[mfs841]

Hey guys,

I bought my Ridge a few weeks back and the dealer said we could transfer the plates over from my 98 Ranger (passenger plates) but now they're saying because of the weight diff it needs to be registered as a commercial vehicle. If you're in NC what type of plates do you have? I think their title person is going by the gross weight instead of the unladen (curb) weight.

Thanks

 

[hokiefyd]

I think they're using the wrong measure. I've never seen a Ridgeline with commercial plates in NC. Ours is registered with passenger plates, transferred from our 2008 CR-V.

 

[mfs841]

I think they're using the wrong measure. I've never seen a Ridgeline with commercial plates in NC. Ours is registered with passenger plates, transferred from our 2008 CR-V.

Good to know. Anyone else have passenger plates? I even called the DMV and they said the plates could not be transferred because of weight so I'm getting contradicting information. Ranger was below 4000lbs which is why it was considered a passenger vehicle and the ridge is 4500lbs (shipping weight).

 

[chiph]

I registered mine in NC no problems. Even had a custom plate.

What they may be thinking is that because the GVWR is (just) over 6000 lbs, it's a commercial vehicle. And that's wrong because a F-150 is over that too and they're registered as passenger vehicles all day long.

Your DMV person is wrong. Go to a different office.

Chip H.

 

[mfs841]

I registered mine in NC no problems. Even had a custom plate.

What they may be thinking is that because the GVWR is (just) over 6000 lbs, it's a commercial vehicle. And that's wrong because a F-150 is over that too and they're registered as passenger vehicles all day long.

Your DMV person is wrong. Go to a different office.

Chip H.

Thats what I'm thinking but it doesn't make sense how you guys have passenger plates if they go by the shipping weight like they say they do. Based on the info on the website, if I'm understanding it correctly, I should still have a commercial plate as the truck weights about 4500lbs. Confusing.

Standard license plates (new issue and renewal):

Passenger vehicles: $28.
Trucks:
Less than 4,000 lbs.: $28.
Under 5,000 lbs.: $43.50.
Under 6,000 lbs.: $51.60.

 

[chiph]

It's a pickup, not a commercial vehicle. Unless your business is buying it?

Chip H.

 

[mfs841]

It's a pickup, not a commercial vehicle. Unless your business is buying it?

Chip H.

Apparently it doesn't need to be used for business purposes to be considered a commercial vehicle in NC.

 

[speedlever]

I have passenger plates on my RL. I do have to pay a higher tariff when I renew the registration each year because of the weight. My T100 had the same rate as a passenger car at ~$28 to renew the registration. The RL is ~$44 or so, iirc. But no commercial tags. You need to check with a different office. Someone is confused at your DMV office.

 

[Airwreckc]

Have had mine since 2007. Always passenger plates. The DMV is clueless.

 

[mfs841]

Finally spoke to a DMV rep that knew what they were doing. I'm supposed to have a 5000lb plate (since i never tow anything) which is otherwise known as a "private commercial" plate and is basically the same as and looks like a regular passenger plate. The dealer gave me a 7000lb plate (weighted) because thats what the title called for according to them. Its just a blue and white plate that says "Commercial" on it. Basically I now have to go to the DMV and get the correct plate...if thats even possible.

 

[hokiefyd]

Finally spoke to a DMV rep that knew what they were doing. I'm supposed to have a 5000lb plate (since i never tow anything) which is otherwise known as a "private commercial" plate and is basically the same as and looks like a regular passenger plate. The dealer gave me a 7000lb plate (weighted) because thats what the title called for according to them. Its just a blue and white plate that says "Commercial" on it. Basically I now have to go to the DMV and get the correct plate...if thats even possible.

Mine is registered with a GROSS WT of 5,000 pounds, but they let me transfer the plate from my CR-V to the Ridgeline with no problem. I asked this question when I had a Dodge Dakota registered, because the combination of the truck and the jet ski I had at the time was well over 5,000 pounds. They said that if you regularly tow a trailer of any significant weight (like, on a daily basis), then you need to declare your total weight, but if you just tow recreationally, then that is not required.

I paid $43.50 for the tag portion of Ridgeline registration, using the same physical license plate that I had on the CR-V that cost me $28.

 

[mfs841]

Mine is registered with a GROSS WT of 5,000 pounds, but they let me transfer the plate from my CR-V to the Ridgeline with no problem. I asked this question when I had a Dodge Dakota registered, because the combination of the truck and the jet ski I had at the time was well over 5,000 pounds. They said that if you regularly tow a trailer of any significant weight (like, on a daily basis), then you need to declare your total weight, but if you just tow recreationally, then that is not required.

I paid $43.50 for the tag portion of Ridgeline registration, using the same physical license plate that I had on the CR-V that cost me $28.

Thanks for the clarification. Maybe the previous owner was regularly towing stuff with it and thats why the title had a gross wt with 7k on it. The title is also out of state from MD so who knows..The dealer said they couldn't work around it because of that but the DMV rep (the knowledgeable one) said that it shouldn't be a problem to come in and change the plate now that its been registered. Hopefully that's accurate.

 

[oarnold]

I lived in NC three years. I don't live there anymore.

 

[speedlever]

I still don't believe you have to have some sort of private commercial tag. Never even heard of that option. I moved my tag over from my T100.

I dunno.. sounds like typical government bureaucracy to me. The left hand knoweth not what the right hand doeth.

I questioned them about the higher registration fee and was told it was due to the weight (EW, I presume). I think the T100 was 4000 lbs empty and the RL is 4500 lbs. I think the registration goes up when the EW is over 4000 lbs.

Here's the current schedule:
http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/fees/?s=VF

FWIW, my Pilot (similar weight to the RL) is $28. My RL is $43.50.

 

[mfs841]

I still don't believe you have to have some sort of private commercial tag. Never even heard of that option. I moved my tag over from my T100.

I dunno.. sounds like typical government bureaucracy to me. The left hand knoweth not what the right hand doeth.

I questioned them about the higher registration fee and was told it was due to the weight (EW, I presume). I think the T100 was 4000 lbs empty and the RL is 4500 lbs. I think the registration goes up when the EW is over 4000 lbs.

Here's the current schedule:
http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/fees/?s=VF

FWIW, my Pilot (similar weight to the RL) is $28. My RL is $43.50.

Yeah, I think he used the term "private commercial" very loosely to put into contrast that even though its a truck it should still have a passenger plate but the registration renewals would be a little more because of the weight. It was sort of an arbitrary term.

 

[speedlever]

ok, sounds like we're down to terminology now. Gotcha.

 

[klack002]

So I am in NC and you got me curious. My renewal from Sept.
Licensed Weight-5000. Classification-PRIVATE/PROPERTY CARRYING. The registration fee as mentioned previously $43.50.

 

[mfs841]

So I am in NC and you got me curious. My renewal from Sept.
Licensed Weight-5000. Classification-PRIVATE/PROPERTY CARRYING. The registration fee as mentioned previously $43.50.

That sounds about right. I went to the DMV today to surrender both plates and get a new one. Registered it at 5,000lbs as private/property carrying.