13.115 Station Wagons (VC §§585 and 9404)

A station wagon is a dual-purpose vehicle to transport persons in such a manner that the seats may be removed or folded out of the way to increase the property carrying space within the vehicle.

A hatchback-type vehicle with a rear seat that folds down or is removable and a door in the rear that provides direct access to the vehicle’s interior cargo-carrying area when the seat is folded down or removed may be considered a station wagon.

Station wagons are not required or permitted to be registered as commercial vehicles except when:

• Used to transport persons “for hire.”
• Registered in the name of a business.
• Used by an owner who is engaged in a bona fide business and the vehicle is registered to the business.
• The owner certifies they are required to own and operate a station wagon registered to them as a requirement of employment at a bona fide business.

Note “Engaged in business” means engaged in a bona fide trade, business, or commerce, or a profession licensed for measurement of land, construction quantities, of the dimension of structures. It does not include any other type of profession.

In addition to the usual registration requirements, the following must be submitted:

• A Request for Commercial Registration of a Passenger Vehicle (REG 590) form completed by the owner. If the owner’s name is the business name, that must be noted on the REG 590.
• A weight certificate.

Note The dealer’s certification on the Application for Registration of New Vehicle (REG 397) form is acceptable for a new station wagon with an unladen weight of 8,000 pounds or less.

13.110 Pickup With a Camper Attached

A “camper” is a structure designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle and to provide facilities for human habitation or camping purposes (VC §243). A canopy or similar structure mounted upon a motor vehicle for purposes of human habitation or camping purposes is considered a camper. Other equipment facilitating human habitation, such as a stove or bed, does not have to be permanently affixed to the vehicle. Do not complete a Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) form for human habitation facilities.

A one-axle camper is not considered a motor vehicle (VC §243). When mounted upon a motor vehicle, the camper must have its total weight supported by the motor vehicle, independent of any axle attached permanently or temporarily to the structure. a one-axle structure that is too large to be mounted upon and fully supported by the motor vehicle independent of the axle attached to the structure is a trailer coach or camp trailer, depending on its overall length, and it must be registered separately.

Passenger Vehicle Registration—A pickup truck with a permanently attached camper or camper shell (the owner’s intention is not to remove it) meets the definition of a housecar (VC §362) and may be registered as a passenger vehicle. Assign a body type model (BTM) “PM” (pickup with camper mounted) to the vehicle.

Adding a camper shell to a pickup truck does not necessarily constitute a change from commercial to auto registration. The addition must meet the definitions for human habitation or camping purposes. Otherwise, the vehicle may be subject to citation from law enforcement for not meeting the definition of an auto. Human habitation is defined as living space which includes, but is not limited to: closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, and bath or toilet rooms.

In addition to basic original or transfer requirements, the following must be submitted:

• A Miscellaneous Certifications (REG 256A) (PDF)form with the Certification of Vehicle for Human Habitation section completed to establish or retain “PM” status.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Advise the customer that removing the camper will require commercial registration and weight fees to be due.

Commercial Vehicle Registration—A pickup with a camper temporarily attached (the owner’s intention is to remove it occasionally) must be registered as a commercial vehicle and the camper (including the axle) is a load. Do not include the camper in the value of the vehicle for vehicle license fee (VLF) determination; the value is based on the pickup only.

A bus is a commercial vehicle when it is used to transport persons for hire, compensation, or profit or when bus transportation is supplied by a profit-making entity and a customer pays for the bus service as part of the overall consideration for the primary service.

Privately-Owned School Bus (PSB)—Refer to Chapter 16.

13.105 Permanent Fleet Registration (PFR) and IBC Offices

Only PFR designated field offices and the PFR Section in DMV headquarters issue PFR registration cards and stickers.

• Field offices that do not maintain PFR sticker inventory will issue regular year stickers and receipts for interim operating indicia only.
• The following lists the established PFR field offices.
• Other field offices and some Industry Business Centers (IBC) may also issue PFR registrations and stickers.
• See the Permanent Fleet Registration – California DMV  page for established PFR field offices.

13.100 Permanent Fleet Registration (PFR) (VC §5301)

PFR Program

The owner of a fleet consisting of commercial vehicles and/or passenger vehicles may apply to DMV for PFR.

• Instead of yearly registration stickers, PFR vehicles are issued a California permanent fleet sticker for the license plate and a permanent registration card for each vehicle.
• PFR applicants must complete an Application for Permanent Fleet Registration (REG 3500) (PDF)form and agree to adhere to all program and vehicle registration requirements to have a valid PFR account number assigned to their fleet.
• Under the PFR program, a renewal listing is sent monthly for all of the vehicles in a fleet that expire within that month.
• CVRA vehicles in a fleet are issued CVRA weight decals and CVRA year stickers that are gold with PFR printed boldly in black.
  • New CVRA stickers are only issued when a weight change is reported or when the original is damaged.

Fleet Defined

• An individual fleet must have at least 25 motor vehicles (previous minimum was 50).
• An association must submit a combined total of 125 or more motor vehicles, with no individual fleet having less than 25 motor vehicles (previous minimum for associations was a combined total of 250 or more motor vehicles, with no individual fleet less than 25).
• Fleet vehicles are no longer required to display designated markings, such as, company name, trademark, logo, or assigned PFR number, to participate in the PFR program. The Application for Permanent Fleet Registration (MC 3500 P, REV. 1/2018) form was revised to remove the checkbox regarding the display of designated markings. The revised form is only available online to be downloaded from the DMV website. Begin using the revised MC 3500 P immediately.
• Effective February 1, 2018, accept only a MC 3500 P with a revision date of 1/2018.
• Motorcycles cannot be a part of a fleet.

For further information consult the PFR Section at dmv.ca.gov, or write to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
MCD—PFR Section, MS H160
PO Box 932320
Sacramento, CA 94232-3200
(916) 657-7971

Adding Vehicles to a PFR Fleet (VC §5301)
The following must be submitted to add vehicles to a fleet:

• A Permanent Fleet Registration Addition (REG 495 (PDF), side A) form, completed in full by the applicant.
• Current registration card and/or ownership documents, as appropriate.
• Fees due plus the PFR service fee for each vehicle. Renewal fees are also due if the application is presented within 120 days of the renewal date.
• Smog certification, if applicable.

Deleting Vehicles from a PFR Fleet (VC §5301)

Vehicles deleted from a PFR fleet must be issued a new registration card without the PFR information. The following must be submitted to delete a vehicle from a fleet:

• A Permanent Fleet Registration/Addition Deletion (REG 495 P) (PDF) form side B, completed in full by the applicant.
• Surrender of the PFR registration card and PFR sticker unless disposition of the PFR sticker is shown on the REG 495 P.
• Application for regular registration for the deleted vehicle, if appropriate

13.095 Partial Year Registration (PYR) for Commercial Vehicles (VC §§9700-9711)

Commercial vehicles may be registered on a PYR basis for a period of one or more months, but less than 12 months.

• Original registration applications must be submitted within 20 days of first operation.
• Thereafter, renewal applications must be submitted prior to the date the vehicle is operated, moved, or left standing on the highways.

For initial PYR registration in a calendar year, the full-year registration fee and vehicle license fee must be paid, plus prorated weight fees based on the number of consecutive months the vehicle is to be operated.

• A service fee is also collected.
• For subsequent registrations in the same calendar year, the prorated weight fees based on the number of consecutive months the vehicle will be operated, plus the service fee, must be paid.

For additional information, see Chapter 10, Renewals.

13.090 Passenger-Type Vehicles With Commercial Registration (VC §260)

A passenger-type vehicle that transports passengers “for hire” is required to be registered as a commercial vehicle and display commercial license plates. This includes a taxi, rental limousine, or ambulance that transport persons for compensation or profit. Passenger vehicles that transport property for hire cannot be registered commercially.

Exception: Commercial registration may be obtained for multipurpose vehicles, station wagons, and hatchback-type vehicles owned and registered to a bona fide business or in certain specific instances, as explained in the Multipurpose Vehicles and Station Wagon sections in this chapter.

A bus is a vehicle, including a trailer bus, designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 15 persons including the driver or a vehicle designed, used, or maintained for carrying more than 10 persons, including the driver, used to transport persons for compensation or profit or by any nonprofit organization or group (VC §233).

A bus is a commercial vehicle when it is used to transport persons for hire, compensation, or profit or when bus transportation is supplied by a profit-making entity and a customer pays for the bus service as part of the overall consideration for the primary service.

Privately-Owned School Bus (PSB)—Refer to Chapter 21.

13.085 Multipurpose Vehicles

Multipurpose vehicles are designed primarily as passenger vehicles, but also have a limited cargo carrying capability. For example, a Jeep, Bronco, Blazer, Scout, and Jimmy. Any of these vehicles with a permanently attached top may be issued auto or commercial license plates.

To obtain commercial registration for a multipurpose vehicle, the following must be submitted:

• The California Certificate of Title.
• The registration card.
• A weight certificate.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Change the body type model (BTM) to “PK” for pickup.

Vehicles that have an open box-type bed or that can transform from a commercial (pickup) body to a noncommercial body type must be reported and registered as pickups, and weight fees are required. Refer to the Commercial Vehicle Definitions section in this chapter.

Important The Chevrolet Avalanche, Hummer H2 SUT, Cadillac Escalade EXT, and Ford Explorer Sport Trac are pickups, but their vehicle identification number (VIN) configurations may generate a utility (UT) BTM. If the automated system generates the BTM “UT”, change it to PK.

13.080 Multiple Bodies

For registration of a cab and chassis (or chassis only) with multiple bodies, in addition to usual registration requirements, the following must be submitted:

• Proof of ownership for all new and used bodies.
• Use tax or proof of tax paid on all bodies.
• VLF for all body components.
• A weight certificate or estimated unladen weight using the heaviest of all the multiple bodies and a Declaration of Gross Vehicle Weight/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight (REG 4008) form as appropriate with the GVW or CGW.

The procedures below must be followed:

• For use tax collection and VLF classification, include the total cost of all new bodies or value of all used bodies, or a combination of both, with the cost of the cab and chassis/chassis only.
• Key the weight at the heaviest multiple body.
• Key body type model (BTM) “MU” for multiple bodies.
  

13.075 Motor Carrier Permit Program (VC §34601)

The Motor Carrier Permit program is administered jointly by DMV and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to promote and ensure the public safety of all users of California highways.

DMV is responsible for ensuring that motor carriers are in compliance with liability and worker’s compensation insurance requirements and enrollment in the Employer Pull Notice program before granting intrastate operating authority.

CHP regulates compliance and safe operation of vehicles through the Biennial Inspection of Terminals (BIT) program and roadside enforcement.

• A Carrier Identification Number (CA number) must be obtained from the CHP prior to applying for the permit from DMV.

The Motor Carrier Permit which is issued by DMV grants operating authority to motor carriers on California highways.

Motor trucks with two or more axles and a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds and other motor vehicles used to transport property for compensation are required to obtain a motor carrier permit.

Motor carriers do not include:

• Household goods carriers.
• Vehicles providing transportation of passengers only.
• Pickup trucks.
• Two-axle daily rental trucks with a GVWR less than 26,001 pounds if operated in noncommercial use.
• Motor trucks with a GVWR less than 26,001 pounds when used solely to tow a camp trailer, trailer coach, fifth-wheel travel trailer, or utility trailer.

For more information or to obtain forms, call Motor Carrier Permit Operations at (916) 657-8153 or write to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Motor Carrier Services Branch, MS H875
P.O. Box 932370
Sacramento, CA 94232-3700

13.070 Mobile Cranes

A crane is a vehicle equipped with a device that unfolds to various heights such as hoists, lifts, ladders, booms, derricks, and shovels.

• This includes manufactured mobile cranes, such as Lorraine, Northwest, Challenge-Cook, P&H, FMC Linkbelt, Manitowoc, American, Grove, Demag, Koehring, Badger, Kato, and other commercial vehicles with standard type bodies to which a crane or other device to lift and/or move property is attached.
• The exceptions to this definition are tow trucks, wreckers, and vehicles designed or used to transport property. Vehicles that meet the definition of a crane must be assigned a “crane” body type.
• This includes concrete pumps and pumper booms, oil-well service rigs, and other similar equipment to be issued SE plates.
• Vehicles included in the definition of a “crane” do not qualify as special equipment (SE) and cannot be issued SE plates.

A mobile crane cannot be moved on a One Trip Permit (REG 402).

• A No-Fee Special Moving Permit (REG 172) may be used to move a mobile crane under the provisions of the permit.
• Movement to or from a job site does not constitute “storage to storage.”
• Registration is required for such movement of a crane.

There are two types of cranes: commercial and auto.

Commercial Crane (Weight Fee Due)
A commercial crane is vehicle to which a crane-type device has been attached, that may serve more than one function and can carry a load on its structure.

• Whether a load is carried or not, it is a commercial vehicle and is issued commercial license plates.
• A crane that is attendant to the efficient operation of the body is included in the unladen weight of the vehicle.
• Examples of commercial cranes include truck tractors (fifth-wheel attached) with a crane, flatbed trucks with a crane, and tow trucks.

If removal of the crane would leave a cargo carrying vehicle, then:

• The vehicle license fee (VLF) class is based on the total cost of the vehicle and crane.
• A weight certificate is required for the complete vehicle, if less than 10,001 pounds or the estimated unladen weight of the complete vehicle may be shown on a Statement of Facts (REG 256) (PDF) form, if the weight is more than 10,001 pounds and weight fees will be based on the declared gross vehicle weight (GVW).
• A REG 256 completed and signed, giving the estimated weight of the crane.
  • The unladen weight of the base vehicle is determined by subtracting the estimated weight of the crane from the total weight of the complete vehicle.
• For vehicles over 10,001 pounds, the declared GVW is determined by the rating GVWR, not a combined vehicle weight (CGW).
  • Although the weight of the crane is deducted from the unladen weight, it is included in the declared GVW.
• Commercial fees are due.
  

Auto Crane (Weight Fee Not Due)
An auto crane is a vehicle manufactured as a crane where the removal of the crane does not leave a cargo carrying vehicle. Refer to the auto cranes pictured in this section. An example of an auto crane is a truck chassis or truck cab and chassis to which only a crane and its attendant components are attached.

• Auto cranes are issued auto license plates.
• An auto crane is exempt from the weight fee (even if another vehicle is towed).
• Attendant components include outriggers, storage compartments for blocking, rigging, and other devices necessary for crane operation.

The registration requirements for auto cranes are:

• Evidence of the vehicle’s design. Submit either a:
  • Completed Verification of Vehicle (REG 31) (PDF) form and a Statement of Facts (REG 256) (PDF) form completed by a DMV employee stating “removal of the crane would not leave a cargo carrying vehicle.”
  • Manufacturer’s brochure that illustrates and describes the vehicle specifications and a REG 256 completed by the registered owner stating “removal of the crane would not leave a cargo carrying vehicle.” A 3” x 5” photograph may be accepted if a brochure is not available.
• The VLF class is based on the total cost of the vehicle and the crane.
• Appropriate fees due.

Note Towing a vehicle does not subject an auto crane vehicle to weight fees.