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Department of Motor Vehicles
Vehicle Modifications and Registration Class

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Part 106 of the DMV Regulations describes the vehicles that are registered in the commercial class and in the passenger class. Part 106 also describes how some modifications that you make to your vehicle can affect the correct registration class of your vehicle. A description of the modifications appears below. Each description includes a reference to the DMV Regulations .

Modifications that Change a Vehicle Registration from Passenger Class to Commercial Class


Cars (Part 106.2 (e)). You can register your car in the commercial class if all the seats behind the driver are removed. Instead of the seats, you must install a permanent box or permanent rack to carry cargo.

Station Wagons and Vans (Part 106.2 (f)). You can register your station wagon or your van in the commercial class if all the seats and all the seat fittings behind the driver are removed completely.

Modifications that Change a Vehicle Registration from Commercial Class to Passenger Class


Vans (Part 106.3 (d)). You can register a van in the passenger class if the van has:
•at least one side window behind the driver, and
•at least one seat or set of seat fittings that is installed behind the driver, or
•camping equipment that is installed behind the driver. "Camping equipment" indicates that you have a permanent bed, a permanent stove, or a permanent refrigerator in the vehicle. If this equipment is removed and you use the van, you must register the van as a commercial vehicle.

Pick-up Trucks (Part 106.6 (c)). You can register a pick-up truck in the passenger class if the pick-up truck complies with all of these requirements:
•The pick-up truck has an unladen weight of more than 5,000 lbs. and is used for non-commercial purposes.
•The pick-up truck does not have any business advertisements.
•A permanent camper top completely encloses the truck bed, and which has one or more side windows.
•The pick-up truck has seats, seat fittings, or permanent camping equipment that are installed in the truck bed. "Camping equipment" indicates that you have a permanent bed, a permanent stove, or a permanent refrigerator in the vehicle. If this equipment is removed and you use the pick-up truck, you must register the pick-up truck as a commercial vehicle.

The DMV cannot examine your vehicle to determine the correct registration class. You must determine the correct registration class for your vehicle.








Passenger Class Registration for Pick-up Trucks

Can I get a passenger class registration for my pick-up truck and drive the truck on parkways?

You can get passenger class plates for a light-duty pick-up truck that has an unladen weight of 5,500 lbs. or less.

See form MV-114 (Information For Pick-Up Truck Owners) to get more information.

The agency that controls a parkway decides if pick-up trucks with passenger class plates are allowed on the parkway. To make sure you can drive your pick-up truck on a parkway, contact the agency that manages the parkway. Some parking regulations and traffic regulations in New York City depend on the type of vehicle plates on your vehicle. Passenger class plates on your pick-up truck can change how NYC regulations affect you. Contact New York City external link about their regulations.

What pick-up trucks qualify for passenger class plates?

A pick up truck that is not changed and has an open bed can qualify for passenger class plates if the truck:
•is used only for non-commercial purposes, and
•has an unladen weight of 5,500 lbs. or less (the unladen weight of your pick-up truck is listed on the title certificate and on the door sticker), and
•does not have any business advertisements on the truck.

How to apply

You are not required to apply for passenger class plates for your pick-up truck. You can continue to use commercial plates on your pick-up truck.

The unladen weight of your pick-up truck is stamped on a metal plate and located on the door of your vehicle. The unladen weight is also listed on your title certificate. The unladen weight is different from the maximum gross weight (MGW) listed on your registration documents. Before you apply, make sure that the unladen weight of the truck is 5,500 lbs. or less.

Passenger class plates on a pick-up truck do not change the MGW listed on the registration documents or the unladen weight listed on the title certificate. Passenger class plates on a pick-up truck do not change the registration fees. The DMV requests the unladen weight to verify that your pick-up truck is eligible for passenger class plates. The DMV does not change the unladen weight or the MGW.

You must apply in person at a DMV office. You cannot apply by mail, by phone, over the Internet, or by e-mail. Complete form MV-82 (Vehicle Registration / Title Application). Make sure to complete section 6, question 4. You must bring your title certificate and proofs of identity and date of birth, and surrender your commercial plates. Remove frames and fasteners before you surrender a vehicle plate or vehicle plates. The DMV office will not accept a vehicle plate with a frame or any fasteners attached. The fee is $16.00.

The registrant of a pick-up truck that is leased or rented must submit a form provided by the leasing company or owner of the pick-up truck. The form must certify that the vehicle will not be used for commercial purposes.

The DMV office will issue new registration documents and standard passenger plates with a new number. If you had custom plates or personalized plates, your new registration documents will list the numbers from your custom plates or personalized plates and the standard series plates. The DMV will send new passenger custom or personalized plates by mail.

If your registration will expire in less than 60 days, you can renew your registration at a DMV office and change to passenger class plates when you renew.

You can also get passenger plates with no additional fee when you register a pick-up truck for the first time.

Pick-up trucks that weigh more than 5,500 pounds:

If you have a pick-up truck that has an unladen weight of 5,501 lbs. or more, you cannot apply for passenger class plates through the process described above. You must modify the truck to qualify for a passenger class registration and passenger class plates. Learn more about vehicle modifications for registration class changes.