If I put lettering on my Massachusetts private passenger auto, do I need commercial plates?
Great question.
Here’s the long answer:
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation defines commercial vehicles (requiring commercial plates) as:
“ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT A PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE, ANTIQUE MOTOR CAR, MOTORCYCLE, TRAILER, SEMI-TRAILER, AUTO HOME, HOUSE TRAILER, TAXICAB, AMBULANCE, HEARSE, LIVERY VEHICLE. BUS, SCHOOL BUS OR PUPIL TRANSPORT VEHICLE”.
This includes: Any vehicle which has a vehicle weight of more than 6,000 pounds unless it is a sport utility vehicle, passenger van, pickup truck or cargo van meeting the definition of a private passenger vehicle.
- Any vehicle which as five or more wheels i.e.; a dually
- Any pickup truck or cargo van, owned by a partnership, trust or corporation unless the vehicle meets the definition of a private passenger vehicle.
- Any pickup truck or cargo van if on the bed , roof or sides of the vehicle tools, equipment, supplies and materials are transported to or from a job site (personal projects without compensation are not considered a job site).
- A vehicle which has business lettering, markings and/or advertisements on it.
- A vehicle used for hire to plow.
- A vehicle used for hire to transport or store goods or merchandise (unless the vehicle is owned by an individual, the maximum carrying capacity is 1,000 pounds or less and is only used on a part-time basis).
- A vehicle used to transport or store goods or merchandise intended for sale in the operator’s business (unless the vehicle is owned by an individual, the maximum carrying capacity is 1,000 pounds or less and is only used on a part-time basis).
So, according to the MA Department of Transportation, if the vehicle has business lettering, markings +/or advertisements, then the vehicle should have commercial plates.
This is incorrect because of the first sentence of the law “ANY MOTOR VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT A PRIVATE PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE”. If the vehicle meets this definition then even with lettering it does not need comercial “truck plates” plates. If that where the case then ever car with business bumper stickers in it would need comercial plates
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation defines vehicles that require commercial plates as any vehicle EXCEPT FOR private passenger vehicle (including pickup trucks, SUV’s etc), motorcycle, trailer, semi-trailer, auto home, house trailer, taxicab, ambulance, hearse, livery vehicle, bus, school bus or pupil transport. They go on to say, if it is one of these “other” vehicles, commercial plates are required IF vehicle has business lettering, markings and/or advertisements on it.
As we’ve learned, this means “permanent-type” lettering vs. bumper-sticker variety.
Is there a grey area? Probably. I’ve seen lots of private passenger vehicles with lettering somewhere on the vehicle. Most, however, with legitimate, unarguable advertisements have commercial plates.
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If I have a d/b/a from City of Boston can I have commercial plates on my SUV
My understanding is: yes, you can put commercial plates on your SUV if you use the vehicle primarily for business.
Question would I need to attain cdl license to drive a commercial plate vehicle 🤔
Here is some good information on MA CDL license from Mass.gov:
https://www.mass.gov/commercial-drivers-licenses-cdl
When did the rmv start requiring comercial plates for private passenger vehicles wigh a GVW ovrr 10,000lbs? I just bough a brand new truck (2022) and the dealer swapped my reg from my Tundra to this (GVW 10,336) with no issue. But I have to pay for a comercial inspection because of the weight. Somebody explain this to me, please
Hi Eric,
Best I can tell this commercial inspection for vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs (GVWR) rule started in 2008.
This is what I found on the MassDOT site:
https://www.mass.gov/files/2017-07/Commercial%20Regulations.pdf?_ga=2.256958729.304347751.1554901855-287861362.1554490042
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What is this a money grab by the commonwealth I have a Tacoma and I cant put magnetic signs on it advertising my sons landscaping business
the Tacoma is not used for business ? The commonwealth should spend time on other issues, don,t forget who owns this truck, ah that would be
me
I have commercial plates on my suv just because the plate was given to me by a family member. It’s a low number plate that’s been passed down for years in my family. I have had it on 3 vehicles. I do not do business with the vehicle, and I am not required to have one, I just have one. The dealer says my warranty is void because it’s a commercial vehicle. Any thoughts or laws on that? Ma Used Vehicle Law states any vehicle registered to a business, used primarily for business etc. is void and I don’t fall in that category. Not sure what the federal law is. My title says ‘max passenger limit 7 for hire’. I think this is just an informant remark on the title IF I were to put it for hire. I never told the registry it was for hire. What if I was delivering news papers for example, would it say max newspapers for hire?????
Hi James, Tricky stuff. Unfortunately I don’t know much about MA law when it comes to commercial plates on a private passenger vehicle. Hard to believe dealer can void warranty just because of the plate type you have on the vehicle. I’m sorry we can’t provide you better information.