13.025 Conversion From Auto to Commercial License Plates (VC §260)

The following vehicles may be registered with auto or commercial license plates:

• Pickup trucks with a camper permanently attached body type code (BTC) PM.
• Station wagons, refer to the Station Wagons and Multipurpose Vehicles sections in this chapter.
• Passenger-type vehicles transporting persons for hire.

The prior history fee for passenger vehicles being changed to “TAXI” is not collected until the body type is changed from “TAXI” to a regular auto body type and auto license plates are issued.

Clearance Requirements—When converting from auto to commercial plates, the following must be submitted:

• The Certificate of Title.
• A weight certificate, unless the Certificate of Title shows a weight code.
• A Request for Commercial Registration of a Passenger Vehicle (REG 590) form for passenger-type vehicles transporting persons for hire, compensation, or profit, unless the vehicle is registered in the name of a taxicab company.
• A completed a Statement of Facts (REG 256) form explaining that the vehicle is registered in the name of an individual and that is also the name of the business.
• A REG 256 with the Statement for Vehicle Body Change section completed if the camper was removed from a pickup truck and the value of a camper is $2,000 or more.
• Any fees due. There is not a fee for the change of license plates.

The procedures below must be followed:

• Change VLF Class on the title/registration to show the current market value of the pickup only if a camper valued at $2000 or more was removed.
• Prorate the weight fees from the date of first operation “for hire.” Weight fees must be paid within 20 days of the date the fees become due to avoid a penalty. This includes station wagons with commercial registration.
• Pick up the auto license plates previously assigned to the vehicle.