GVWR over 10k on new truck, need commercial plates?

Ask Massachusetts DMV. However, when dealer registers the truck it will or won’t register as commercial.

My half ton in California is “commercial.” No option and no more fibbing to our DMV to save on fees.

Call the RMV’s Contact Center at:
857-368-8000 (from the 339/617/781/857 MA area codesor outside MA0
800-858-3926 (from all other MA area codes) to determine a particular fee.


**Website does NOT make it clear.

Here in NY, I've seen 1/2 tons w/ comm plates on them. Ever since I can remember, I've always had comm plates on my 3/4, 1 tons and the reg fees for now anyways are pretty cheap so far. The prob w/ comm plates is that you cannot go down some roads/streets that the exact same truck as your w/ pass plates goes down. Go figure! May have to do as to how it's reg (municipal/ave Joe blow) VS used to tow heavy.

Hi! All States have there own requirements for tags. Go the there DMV's an ask.

Quick googler search says your new truck is able to identify as a passenger vehicle in the state of MA, provided you aren't actually using it commercially, for hire, etc.

Not too hard to find...

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle is any vehicle:
(a) which has a vehicle weight rating or curb weight of six thousand pounds or less as per
manufacturer's description of said vehicle or is a sport utility vehicle or passenger van; or
which is a pickup truck or cargo van of the 1/2 TON, 3/4 TON or 1 TON class as per
manufacturer's description of said vehicle; or which is a vehicle used solely for official
business by any college or university police department whose officers are appointed as
special police officers by the colonel of the state police under M.G.L. c. 22C, § 63; and,
(b) which, if a pickup truck or cargo van, is registered or leased to an individual, and is
used exclusively for personal, recreational, or commuting purposes; and,
(c) which is not described in elsewhere in 540 CMR 2.05.
The terms pleasure vehicle, passenger vehicle, passenger car, automobile

I don't see anything here about vehicles over a certain weight requiring commercial tags.

When I bought the 3500 the dealer told me it was going to get commercial tags because the curb weight was over 6000 lbs, period, end of story, nothing could be done. When the plates showed up in the mail they were passenger plates and the curb weight on the reg was 5650.

All states are different.
Here in VA regular passenger car tags are only good for I think 7,500 pounds. Above that you need truck plates. A truck loaded to 8,000 pounds running passenger plates would technically be "over weight" in VA. I really doubt it gets enforced much.

All states are different. Up here in the GWN, my F550 registered for personal use but registered at 19,200 GVWR has to pay Alaska's commercial fee for registering. Don't have to jump through the other hoops associated with "commercial vehicles"....DOT fees, proof of safety program, proof (as opposed to affirmation) of insurance, etc.

Thank You all for the advice. In MASS right now RMV is closed and open for appointment only so that is tough. Turns out my insurance agent set it up for personal vehicle insurance with commercial tags. She told me the registry requires commercial plates because of curb weight and GVWR by the VIN, but going the personal policy insurance options saves me money from commercial, a lot actually.

Anyway excited to pickup the new tow rig and hopefully start looking at new fifth wheels or upgrading travel trailer!!! That is the important part.