$154 CA Weight Fee?

[MRickard]

I just got my "renewal" and the weight fee was $154 bucks! This is my first renewal for the dodge. All my other pickups, ranging from 1/2 tons to 1 tons (my dodge is a 3/4 ton) were all $80 weight fee.



Is this what the new weight fee is, or did the DMV screw up (as they have done with a 1 ton flatbed F-350 - wanted $1300 for a 80,000 lb weight fee. I did not get any paperwork like I did that time, with a checkbox stating the GVWR is <=10,000.



Did anyone in CA get a renewal notice lately with this high of a weight fee for just a 3/4 ton pickup?

 

[JGheen]

Mine's a 1 ton and I only pay $144 for a weight fee. But I have a little secret about how I got it a little lower than what the truck really weighs. First, I took off the spare tire in the rear, made sure I was as low as possible of fuel level, took out the rear seat, and removed the tool box from the back. So, when I went to go weigh in at a certified DMV weigh station, I pulled up on the scale and noticed the truck weighed pretty light for what it is, around 7200 lbs. I thought to myself about how much weight I really removed and didn't think it was that much since I know for a fact that the truck weighs over 8K with all the stuff I took off. I wasn't going to complain cuz the lighter the better and less to pay. So, the station signed me off and as I went back out to the truck I noticed that my driver side, outside tire in the rear was off the scale! I quickly realized why it was so light in weight and just booked it out of there and back to the DMV with my certificate before the station manager saw it. So, I was able to sneak out of a couple bucks, not sure how much but anything to save money and not let the DMV have it.

Just a little info. if you want to try and sneak around the weight fee a bit. Hopefully, the weigh station manager is asleep and not paying attention when you go back to your scale. Oo.

 

[AKAMAC]

My total fee was $417 (2/04) . I didn't read the bill, just paid it. I thought weight fees were for commercial rigs.

 

[DMosher]

I got my renewal notice in the mail yesterday. For my 1993 W250 the weight fee is $154 dollars.

 

[scootergmc]

Here's what your looking for:

Weight fees



It's normal. I was paying the $80 weight fee every renewal for my '71 GMC 3/4T camper special.

 

[MRickard]

Hmmm... . they show me as 5400 or so on the title for unladen weight. Can I just take the bed off, have a cab n chassis, and get it re-ceritified then? 80 bucks is a lot less than 154! Especially every year. 400 lbs is not that much. Bet they want a lot of money to get re-certified. I would put a shell on it and remove the commercial plates, but then I could not carry anything.



That explains it then. My F-350 has a GVW of "6600" -- a one ton! And it has the heavy duty (many short springs) too, caries 6600 lbs just as a <i>payload</i> just fine, and still not even sags. Nice camper special or something (says it's a ranger, but sure seems like a camper special)



Thanks for the link

 

[thejeepdude]

My weight fee was $214 for my '99 2500 SB 4x4. However, when I renewed, my weight fee was $0 because I put on a camper shell and converted to "RV" plates. BTW, the DMV doesn't actually check your vehicle when you do this, they just take your word on it. But if an officer ever notices your non-truck plates while you have the shell off, you could be in for it.

 

[dvieira]

Registration fee... . 40. 00

Vehicle license fee... . $220. 00

weight fee... $204. 00

special plate fee... $25. 00 [going to get rid of]

county/district fee... . $8. 00



total... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . $348. 00





frickin ridiculous



dave

 

[LarryWard]

How does Calif. DMV assess the fee when used for 5th wheel or trailer rv's or full blown campers? I'm retiring from contracting and don't plan using it in that mode hereafter. Renews in August. Weight fee-$204 for 95 4x4 3/4 2500. Title shows 6320 lbs. So if one gets an official weight station cert for under 6000 lbs the weight fee drops to $87. 00 according to my read.



But the code does state when camper is temporarily attached you are still subject to the higher fee. Sounds like a shell and pulling trailer could be an rv but no way can you have a shell and 5th wheel at same time. Which calls for one more question--how are motorhomes assessed--any weight fee involved? Larry

 

[PJ]

Once again I guess Im glad I have an Oregon address.



No weight fee. . Just $60 for 4 years. That was a total of $15 a year for my 2004 3/4 Cummins. I remember that Calif was way out of line on their fees.

 

[EBottema]

PBjohnson... . Do you have californira insurance or oregon car insurance? Id like to get an out of state address and do the same thing your doing.....





Anyways---guys... . here is the best tip on the weight fees

I've got a good connection at AAA and just had my truck weighed. 6450 pounds! thats a 205 dollar weight fee... the 155 fee is if it is under 6k but over 5k pounds... All you do it go to AAA or dmv and sign a paper saying you have a camper shell on the thing... That means ZERO dollars for weight fees... However, if you pull the shell off, you most likely will get pulled over and get a fix it ticket... Now, this is the trick, get personalized plates on your truck and the cop will never know if you have truck plates since personalized plates dont specify car or commercial truck... . If you get away with it for a few years until a wise cop pulls you over for something else, just tell him you took your shell off for the day, worst thing that happens is you get a fix it ticket and you need to go pay your prorated weight fees for the current year... But think about all that money you saved for the last few years of doing that... . Well guys, im doing it, screw this state that doesnt respect my second admendment rights and is full of liberals...



Erik