California defines the Declared Gross Vehicle Weight as a combination of the weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight that will be carried on the vehicle or trailer. It doesn't call it the capacity, but instead the maximum weight intended to be carried on the vehicle by the owner. And in California this weight only applies to commercial motor vehicles. The way I read the CA law, lets say you buy a 10,000 pound trailer that can hold 20,000 pounds. But you buy the trailer with the intent of only carry your 15,000 pound tractor. The trailer may have a GVWR of 30,000 pounds, but the Declared Gross Vehicle Weight rating would be 25,000 pounds and this would appear on your registration. So I imagine if you get caught carrying more weight on the trailer, you could get a ticket.
