Florida and Registering Pickups

[RamTC]

Just relocated to FL from NY, registered my 3500 at DMV and I can set any GVWR that I want. All pickups over 5K lbs empty are commercial here. DMV told me that the GVWR is a mfg recommendation, I told I'd stay with the RAm 14K number and my registration can back as 14,999 lbs. Gas is $2 a gallon, you can smoke on company property, carry a gun... I think I'm going to like FL - 🙂

[Dog_Folks]

RamTC wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

The DMV mislead you on "commercial" trucks. 5,000 pounds is the level that a pick up becomes a "heavy" pickup, has increased tag fees and different bumper regulations to name few.

Thanks, you're correct.

Thanks, It feels good after being told time after time that I am wrong. :B:B

[RamTC]

Dog Folks wrote:

The DMV mislead you on "commercial" trucks. 5,000 pounds is the level that a pick up becomes a "heavy" pickup, has increased tag fees and different bumper regulations to name few.

Thanks, you're correct.

[Dog_Folks]

monkee44: Another gripe: My wife and I have lived in Florida our entire adult lives, 41 years now. My wife also has a class B license with multi-endorsements. She literally can drive anything except a semi.

Owned 5 homes and 3 businesses. Also, had my license and vehicle registrations here for all that time.

You would think after all that time, that I would not have to PROVE my residency. There has to be a data base somewhere they can access and check.

[monkey44]

Whoa -- I get it ... was a multi-state "person" for several years, and chose MA as home state for a variety of reasons. MA and FL, but finally went over to the light-side and chose Florida.

It's taken me six months to get a Florida license. Six trips to the DMV for certificates each time, "Oh, I forgot to tell you this", and "That one is no good, you need "xxx" with your address on it." Almost went crazy trying to get a license and still don't have it. One more document !! AND, the DMV person said, "That birth certificate is no good, its too old." WHAT? I wish my birth certificate was younger than me, but am not sure exactly how to do that.

I've owned a home here since 2010, and have my truck registered here too. but, NO driver's license yet. Good thing my MA license is good two more years. May get my Florida license by then.

I brought my birth certificate (too old) my property deed, my truck registration, my military discharge, my military retirement ID card, my Mass License, and my DAV veteran card, most all with my picture and same name on it.
Still was not enough -- get this -- she wanted a utility bill (which is about as easy to produce on a PC as anything) and I'd like to see anyone 'forge' the ID that I carry ... pretty tough.

BTW: My 2500 GM is considered a "heavy truck" -- renews one or two years for $106 per year if I go in, $116 if I mail it in. Pretty odd ... guess the people that process mail for the DMV get paid more than the counter people - based on my experience, they should, as the counter people can't figure out why my birth certificate is as old as I am. Go Figure? Still, it makes me laugh, because if we can't laugh we'd go crazy.

Welcome to Florida -- you'll love the weather except in the summer, where you can go anywhere else you want. 🙂 🙂 🙂 M44

[joe_b_]

Guess it is one of the prices we pay for not having a state income tax. But I don't understand why, on tag renewals, it is a couple of dollars cheaper if I go into the tag office than if I do the renewal by mail. I would think it would be the other way around. I have my Jeep Wrangler on a 2 year renewal but our others are on the one year schedule.
Strange things happen in the swamp country. Read the other day that Florida is back up to approx 1,000 new people a day moving to the state. Back to prerecession days. Article said Florida is now Un-officially the third most populous state, following California and Texas. Should become official with the 2020 census. Plus on any given day, there are over a million non residents in the state, snow birds and tourists.
Craziest place I have ever lived. Anything really weird happens on the news and a good chance it occurred here in Florida. LOL

[Dog_Folks]

Aquanut wrote:
You can actually renew for 2 years at a time instead of 1 if you want.

Yep, two years renewal allowed, but with NO discount.

Reduced process time, saving the state money.

They get one year of renewal in advance.

But still no discount.

What is up with that?

Gripe key off now.

[Aquanut]

You can actually renew for 2 years at a time instead of 1 if you want.

[joe_b_]

Difference in tagging dates as well. Light trucks are tagged for one year, based on the birth month of the first listed owner. Heavy pickups, such as one tons are tagged on a calendar year, Jan to Dec, or prorated the remained of the first year.
my 3500 Chevy costs me about $150 a year to tag but is not considered to be commercial.

[NashTT]

Welcome. Sounds like you'll fit in well. Too many New Yorkers arrive and immediately think FL should be just like NY only warmer. Glad you appreciate our lifestyle and the differences between ours and "up north". A popular saying in rural FL is "We don't care how you did it up north!"

[Dog_Folks]

Glad you are happy with your move to our fine state.

The DMV mislead you on "commercial" trucks. 5,000 pounds is the level that a pick up becomes a "heavy" pickup, has increased tag fees and different bumper regulations to name few.

It is NOT the cut off for non-commercial vs commercial.

The Florida law is quoted below for our readers here:


“Commercial motor vehicle” means any vehicle which is not owned or operated by a governmental entity, which uses special fuel or motor fuel on the public highways, and which has a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, or has three or more axles regardless of weight, or is used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight."

Happy Camping

[TucsonJim]

Congrats on your move! I'd think the biggest advantage is not having to deal with Winter weather. I really enjoyed the freedom changes when I moved from California to Arizona.