I was just told by a friend that in New York State that I would have to register a 250/2500 or 350/3500 as a commercial vehicle because it weighs over 6000 lbs! If true, that means I can't use any of the parkways even when not towing. So I went to the DMV web site and found the followingIf your modified pick-up truck with an unladen weight greater than 6,000 lbs., you can register it in the 'Passenger' class if it meets the following conditions:* the pick-up truck does not have any business advertisements and is used exclusively for non-commercial purposes* a camper top having one or more side windows completely encloses the truck bed* the pick-up truck has seats, seat fittings, or camping equipment installed in the truck bed 'camping equipment” indicates that you have a permanent bed, a permanent stove, or a permanent refrigerator in the vehicle.Does the 5th Wheel Hitch mounted in the bed qualify as "camping equipment"?Not being able to use the Long Island parkways is a real PITA! Has anyone faced this issue?

BeerBrewer wrote:I* the pick-up truck has seats, seat fittings, or camping equipment installed in the truck bed 'camping equipment” indicates that you have a permanent bed, a permanent stove, or a permanent refrigerator in the vehicle.Unless your fifth wheel hitch doubles as a permanent bed, permanent stove, or a permanent refrigerator, I don't think you have an issue.

BeerBrewer wrote:If your modified pick-up truck with an unladen weight greater than 6,000 lbs., What is the NY State definition of MODIFIED pickup. If you have a STOCK passenger pickup truck, that's not modified....Mike

Mike... What they are saying that if the truck is over 6000 lbs I have to register it as a commercial vehicle. However if I modify it by installing seats or seat fittings, or camping equipment in the truck bed they will register it as a passenger vehicle. I think the whole idea of adding seats or seat brackets, etc. into the truck bed basically renders is useless as a commercial vehicle so it can be considered a passenger vehicle. I'm wondering if the DMV considers a 5th wheel hitch as "camping equipment" because it technically also renders the truck useless as a commercial vehicle.Do other states do this?

A 5th wheel hitch could be used by a hotshot driver to to a 5W hitched trailer that hauls cars, or 5W RV trailers or equal........I personally would have an issue with a 5W hitch in and of itself......Marty

Unfortunately, it doesn't look good. You need to actually read the exact wording of the regulations as it gives a lot more clarification as to exactly what they say. The generic version makes it sound like you have a choice of one of the three while the actual written law sounds like it;s all. This is the actual written law for that section:A pickup truck which is used exclusively for non-commercial purposes with an unladen weight over 5,000 pounds, with no business advertising, with the bed completely enclosed by a camper top, with at least one side window in the camper top, and with seats, seat fittings or camping equipment mounted in the bed, may receive a passenger registration, at the registrant's option. These modifications must be permanent. Camping equipment means that a bed, stove or refrigerator must always be in the vehicle. Any use of the truck without these modifications requires the vehicle to be registered as a commercial vehicle.15 CRR-NY 106.6NY-CRRCurrent 2018So it sounds like you must have no commercial advertising, AND a cap with two windows on the sides, AND a sleeping bed, refrigerator or stove in the pickup AND those items must be permanently mounted. So it appears a fifth wheel hitch in an open bed will not be sufficient to make it a passenger registration.

Commercial Plates for 250/2500 in New York State??

31 Replies

drsteve
Explorer
Dec 11, 2018
Jimbee wrote:
Don't give up on the 2500, the towing experience is so much more stable and safer than the 1500 experience. Even a properly optioned 1500 isn't as stable as a 2500. I live on long island and have a 2500/comm plates, not a big deal. You'll have to take the same roads you currently do when towing anyway! Can't take your trailer on the parkways! You'll be using Sunrise Hwy, Rt.135, LIE, ect... anyway!

That's what I was thinking. Seems like there was a thread here a while back discussing the low bridge heights on the parkways, complete with photos of the destruction caused by guys who missed or ignored the signs.

Curious, what is the difference in cost to register a commercial vehicle vs. personal?
ACZL
Explorer
Dec 11, 2018
NY lawmakers make any changes??? LMAO!!! Not when they will get a 50k pay raise (80k to 130k/yr and work part time at that. Not to mention the crooked gov of this state will also see a pay raise ( 180k to 230k) which will make both the lawmakers and gov the HIGHEST paid politicians in the US and the gov doesn't understand why the taxes are so high.
Grit_dog
Navigator II
Dec 11, 2018
You know what would work with the commercial plate restriction and all?
A half ton.
2edgesword
Explorer
Dec 11, 2018
BeerBrewer wrote:
ItsyRV wrote:
Unfortunately, it doesn't look good. You need to actually read the exact wording of the regulations as it gives a lot more clarification as to exactly what they say. The generic version makes it sound like you have a choice of one of the three while the actual written law sounds like it;s all. This is the actual written law for that section:

A pickup truck which is used exclusively for non-commercial purposes with an unladen weight over 5,000 pounds, with no business advertising, with the bed completely enclosed by a camper top, with at least one side window in the camper top, and with seats, seat fittings or camping equipment mounted in the bed, may receive a passenger registration, at the registrant's option. These modifications must be permanent. Camping equipment means that a bed, stove or refrigerator must always be in the vehicle. Any use of the truck without these modifications requires the vehicle to be registered as a commercial vehicle.
15 CRR-NY 106.6
NY-CRR
Current 2018

So it sounds like you must have no commercial advertising, AND a cap with two windows on the sides, AND a sleeping bed, refrigerator or stove in the pickup AND those items must be permanently mounted. So it appears a fifth wheel hitch in an open bed will not be sufficient to make it a passenger registration.

I finally got through to the DMV and they confirmed that CRR-NY 106.6 has a typo error in the second paragraph. The "5000 lbs" should be changed to "6000 lbs". They issued a this pdf document (https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv114.pdf) to clarify it. They didn't know why the original text wasn't changed. They did say that I'd have to permanently mount seats in the bed and that 5th wheel hitch didn't classify as "camping equipment".

It used to be that ALL pickup trucks had to be registered as commercial vehicles in NY and that made driving around Long Island a nightmare because commercial plates are very restrictive. Frankly I don't know if I want to relive all that, so I may be forced to go with a 150/1500 instead of a 250/2500. Which means we'll have to go with a smaller trailer.

Thanks for your input.

I definitely understand your situation since I was in the same boat. I really didn't want to get into another loan on a late model 1/2 ton that could tow 8,800 lbs but had to do a lot of searching to find a 3/4 tone that would be under the 6,000 lb limit.

I purchased my used 2012 F-250 in May of this year and at the time the limit on regular passenger plates was under 6,000 lbs. The Ford dealer I purchased the truck from even question it when I told them the truck I was buying (5,700 lbs) could get passenger plates even though it was a 3/4 ton truck. They had to double check to make sure what I was telling them was accurate.

Again, if you have to have room for more than two passengers then I don't think there is a 3/4 ton option that's going to work for you (under 6,000 lbs). Based on my search all the extended cab F-250's, etc. that can carry four passenger are going to exceed the 6,000 lb limit.
Walaby
Explorer II
Dec 11, 2018
rhagfo wrote:
Jimbee wrote:

Stupid antiquated law that makes no sense, but that's New York!

Maybe time to reach out to law makers to change a stupid law!

Good luck with that... we are talking taxes and New York.

Mike
rhagfo
Explorer III
Dec 11, 2018
Jimbee wrote:
Yup!
As another Long Islander I feel your pain. Can't register my 2500 Chevy legitimately with passenger plates either. Don't get caught on the parkway with comm plates, I found out the hard way!($280 fine). As you know some people are running around with illegally registered trucks with pass plates but if they get into an accident not sure what the outcome would be for them and their insurance company, I doubt pleasant!

Stupid antiquated law that makes no sense, but that's New York!

Maybe time to reach out to law makers to change a stupid law!
Jimbee
Explorer
Dec 10, 2018
Don't give up on the 2500, the towing experience is so much more stable and safer than the 1500 experience. Even a properly optioned 1500 isn't as stable as a 2500. I live on long island and have a 2500/comm plates, not a big deal. You'll have to take the same roads you currently do when towing anyway! Can't take your trailer on the parkways! You'll be using Sunrise Hwy, Rt.135, LIE, ect... anyway!
BeerBrewer
Explorer
Dec 10, 2018
ItsyRV wrote:
Unfortunately, it doesn't look good. You need to actually read the exact wording of the regulations as it gives a lot more clarification as to exactly what they say. The generic version makes it sound like you have a choice of one of the three while the actual written law sounds like it;s all. This is the actual written law for that section:

A pickup truck which is used exclusively for non-commercial purposes with an unladen weight over 5,000 pounds, with no business advertising, with the bed completely enclosed by a camper top, with at least one side window in the camper top, and with seats, seat fittings or camping equipment mounted in the bed, may receive a passenger registration, at the registrant's option. These modifications must be permanent. Camping equipment means that a bed, stove or refrigerator must always be in the vehicle. Any use of the truck without these modifications requires the vehicle to be registered as a commercial vehicle.
15 CRR-NY 106.6
NY-CRR
Current 2018

So it sounds like you must have no commercial advertising, AND a cap with two windows on the sides, AND a sleeping bed, refrigerator or stove in the pickup AND those items must be permanently mounted. So it appears a fifth wheel hitch in an open bed will not be sufficient to make it a passenger registration.

I finally got through to the DMV and they confirmed that CRR-NY 106.6 has a typo error in the second paragraph. The "5000 lbs" should be changed to "6000 lbs". They issued a this pdf document (https://dmv.ny.gov/forms/mv114.pdf) to clarify it. They didn't know why the original text wasn't changed. They did say that I'd have to permanently mount seats in the bed and that 5th wheel hitch didn't classify as "camping equipment".

It used to be that ALL pickup trucks had to be registered as commercial vehicles in NY and that made driving around Long Island a nightmare because commercial plates are very restrictive. Frankly I don't know if I want to relive all that, so I may be forced to go with a 150/1500 instead of a 250/2500. Which means we'll have to go with a smaller trailer.

Thanks for your input.
Jimbee
Explorer
Dec 09, 2018
Yup!
As another Long Islander I feel your pain. Can't register my 2500 Chevy legitimately with passenger plates either. Don't get caught on the parkway with comm plates, I found out the hard way!($280 fine). As you know some people are running around with illegally registered trucks with pass plates but if they get into an accident not sure what the outcome would be for them and their insurance company, I doubt pleasant!

Stupid antiquated law that makes no sense, but that's New York!
K_Mac
Explorer
Dec 09, 2018
Half ton P.U.'s are the only "legal" Trucks allowed on parkways, Taconic,Saw Mill,The Hutch,Northern-Southern State,etc..., reg. has to be under 5500lbs. "BUT".... I am able to reg. my F-350,6.7l,4x4,Super Cab, as a pass. vehicle w/ a 3000 lb. Truck Camper. I can't seem to find the form # right now on N.Y.S.D.M.V website, for some reason it's down. In the past year or so, now they have restricted our height to 10' max.on parkways to stop the comm. guys w/ the new taller Transits and the like, loading their racks 3&4' high w/ skids, ladders & the like.