Do you need Commercial Plates in NY to tow a trailer?

For those recommending calling the DMV - the NYS DMV is pretty overwhelmed these days - possibly because of COVID. Last week I spent well over an hour on hold on the phone with them regarding a question I wanted to ask about a boat title.

-Speak

QCMan wrote:
The answer is like everything else in NY-it depends! If towing personal items like a utility trailer or a travel trailer you do not need commercial plates. If you are hauling for monetary gain, you need commercial plates and a CDL. Depending on the weight, you may or may not need commercial plates for towing a fifth wheel. Even if you don't need commercial plates to haul said fifth wheel, some jurisdictions will charge you commercial toll rates even though it is personal and private use. I have talked to folks that went across the George Washington Bridge in the Bronx and it seems like the toll taking is random as some get charged commercial rates and some do not (with fw's). Easy Pass goes by plate number so it seems to always be right. If you bypass NYC and take a ferry to Long Island, anything attached by a fifth wheel hitch pays commercial rates but the guy next to you with a much longer tt pays the normal rate. Bottom line is that your car hauler requires you to get commercial plates but your tt and snowmobile trailers do not.

Lots of incorrect info in this post.

1. First off, you never need commercial plates in NY to tow any kind of trailer or RV unless it is "for hire", in which case you need a DOT # on your truck.

2. You are never allowed to any kind of trailer on a parkway, regardless of whether you have passenger or commercial plates.

3. Ferries charge by the foot for the length of the total rig, truck and trailer. Doesn't matter if TT, 5er, or box truck towing a compressor, both ferries break out the tape measure at the check-in booth and let you know how much it's going to cost. If you make a reservation and pay by phone in advance, they will still measure you when you get there and if you gave them the wrong length when you paid, you will pay extra onboard. I have taken our 34' TT on both the Port Jeff-Bridgeport and the Orient-New London ferries multiple times.

4. EZ Pass uses height indicators and axle sensors to determine commercial vs. RV. Half the time they are wrong, but you can go online at the EZ Pass website and ask them to make an adjustment, which they will do. You will pay a higher toll with a trailer, but RVs are not charged as much as commercial vehicles.

5. Car hauler trailers do not automatically need commercial plates if you are hauling your personal vehicle. If you have a 3-car hot-shot trailer, then you'll need commercial plates because you are hauling for hire, not just because you are hauling cars.

I don't know NY (see DMV comments) but usually it's related to the purpose.
- If you are doing commercial work, you need a commercial plate (and possibly CDL drivers license)
- If you are doing it for personal use, you generally don't.

This is why it's common to see a grandpa without commercial plates (and likely without CDL) driving a big diesel pusher which is really just a commercial tour bus outfitted for living...but tour buses carrying 40-50 old folks for a color tour in the fall will be commercially plated and the driver will have a CDL.

As mentioned, it can vary by state though states are obliged to accept out of state drivers/vehicles if they are legal in their home state.

No you don't cuz you don' have a high GVW to warrant commercial plates. Plus based one what you said, you don't plan on towing heavy/crazy. Have I seen comm plates on a 1/2 ton? Yes, but the truck have be used for comm biz. With pass plates, you'll be able to traverse roads that comm trucks cannot and MAYBE exact same truck cuz they have comm plates. Here in Syr area, comm trucks/plates banned from a road along Onondaga Lake, BUT a p/u w/ pass/town gov't plates can go on the same road. Go figure.

Beverley&Ken wrote:
Your most accurate answers would come from your state's DMV website or in person questions.

I'm guessing you have never contacted a DMV in the states. :B

Here inn Utah what determines a commercial vehicle is one that provides a service.

Private vehicles don't provide a service.

redhat9 wrote:
Thank you for the replies!

Best thing. Go to your local DMV and ask. Laws in all states are different. In NC the answer would be a definite no. But that may not be the case for you. Check your state laws

Thank you for the replies!

Ask NY DMV. The only official answer.

The answer is like everything else in NY-it depends! If towing personal items like a utility trailer or a travel trailer you do not need commercial plates. If you are hauling for monetary gain, you need commercial plates and a CDL. Depending on the weight, you may or may not need commercial plates for towing a fifth wheel. Even if you don't need commercial plates to haul said fifth wheel, some jurisdictions will charge you commercial toll rates even though it is personal and private use. I have talked to folks that went across the George Washington Bridge in the Bronx and it seems like the toll taking is random as some get charged commercial rates and some do not (with fw's). Easy Pass goes by plate number so it seems to always be right. If you bypass NYC and take a ferry to Long Island, anything attached by a fifth wheel hitch pays commercial rates but the guy next to you with a much longer tt pays the normal rate. Bottom line is that your car hauler requires you to get commercial plates but your tt and snowmobile trailers do not.