California DMV weight fee

[smokeylew]

Man did I just get a shock. Opened my vehicle registration renewal notice for my 2016 Ram 3500 diesel and found a $308 weight fee. Add that to the license fee and all the other gobble gook and I'm shelling out $778 clams! :M

I did some research online and it appears that my truck is rated commercial and the only way to get it reclassified is make the bed permanently unusable by bolting in a camper that can never be taken out.

Have any of you guys gotten the same shock as I have? Is this just a California thing? Don't think this is fair but after thinking about all the $200 and $300 pops I've made each year for special this or thats, the $308 is cool just to be able to hear my diesel brakes rumble as I come down the hill. I can sell myself on most anything . . . Just don't tell my wife!

[mileshuff]

Arizona is rather high as well. For a new truck with MSRP of $65,000 license fees will be about $900. It drops a bit each year since the fees are based on depreciated value.

On the bright side, because fees are based on value the IRS allows you to deduct vehicle licence fees on taxes.

[jmtandem]

Man did I just get a shock. Opened my vehicle registration renewal notice for my 2016 Ram 3500 diesel and found a $308 weight fee. Add that to the license fee and all the other gobble gook and I'm shelling out $778 clams!

Nevada is not a whole lot less expensive.

[Gonzo42]

The announcements in the newspapers are that not only are the fuel taxe$ going up significantly, the vehicle registration fee$ are also going up big time.

The co$t of owning a vehicle in the People'$ Republic of California will be the highe$t in the entire nation.

[SweetLou]

Garry&Gayle wrote:
I do not pay those weight fees on my F350 because all I tow is our 5th wheel trailer, campers and rv trailers are exempt according to the DMV office I went to for clarification, if you tow anything else then you pay.

And did that actually work for you or did the pinhead at DMV just tell you that only? Proof is if you actually got away with that.

[SweetLou]

Now something else that you or others may want to know. If you qualify, or already have a "Permanent handicap placard plate" on the the truck whether in your name or the wife's, you get the weight fees removed.Just saying.

[SweetLou]

krobbe wrote:
Highway Robbery!
It looks to me like Kalifornia has co-opted the word commercial to include all pickups.
By definition, commercial means: 1. concerned with or engaged in commerce. 2. making or intended to make a profit.
Kalifornia's definition according to their code CVC 260 defines commercial vehicle as:
1. Used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit.
2. Designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
Nowhere in the definition of commercial does it mention property.
SO my thinking is, if a pickup is not used for commercial purposes, there should not be any fees or tariffs over a standard passenger vehicle.
Here in Mich, it costs $8 to transfer a plate to another vehicle. Maybe that is an option for you as well.

It's right there in #2 of your discription. Designed for the transportation of property, meaning you might use it someday.

[Cummins12V98]

edatlanta wrote:
Another reason to not live in California.

Correction, KOMIFORNIA!

[smokeylew]

Garry&Gayle wrote:
I do not pay those weight fees on my F350 because all I tow is our 5th wheel trailer, campers and rv trailers are exempt according to the DMV office I went to for clarification, if you tow anything else then you pay.

That's not what I have found doing some online research. I have an appointment at the DMV next week to register my 5th wheel so I plan on asking them about this. Bet you anything they will be hard asses on this.

[ACZL]

Just sent in my renewal to NYS DMV for my truck and it was 150 bucks w/ current white plates. If I needed new gold plates, $180 and new gold plates w/ current number--$200. Reg as commercial and at 9k.

Upon edit: This fee is for 2 year reg sticker. So basically I'm paying 75 bucks/year for reg.

[Garry_Gayle]

I do not pay those weight fees on my F350 because all I tow is our 5th wheel trailer, campers and rv trailers are exempt according to the DMV office I went to for clarification, if you tow anything else then you pay.

[krobbe]

Highway Robbery!
It looks to me like Kalifornia has co-opted the word commercial to include all pickups.
By definition, commercial means: 1. concerned with or engaged in commerce. 2. making or intended to make a profit.
Kalifornia's definition according to their code CVC 260 defines commercial vehicle as:
1. Used or maintained for the transportation of persons for hire, compensation, or profit.
2. Designed, used, or maintained primarily for the transportation of property.
Nowhere in the definition of commercial does it mention property.
SO my thinking is, if a pickup is not used for commercial purposes, there should not be any fees or tariffs over a standard passenger vehicle.
Here in Mich, it costs $8 to transfer a plate to another vehicle. Maybe that is an option for you as well.

[smokeylew]

srx-6 wrote:
Look on the bright side. You get free 30 minute parking in all of the commercial zones in town. Just tell the meter maid you are making a delivery.

I like that! It's another positive slant on this. I'm storing all of the pluses in the little grey cells so when I write that check I'll have a big stupid smile on my face instead of a frown. :B

[agesilaus]

Don't complain that money goes to keep your roads in the fine shape that is the California standard.

I pay about $100 in Florida and think that's too much. But at least we don't have 100 potholes per 1000 feet of road.

[srx-6]

Look on the bright side. You get free 30 minute parking in all of the commercial zones in town. Just tell the meter maid you are making a delivery.

[edatlanta]

Another reason to not live in California.