The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk California registration?'s

So I'm at the point where I want/need to register my 41' COE it will have to be weighed to get the correct fees. What's the best/cheapest way to reg. these old rigs? Mine will not be used commercialy, but will be used. I thought you could register as historical, but they said it's only for parades? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,Nick.

The reason they want you to get it weighed is so they can charge weight fees as part of the registration requirement for commercial plates. On a large vehicle these fees can be substantial. They don't care if it's not used for commercial purposes it's still a commercial vehicle. The only way I know to avoid these fees is to register it as a camping vehicle but it must have a "permanently attached camper or shell". I guess you could install an old shell and remove it after the registration process. A camper does not require a weight cert.
Fred

I had to go thru this with my 1952 3100. The weigh station weighed my truck and trailer on my way down to pick up my pickup. They didn't mention that I had the wheels and tires in the back of my towing vehicle. When it got weighed coming back I had burned 250 miles of fuel and the wheels and tires were now on the old truck. It was really under weighed by the weight of the fuel burned and the wheels and tires. It came out at about 2800# and it is costing me $80 or $90 per year for registration as a commercial vehicle.

I had a much bigger issue. CA used engine numbers as the vehicle ID. My 1952 had a replacement 216 manufactured in 1953. I still had the original door plate with its numbers showing when and where it was made but nothing matched the CHP book according to the officer I had to deal with. It took him 2 weeks to decide everything was in order. Then the DMV told me he did the paperwork wrong. I should have realized the guy they leave at the office to check vehicles may not be the brightest. Hope you have a lot better experience.

Chuck

I was told that Ca. DMV no longer gives a bypass on the weight fees for a truck with a camper shell! In order to bypass those fees, you have to have a permantly mounted fifth wheel hitch in the bed. I wanted to register as historic, but they said that was basicly a parade plate? Sounds like I need to do some more research, or just register it normaly and get over the fees?

It's been about 6 years since I used the camper deal on a 55 Ford F100. DMV changes the rules quite frequently. Their sneakiest scheme is to change the smog standards. For instance the NO standard for my 88 truck 5 years ago was 999, last year it was 699. It appears they want all the older vehicles off the road.

When I bought my 06 Dodge, diesel's were exempt from smog. I had to smog is 2 years ago and now it's due again this year. sometimes I really hate living in California.

Exact same situation as you have...they just want you money. I hate it too