag system, to prevent inadvertent firing of the air bags.   The in-cab switches are just that, plain switches, it's generally not a problem to swap them in/out.  For my '12, I'll get an error message on the dash if I power up the truck w them unplugged, but that's it (power up= turn the ignition on).   The ITBC located above the spare tire is a computer that manages the trailer brake system.  That is probably more important to have the battery disconnected.  It does have to be programmed to the truck, either before or after it's installed, for it to work.  For my '12, I had a very hard time reinstalling the main connector to it (IDK if yours is the same or not), it turned out the silicon seal was jamming up, preventing it from going on all the way.  I finally got it fully installed by lubing the seal with a bit of dielectric grease, then it slid on and latched in place easily.
    • BCGM
      Remote Start Noise 2024 2500 HD Gas

      By BCGM · Posted

      JR ! I just got the truck back from the Dealership today . The technician did a cold remote start on the truck this morning and it made the noise . It was determined that it was a starter issue and replaced it under warranty . Of course   it did not make the sound after a new starter was put in because the truck was not cold . We will we see what happens tomorrow morning when I start the truck cold  . Keep tuned !   Oh I found a video on YouTube of a cold start and it did the same thing your truck and mine do , I will see if I can find it and post it up

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...