Registration of Commercial Vehicles with Temporary Plates

For any temporary commercial registration you will need to provide the same requirements as a permanent registration.  See Expected Document checklist

Temporary Registrations

Commercial Temporary Registrations are used for commercial vehicles with a GVWR of 18,000 lbs or less and trailers with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less.

You may need to obtain a commercial temporary registration to:

  • Perform an Emissions test
  • Have a VIN Verification or assignment
  • Any required inspections

A 10 day temporary commercial registration costs $27 for vehicles with a GVWR of 6000 lbs or less and $49 for vehicles with a GVWR of 6000 lbs and more.

Temporary Registrations for Inspection Purposes Only

A vehicle with a temporary plate issued for inspection purposes is not allowed to carry a load of any kind under any circumstances.

Inspection Only Temporary Registrations are required for any commercial vehicles with a GVWR over 18,000 lbs and trailers with a GVWR over 10,000 lbs.

Vehicles receiving temporary plates for inspection purposes are only able to use the plates to:

  • Move the vehicle to or from the place of sale or transfer
  • Travel to the plant, construction site or other job location
  • Obtain repairs
  • Drive to a site offering a safety inspection

Safety inspections are required within 10 days of receiving a temporary commercial plate labeled "Inspection Only".  

  • No inspection will be performed if the title documents are marked "not safe for the road, junk, etc."  A letter from a licensed dealer or repairer is required stating that repairs have been made and the vehicle is now safe for the road.
  • No temporary plates will be issued to a vehicle that has failed for service brakes, steering components or frame rot until repairs have been certified by a licensed dealer or repairer as completed.
  • Any inspection requires a signed Inspector Qualifications form completed by the inspector

The temporary plate is labeled “Inspection Only” and costs $49 for a 10 day registration period.

Federal Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT): Vehicles registered at 55,000 lbs. and over must pay a special federal highway use tax to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by filing a form no. 2290 (IRS E-filing). DMV requires proof of payment (copy of IRS form no. 2290 receipted for payment by IRS listing the vehicle ID number for which tax was paid) to register or renew vehicles registered at 55,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight and above. You are required to file form no. 2290 with the IRS by the end of the month following the month of the first registration.  Proof of such payment is required by DMV at each renewal.