Commercial Vehicle Registration

You may need to register your vehicle as commercial if certain conditions apply.

Light Duty Vehicles

Passenger cars, ¾ ton or less pickup trucks and ¾ ton or less vans, used for commercial purposes 1,000 or more hours in a vehicle registration year, must be registered commercially.

A vehicle registered in the name of a commercial enterprise must be registered commercially unless the registering applicant certifies that the vehicle will not be maintained and used for commercial purposes.

For the registration of 1-ton pickup trucks used for either commercial or personal use, the applicant must declare a gross weight and pay gross weight fees and a $4.00 commercial fee.

What is a declared gross weight?

Gross weight is the sum of the empty weight in pounds of a motor vehicle combination (power unit and trailer) plus the weight in pounds of the load to be carried on the motor vehicle combination at any point in time. Customers declare the maximum gross weight at which they will operate their vehicle and then pay the corresponding fee as determined by the following table.

Weight/Fee Table

Gross Weight (lbs)	Gross Weight Fee
up to 8,000	$7.50
8,001 to 10,000	36.00
10,001 to 12,000	63.00
12,001 to 14,000	103.00
14,001 to 16,000	121.00
16,001 to 18,000	144.00
18,001 to 20,000	162.00
20,001 to 22,000	198.00
22,001 to 24,000	216.00
24,001 to 26,000	234.00
26,001 to 28,000	288.00
28,001 to 30,000	324.00
30,001 to 32,000	378.00
32,001 to 36,000	414.00
36,001 to 40,000	468.00
40,001 to 45,000	522.00
45,001 to 50,000	576.00
50,001 to 55,000	630.00
55,001 to 60,000	684.00
60,001 to 65,000	738.00
65,001 to 70,000	792.00
70,001 to 75,000	864.00
75,001 to 80,000	918.00
Established by A.R.S. § 28-5433

Commercial Motor Vehicles and Federal Regulations

Vehicles that meet the definition of commercial motor vehicle must register commercially and comply with federal commercial motor vehicle regulations.

Information on when a commercial driver license is needed.

Commercial Use / Motor Carrier Options

One-Way Hauling - At least 45% of the vehicle mileage during the registration year is traveled without a load.
Route Truck - Vehicle weights more than 26,000 lbs and begins and ends a trip at the same point without adding to the load. At the midway point, the load must be less than 45% of the full load capacity of the vehicle.
Agricultural Products - Vehicle is used only for transporting agricultural products, such as crops, machinery, supplies or livestock used or produced in farming operations. The products, crops or livestock must be unmanufactured or unprocessed.
For Hire - Vehicle is 12,000 lbs or less and you receive compensation for transporting people or property.
Farm Vehicle - Vehicle is used in commercial farming or stock raising by the farmer, family member or an employee.
Motion Picture Production - Vehicle is used in the production of motion pictures, commercials or films.
Limited Mileage I - Vehicle weighs more than 26,000 lbs and is driven less than 2,000 miles each year.
Limited Mileage II - Vehicle weights more than 26,000 lbs and is driven 2,000 or more miles, but less than 4,000 miles each year.

When Do I Need a U.S. DOT Number?

You meet the definition of a Motor Carrier and must obtain a U.S. DOT number, if:

You generate revenue through the transportation of your own property or the property of others (for-hire); or
You perform a service that is a part of your business or have a personal hobby that involves the use of a vehicle or combination of vehicles that has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 lbs and operate in interstate commerce or a GVWR of more than 26,000 lbs and operate in intrastate commerce.

You may need more than one type of U.S. DOT number depending on the type of cargo, materials, or passengers that you transport.