The Commercial Vehicle
Registration Act (CVRA) changed the way the
Department of Motor Vehicles registers
commercial motor vehicles and some trailers.
Which vehicles are
affected?
This law affects:
- Commercial motor vehicles with a
declared gross vehicle weight (GVW) or
combined gross vehicle weight (CGW) of
10,001 lbs. or more.
- Most trailers (for example,
semi-trailers, boat trailers, utility
trailers, or horse trailers.)
Which vehicles are NOT
affected?
The following commercial
motor vehicles are not affected:
-
Pickups, even though a pickup can
operate over 10,000 GVW.
- Light-weight trucks and vans if the
declared GVW or CGW is 10,000 lbs. or
less.
- Taxis and rental limousines (which
include charter-party carriers operating
limousines that pick up and deliver
airport passengers) if the declared GVW
is 10,000 or less.
NOTE: Weight fees
for the above vehicles (not including
trailers) will continue to be based on the
unladen weight.
Also excluded are:
-
Park Trailers.
-
Trailer coaches.
For more information see
Trailers below.
Declared Operating Weight
What are GVW and CGW?
Declared gross
vehicle weight (GVW) is the weight
that equals the total unladen weight of the
vehicle plus the heaviest load that will be
transported on the vehicle.
Declared combined
gross vehicle weight (CGW) is the
total unladen weight of the combination of
vehicles (motor truck and trailer) plus the
heaviest load that will be transported by
that combination.
If you tow a trailer or
other vehicle, (e.g., a truck loaded with
produce pulling a trailer loaded with
bricks), it is important that you declare
the total, combined, gross operating weight
of the combination of vehicles.
All commercial motor
vehicle owners/lessees must declare the
gross operating weight when:
- The vehicle is first registered.
- The vehicle is purchased (new or
used).
- The operating weight changes. If the
operating weight increases, complete a
Declaration of Gross Vehicle
Weight/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight
form (REG 4008). Additional CVRA fees
will be collected for the remainder of
the registration year or partial
registration year (PYR) period. If the
operating weight decreases, the lower
weight will be added to the vehicle
record and a new registration card will
be issued. Refunds are not issued
when the operating weight decreases.
NOTE: Owners may
register commercial vehicles on a partial
year basis. The operating weight does not
have to be re-declared (on a new declaration
form) each time the partial year
registration is requested (during the
registration year) unless the operating
weight changes.
Commercial Motor Vehicles
How do I report my GVW
or CGW?
You must complete a
declaration form and declare the GVW/CGW
at which you will operate your vehicle with
its heaviest load (see definition of GVW/CGW
above) so that your registration renewal
notice will reflect the correct CVRA fee.
(See
CVRA Weight Range Schedule.)
Your registration card
will reflect the highest weight for the
weight range. For example, if your
vehicle operating weight is 42,000 GVW, your
certificate will show 45,000 lbs. Whenever
you receive a new registration card, make
sure it shows the correct weight range.
A
is required for any
original, commercial registration
application submitted (first time being
registered in California) or upon transfer
of vehicle ownership.
You must complete another
declaration form whenever your declared GVW
or CGW changes to a higher weight range.
What is the declaration
form?
The
"Declaration of Gross Vehicle
Weight/Combined Gross Vehicle Weight"
form (REG 4008) contains information and
instructions for you to declare your
vehicle's GVW/CGW.
Can I just use the
GVW/CGW listed on my vehicle?
Yes, however, the GVW/CGW
listed is the manufacturer's maximum weight
at which the vehicle can safely operate. You
must still determine whether or not the
vehicle will be operated at the maximum.
How do I report a change
in the GVW/CGW?
You must complete a new
declaration form whenever your declared
GVW/CGW changes to a higher (or greater)
weight range. If your declared GVW/CGW
increased after it was reported to DMV,
an additional CVRA fee is due on the higher
weight range for the remainder of the
registration year or if registered on a
partial year registration (PYR) basis, for
the period of registration requested. The
appropriate CVRA fees must be paid prior
to operation of the vehicle at the higher
weight.
If your declared GVW/CGW
decreased after your vehicle was
registered at the weight reported to DMV, a
pro-rated refund of the CVRA fee is not
applicable.
NOTE: Weight
violations in under-reporting can result in
a substantial fine, up to $2,000 for
operating over the declared gross weight
(Vehicle Code §42030.1).
My vehicle will not be
operated at a weight of 10,001 lbs. or more
GVW or CGW. Do I have to complete the
declaration form?
You must complete, sign,
and return the declaration form indicating
your vehicle will not be operated at 10,001
lbs. or more GVW/CGW. Once DMV receives this
information, your vehicle will continue to
be assessed fees based on the unladen
weight. If you fail to report the vehicle
weight, you will be assessed the
maximum CVRA fee plus vehicle license and
registration fees.
New CVRA
Weight Decals/CVRA Year Stickers
All CVRA registered
vehicles with expiration dates of July 31,
2005, or later will be issued
CVRA weight decals and CVRA year stickers
that are required to be displayed on both
the right and left sides of the vehicle. The
CVRA year stickers will correspond in color
with the regular auto, commercial, trailer,
and motorcycle (ACTM) sticker color. The
CVRA weight decals indicate the highest
GVW/CGW at which the vehicle may be
operated. The CVRA weight decals and CVRA
year stickers are issued in addition to the
regular year sticker for
a fee.
| EXCEPTION:
Decals showing “54” are valid for a
vehicle operating up to 54,999
GVW/CGW. |
The CVRA weight decals
will be issued once with the CVRA year
stickers. On subsequent renewals, only the
CVRA year stickers will be issued unless
there is a vehicle weight change or
duplicate CVRA weight decals are required.
Implements of Husbandry
If a truck subject to
CVRA, owned and operated by a farmer or an
employee, is used only for conducting
agricultural business and in that business
it pulls (tows) an
implement of husbandry or a vehicle with
special equipment (SE) plates, the weight of
the implement of husbandry or the SE plated
vehicle and its load do not have to
be declared. The weight of the truck and any
load it will carry, except the implement of
husbandry or SE plated vehicle, must be
declared.
Tow Trucks
Tow trucks used to assist the motoring
public or to tow or carry impounded vehicles
are subject to CVRA fees. The tow truck's
declared weight shall be based on the gross
vehicle weight rating (GVW) assigned by the
vehicle's manufacturer.
Trailers
What trailers are
subject to Permanent Trailer Identification
(PTI)?
All trailers except
park trailers and
trailer coaches are subject to PTI.
NOTE: A
camp trailer or fifth-wheel trailer
(depending upon maximum length, width, or
size) can be registered as a trailer coach,
or camp trailer. Camp trailers are subject
to PTI, but trailer coaches are subject to
annual registration and excluded from PTI.
Will fees be charged for
a trailer?
Yes. There is a
Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI) fee
for the original registration. You will
receive a permanent identification card at
the time of initial registration/conversion.
The PTI is renewed every
five (5) years.
Approximately 60 days
prior to the expiration date, you will
receive a PTI renewal notice requesting the
fee. Return the fee in the envelope
provided. You will receive a notice of
acknowledgment for the payment.
Upon conversion to PTI
registration, you can:
- Retain the existing trailer plate,
or
- Request a new permanent trailer
identification plate.
Tow dollies or auxiliary
dollies are not required to be registered in
California (Vehicle
Code §5014.1), but you may opt to
convert to PTI. If you convert to PTI, you
need to display a PTI plate or a regular
plate with a PTI sticker. If you do not
convert to PTI, remove the existing plate.
While registration under
the PTI program is optional for
tow dollies, you may want to register
your tow dolly under PTI if you will be
towing it out of state because other states'
registration requirements for trailers vary.
How do I register my
trailer in the PTI program?
You must submit:
- Titling document(s) (out of state
title, new vehicle report of sale,
Manufacturer's Statement of Origin,
etc.) to establish your ownership of the
vehicle.
- An
Application for Registration/Title
(REG 343).
- Original
Permanent Trailer Identification (PTI)
filing fee.
The department will issue
a PTI Card and maintain an electronic
ownership record. If there is no legal
owner, and you would like to receive a
Certificate of Title, complete Sections 1
and 2 on Side A of the PTI Certification (REG
4017). An additional
title only fee is charged for the paper
title.
PTI Renewal
The PTI is renewed every
five (5) years
(renewal fee). If you keep your existing
plate, a PTI sticker will be issued. The PTI
plate does not need a sticker.
Personalized or Special
Interest License Plates for Trailers.
Personalized and
special interest license plates may be
retained or requested on a PTI trailer. The
trailer owner will receive an annual renewal
notice for the
special license plate renewal fees,
which vary depending on the type of special
license plate.
Fees for
Commercial Vehicles
Trucks operated at a
gross or a combined gross weight of
10,001 lbs. or more, will be assessed a
CVRA fee in addition to other registration
fees (including but not limited to a CVRA
Motor Vehicle fee and a CVRA CHP fee).
Trucks operated at a gross weight of
10,000 lbs. or less will continue to be
assessed a weight fee based on the truck's
unladen (empty) weight.
The vehicle
CVRA fee is based on the Commercial
Vehicle Registration Act (CVRA) Range
Schedule.
Fines for
Operating Over the Declared Weight
If drivers operate their
vehicles over the registered owner's
declared weight, the driver may be cited by
law enforcement. If the vehicle is operated
over the declared weight, fines between $250
and $2,000 may be assessed (Vehicle Code
§42030.1). Additional CVRA fees would be
required.
Permanent
Fleet Registration
The criteria to qualify
for Permanent Fleet Registration (PFR) is as
follows:
- Only motor vehicles (power units)
are eligible for PFR registration.
Fleet owners do not declare trailers as
part of their fleets. Power units
can include all types of motor vehicles
except motorcycles. For example:
- Automobiles
- Pickup trucks
- Limousines
- Truck tractors
- Delivery vans
- Fleet owner(s) or association(s)
must meet the following criteria to be
eligible for the PFR program.
- An association must register at
least 250 motor vehicles and each
association member must register at
least 25 motor vehicles.
- A single owner (not part of an
association) must register at least
50 units (motor vehicles).
Current fleet owners may
continue to register their vehicles PFR. The
CVRA law allows existing owners or
associations five years to meet the
eligibility requirements (until December 31,
2006). See Trailers above.
All CVRA PFR registered
vehicles will be issued CVRA weight decals
and CVRA year stickers that are gold
with PFR boldly printed in black. For an
initial PFR application, each CVRA
commercial vehicle will be charged a
CVRA weight decals fee. For an existing
PFR registered vehicle the fee applies to
the first renewal that occurs on or after
July 31, 2005. PFR customers are not
issued new CVRA/PFR stickers in subsequent
renewals unless a weight change is reported
to the department, or if the CVRA weight
decals and/or the CVRA/PFR year stickers are
lost. The CVRA weight decals fee is due only
when the CVRA weight decals or CVRA/PFR year
stickers are issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Q - Does the CVRA law
affect all truck owners?
A -
No. This law does
not affect:
- Pickups, as defined, that weigh
under 8,001 lbs. unladen.
- Lightweight trucks, vans, taxis, and
rental limousines (including
charter-party carriers operating
limousines that pick up and deliver
airport passengers), if the vehicle's
GVW is 10,000 pounds or less.
- Commercial motor vehicles registered
with special equipment or exempt license
plates.
2. Q - What do I do if I
didn't receive a CVRA Weight Declaration
Form?
A -
Print the
REG 4008, complete the form, and
mail it to DMV at:
DMV CVRA Program
PO Box 932377
Sacramento, CA 94232-3770
3. Q - Can I declare an
operating weight higher than my vehicle's
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)?
A
- Yes, but only if you are
declaring the weight of your vehicle in
combination with a towed vehicle and its
load (the Combined Gross Weight).
NOTE: A declared Combined Gross
Weight does not authorize a truck
without another vehicle in tow to exceed
the truck's authorized axle weight
limits.
4. Q - I own a dump
truck and received a declaration form (REG
4008). Do I have to fill out the form?
A
- Yes. If you have a commercial
motor vehicle operating at a gross or
combined gross weight of
10,001 pounds or more, you must
complete and return the form.
5. Q-Do I still have to
pay license and registration fees?
A
- Yes. Vehicle license and
registration-related fees are still due
on all commercial motor vehicles. The
new
CVRA fee is in lieu of the weight
fee.
6. Q - I received a
declaration form, but I own a 4-door pickup.
Do I have to complete the declaration form?
A
- Yes, if your vehicle weighs
over 8,000 lbs unladen. If your title
shows the body type of "PK" or "PU," you
need to bring your title and pickup to
your local DMV to correct the body type
to other than a pickup.
7. Q - I have a pickup
truck and sometimes tow a heavy trailer. I
believe the over-all weight may be over
10,001 lbs. Should I complete a declaration
form?
A
- No. Pickup trucks as defined,
do not have to declare their operating
weight regardless of how heavy the load
or combined vehicle weight.
8. Q - I own my own
truck tractor and pull trailers owned by
other companies. Do I have to declare the
weight of the trailer?
A
- Yes. You must declare the
highest combined operating weight. The
total gross weight of the combination of
vehicles (motor truck and towed vehicle)
plus the heaviest load that will be
transported by that combination.
9. Q - Did the
Commercial Vehicle Registration Act (CVRA)
eliminate the International Registration
Plan (IRP) for commercial motor vehicles?
A
- No. Commercial motor vehicles may
still be registered in the IRP program.
10. Q - I have filed a
planned non-operation (PNO) status with DMV
for my truck. I just received a declaration
form from DMV. Should I complete the form
now, or should I wait until I renew the
vehicle registration?
A
- There are no penalties for
waiting until you register your vehicle.
If you do not complete the form now, it
is important to complete the declaration
form when you register your vehicle, or
you will be assessed the highest
gross/combined vehicle weight range fee,
plus license and registration fees.
