How to lower your registration fees in California.

[craiggo]

I know many of you are like me and fell over when you saw the registration renewal fees for your new truck. Mine is up next month to the tune of $863 ($257 of which is a "weight fee").



Way back in 1991 when I bought my first Ford F250 (non-turbo Diesel that still runs great) a guy told me I could lower my reg fees if I got a camper shell. Long story short it was no BS. I did this and my fees dropped significantly due to the truck being reclassified as a auto instead of a commercial vehicle (in CA all trucks big, tall, short, small, are considered commercial vehicles and you can tell by the fact that they only have one letter in their license plates).



I confirmed this is still possible today when I went to the jungle that is the DMV. Again, I only know that this will work in CA ,it might be enough info to find out if it will work in other states too.



Here is what you need to do:



1. You MUST have a permanent camper shell affixed to the truck. The word permanent is funny. I said "bolted on" and they said yes but, when I asked the "verifier" person, she said the clamps will suffice.



2. You MUST have a copy of your pink slip/title. So for those of you that are still making payments to your bank, you need to get that from them.



3. Fill out the STATEMENT OF FACTS form (REG 256), Section E: Statement for vehicle body change (ownership certificate required). Check: Body type changed from "PK" to "Auto" (though they may say 4D, 2D etc... but ultimately not relevant).



4. You have to go to your DMV and drive through the "verification" lane (not the license lane with all the kids and illegals). The "verifying person" will look in and confirm all of item #1 above, make sure you filled out the form correctly (take extras) and give you a new reg and title.



This will save at least the $257 weight fees and I believe a little more but don't quote me (and I know someone will, especially item#4). This will make your reg fees at least a little more palatable. Maybe some of you in other states can benefit too.



For any of you the actually do this, please provide feedback and please send me at least a 6-pack for the tip.



It's almost worth keeping the higher fees just to not have to go to the DMV.



Craig

 

[Regcabguy]

If you have AAA auto club,they'll take care of it on a used vehicle.



You cannot park in a yellow zone nor use the dump here in San Diego with car plates on a pickup AAA told me. Absolutely no commercial usage. The current fees were in effect before Der Governator lowered them,only to restore them later in his term.



I almost did it but a couple of times a year,the popup comes off to haul things and use the dump. I just cleaned up a ticket with traffic school and don't need another.

 

[chipster]

I know many of you are like me and fell over when you saw the registration renewal fees for your new truck. Mine is up next month to the tune of $863 ($257 of which is a "weight fee").



Way back in 1991 when I bought my first Ford F250 (non-turbo Diesel that still runs great) a guy told me I could lower my reg fees if I got a camper shell. Long story short it was no BS. I did this and my fees dropped significantly due to the truck being reclassified as a auto instead of a commercial vehicle (in CA all trucks big, tall, short, small, are considered commercial vehicles and you can tell by the fact that they only have one letter in their license plates).



I confirmed this is still possible today when I went to the jungle that is the DMV. Again, I only know that this will work in CA ,it might be enough info to find out if it will work in other states too.



Here is what you need to do:



1. You MUST have a permanent camper shell affixed to the truck. The word permanent is funny. I said "bolted on" and they said yes but, when I asked the "verifier" person, she said the clamps will suffice.



2. You MUST have a copy of your pink slip/title. So for those of you that are still making payments to your bank, you need to get that from them.



3. Fill out the STATEMENT OF FACTS form (REG 256), Section E: Statement for vehicle body change (ownership certificate required). Check: Body type changed from "PK" to "Auto" (though they may say 4D, 2D etc... but ultimately not relevant).



4. You have to go to your DMV and drive through the "verification" lane (not the license lane with all the kids and illegals). The "verifying person" will look in and confirm all of item #1 above, make sure you filled out the form correctly (take extras) and give you a new reg and title.



This will save at least the $257 weight fees and I believe a little more but don't quote me (and I know someone will, especially item#4). This will make your reg fees at least a little more palatable. Maybe some of you in other states can benefit too.



For any of you the actually do this, please provide feedback and please send me at least a 6-pack for the tip.



It's almost worth keeping the higher fees just to not have to go to the DMV.



Craig

this law has been arround for many years, it is as you say, BUT do NOT get caught hauling ANYTHING in the back. some years back afriend did this and got caught hauling used tires in the shell and got a big ticket. check into the restrictions BEFORE you do this. DMV can tellyou about the restrictions. also do not EVER remove the camper. :{

 

[craiggo]

You can haul stuff and you can legally use the dumps but you CANNOT do it for hire. If it is just your stuff you are fine. Again, it's converting commercial to personal auto.

I specifically asked this and was told you can do anything you do now just not for hire and don't take off the shell. This answer is consistent with the Commercial Vehicle training I got as a Police Officer.

 

[Regcabguy]

Sounds like they are much more lenient than AAA outlined to me.

Getting rid of that weight fee would help a bunch.

 

[HBarlow]

There are much better paths to avoid the excess taxation and regulation Kalifornia imposes on its peasant subjects. I-8, I-10, I-15.

Only the states run by socialists impose all those taxes, fees, and restrictions. I pay about $150/year to register my drw C&C and can tow, haul, or push any damned thing I wish to with it. We have much better highways also.

 

[SierraRam]

Thanks Harvey, when can I move in?



You all in TX won't mind us all coming over and changing you state will you? I would prefer that all of the other great states in the union that have not yet been affected by this liberal cancer give us a hand with our chemo, otherwise its just a mater of time untill this cancer spreads.

 

[Simplysmn]

Who in there Right Mind would want to move to Texas ???? No thank's I will Keep Calif .

 

[Regcabguy]

Who in there Right Mind would want to move to Texas ???? No thank's I will Keep Calif .

I love the Texan's independent "we tell the government what to do attitude" and the rural nature of the state. Our blue ocean, mild climate,mt's and deserts just have too much allure for me at this point.

 

[HBarlow]

Who in there Right Mind would want to move to Texas ???? No thank's I will Keep Calif .

I'll bet your government is proud of you. You're a great little brainwashed socialist.

 

[Simplysmn]

Harvey you don't have to be brain washed to live here . And we thank you for keeping your house in Texas maybe that's where you fit in better . I have lived here all my life and it's not any worse then any other state . The grass isn't always green'r else where

 

[guldam]

I'll bet your government is proud of you. You're a great little brainwashed socialist.

Pot meet the Kettle. Harvey collects a Government Pension and Social Security and he calls someone else a Socialist? :-lafOo.



GulDam

 

[AMink]

How can a pickup be commercial if you don't use it to make money? If you only haul your own stuff or stuff for others but don't get compensated, how can it be commercial?

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey you don't have to be brain washed to live here . And we thank you for keeping your house in Texas maybe that's where you fit in better . I have lived here all my life and it's not any worse then any other state . The grass isn't always green'r else where

Yes, that is true. I do fit in much better in TX where I chose to live because I don't want to live under the heavy handed rule of socialists telling me how I can live my life and taking a huge percentage of my income in order to pretend to pay for things I do not approve of.

You have lived in KA all your life and you make a pronouncement like "it's not any worse than any other state. " How do you know since you have never lived anywhere else?

I have lived in all the major regions and several cities in TX, in SC, VA, CT, WA, CA, NM, IN, OR, and in NJ and NH for brief periods and traveled the entire United States many times. I suspect my knowledge and understanding of the cultures and governments of other states is a bit deeper than yours.

 

[HBarlow]

Pot meet the Kettle. Harvey collects a Government Pension and Social Security and he calls someone else a Socialist? :-lafOo.

Gulldump

Sit quietly in the corner and keep your dunce cap on, gulldump. You're not sufficiently knowledgeable to enter into adult conversations.

 

[EGroeneveld]

How can a pickup be commercial if you don't use it to make money? If you only haul your own stuff or stuff for others but don't get compensated, how can it be commercial?

Its because 'commercial' is thrown onto vehicles just because of their weight capacity.



I have 'T' Plates that cost almost 800 a year, which allows me to tow non-rv trailers that are rated for 8k or more. Some people call "T'' plates commercial because most people that need them are for businesses. Normal truck plates would be $ 80ish/year.



I'm T plated for a personal use dump trailer and my enclosed trailer is rated higher then the 8K. (Quads and other toys)



Its stupid but I could tow a 21k rated toyhauler fifthwheel on 'regular' plates but my short little 14k dump trailer and 10k enclosed trailer means I'm stuck with the 'T' plates.



And though I hate what some socialist/commies in Oregon do. I'm not going to move to another state just because of it. We've got family and friends that offset the minus's of this state. Plus I like our weather...

 

[AABEN]

Who in there Right Mind would want to move to Texas ???? No thank's I will Keep Calif .

A man with good scene would leave run out of CL to where you can own guns and not have to look back all the time. It might slide off in the ocean.

 

[jhenderson]

Would I be correct in assuming your reg. includes some sort of personal property tax? My state reg. fee is $70. 00, but I pay a separate town tax of $31. 00 per $1,000 of valuation. My 04 with 250,000 miles on it is valued at $14,000, so my town tax is $434. 00 on top of the $70. 00 to RI. That is part of the reason I don't have a new truck. A $40,000 truck would cost me $1240. 00 in town tax, for the first year and very slowly lower each year. Then there is 7% sales tax on the FULL PURCHASE PRICE (no deduction for trade in) on top of everything else. I don't think the pols will ever learn, the more you tax, the less you get.

 

[Regcabguy]

A man with good scene would leave run out of CL to where you can own guns and not have to look back all the time. It might slide off in the ocean.

We can own guns. As far as sliding off... No tornadoes,hurricanes so far.

 

[Regcabguy]

Would I be correct in assuming your reg. includes some sort of personal property tax? My state reg. fee is $70. 00, but I pay a separate town tax of $31. 00 per $1,000 of valuation. My 04 with 250,000 miles on it is valued at $14,000, so my town tax is $434. 00 on top of the $70. 00 to RI. That is part of the reason I don't have a new truck. A $40,000 truck would cost me $1240. 00 in town tax, for the first year and very slowly lower each year. Then there is 7% sales tax on the FULL PURCHASE PRICE (no deduction for trade in) on top of everything else. I don't think the pols will ever learn, the more you tax, the less you get.

No personal property tax here on vehicles.