California Tundra owners DMV...

..Is your Tundra registered as Commercial? I bought my Tundra at the end of May and just got my plates. The type of vehicle on the registration is designated as Commercial. I am wondering if the dealer made a mistake here. Is this standard for Tundras?

 

Unfortunately, this is how it is supposed to be. I bought a 21 in December and thought the same thing. The only way around it is if you put a shell on it, you can designate as passenger, but if you ever got caught without the shell, they may make a stink about it.

 

Yep I heard the same as @MadMaxCanon. I wouldn't risk it especially with those CHP checks thanks to these idiots doing street take overs and what not.

 

if i remember correctly when i talked to my insurance agent, the difference in money shelled out between passenger and commercial really isnt too much, just enough to piss you off that its the way it is.

 

Hmmm, I hadn't even noticed this.

 

Cause they want to tax the ½ ton more on registration, I had a Tacoma b4 and it’s regular registration fee, tundra I’m paying like 600

 

$614 for my 2020

 

I need 1099, so I could write that thing off

 

If you have any kind of bed cover can you register it as passenger? Or does it have to be a shell? For example, I have a Diamondback, and it stays on at all times - can I register as passenger?

 

Yes. My pop's Tacoma and Duramax are commercial vehicles, my Chevy 1500 was as well.

 

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...rcial-vehicles/pickup-with-a-camper-attached/

 

Think it has to extend the top of the bed to the height of your cab to "count".

 

From my understanding all pick up trucks purchased in CA are automatically classified as commercial. The registration can be changed to personal passenger vehicle if you PERMANENTLY attach a structure intended to be used for camping or living. This is not limited to camper hard shells (ARE, SnugTop, LEER, etc) but does not include tonneau covers (Diamondback, etc). Bed rack with RTT are acceptable.

I completed DMV Form 256A Section E and had it inspected at the CHP station. They were going to initially deny it since they are mostly familiar with shells and truck conversions. I had to demo opening and closing the RTT, showed them solar power charging system and all. My registration is definitely significantly less. Photo for reference of my setup when I had it inspected.

 

My 2002 ranger was not designated as commercial. The law either changed recently or it has to do with the weight/class of the truck. I went from 100 bucks to 650 in registration...............

 

According to my CHP buddy, commercial license plate violations are treated the same as window tint violations. They won’t pull you over for it but will definitely cite you if you are caught doing something else; which will result in a pretty hefty fine. They can tell a commercial plate without having to run it or looking at your documents.

 

what was the price difference per year? I may use this as justification for buying a bedrack and RTT as paying for itself with cheaper registration............

 

Thank you much for sharing your experience. So my best chance personally with a Leer would be to already have my bed already setup in the back; stuff like solar and refrigerator accessible etc. Truck definitely has the camping/ living stuff.

 

Based on my experience, the officer checked the sleeping structure of my setup since he was unfamiliar with RTTs and bedracks. He saw the shovel and thought I was a gardener. .

Some friends got approval by simply having an empty camper shell on but the requirements do say you must have camping or living equipment in the vehicle. I guess it all depends how diligent or lazy the inspector you get. You’ll definitely get the ok if you have bedding and other stuff already in there; even minimally.

 

Thanks again!

 

$168 difference exactly for my 2020-21 registration on a 2019 Tundra. I do believe it varies depending on county and city you live in.

it wont justify buying a new setup just to get cheaper registration but its a nice saving if you already have the setup.

 

Thanks everyone for the insight. My "commercial" reg is $798!!!. This seems extreme...it's not like I am running around in a dump truck, hauling hay bales or wheeling concrete. Anyway, I do plan to occasionally pull the Airstream so should probs just keep it commercial for now in case I ever get stopped for a weight check or something. Really don't plan on using it for anything but daily driving...maybe some weekend Home Depot runs. Commercial? Not.

 

I want to say i paid this exact amount when i bought the truck, but i got some money back about a month later due to some error. You may get some back too.

 

that 168 can become 368 if I tell the wife, which would justify getting a new setup

 

Haha! Let me edit my comment and you can show it as proof.

 

interesting. Maybe I should register it as passenger vehicle. What was involved ?
I installed a camper shell over 2 years ago.

 

Ca. registration has been like this as long as I can remember. The number/ letter sequence for passenger vs commercial is completely different and therefore obvious to the CHP. New-ish passenger plates have 1# then 3 letters then 3 numbers. Commercial has just one letter second from the last.
I never knew you could re-designate a commercial title.

 

Fairly simple… just complete the DMV form mentioned on previous comment and then get it inspected. Simply having a camper shell doesn’t automatically qualify your truck as a persona passenger vehicle. You need to have “permanently” installed gear for camping or living. Basically they are looking for bolted down sleeping gear.

 

its why a lot of the diesel guys run personailzed plates, lowers the chance of getting caught. A bunch of my buddies use one of their grandpa’s cab over camper to go get their trucks changed to non commercial then take it off. 3/4T and larger are crazy expensive. My 19 F250 was $1200 this year.

 

So does that mean we can park at the yellow loading zones?

 

I got a parking ticket while straddling the white line at the local grocery store parking lot ~ I never paid their $40 fine.
I don't want my vehicle towed the next time I shop there so I park in the street at a yellow curb ~ loading zone.
Yes, your commercial plates will get you parking in the yellow loading zones all over California.