tags on trucks with advertising signs

[jnrogers]

I live in TN and was wondering if you have magnetic signs on your truck do you have to have commercial tags? A friend of mine told me that he got pulled over because he had signs on his trailer and no commercial tags. In this state you dont normally even have to have tags on the trailer unless you take it out of state. I actually have National Guard tags on the truck and do not have any tags on the trailer. I only put the signs on when I am working. Anyone ever dealt with this?

[Mow Right]

I live in TN and was wondering if you have magnetic signs on your truck do you have to have commercial tags? A friend of mine told me that he got pulled over because he had signs on his trailer and no commercial tags. In this state you dont normally even have to have tags on the trailer unless you take it out of state. I actually have National Guard tags on the truck and do not have any tags on the trailer. I only put the signs on when I am working. Anyone ever dealt with this?

I'm not sure about TN, but in most states I think that is a gray area. If a vehicle has "permanent signage" or is a "full time" work truck, it is supposed to have commercial tags for sure. Magnets are definitely not permanent.

I run personal tags on both of my trucks and nobody has ever messed with me. I don't think that fine is that much anyways, I think it is around $100, which is about how much commercial tags cost for 1 year in my state. The way I see it, as long as I get 1 or less tickets per year I am saving money, and I haven't gotten any tickets anyways.

My trucks are commercially insured so I'm not opening myself up to any liability, just the possibility of a ticket.

IMO, either way I think it depends on the cop. You might be able to fight the ticket anyways.

[CLARK LAWN]

I'm not sure about TN, but in most states I think that is a gray area. If a vehicle has "permanent signage" or is a "full time" work truck, it is supposed to have commercial tags for sure. Magnets are definitely not permanent.

I run personal tags on both of my trucks and nobody has ever messed with me. I don't think that fine is that much anyways, I think it is around $100, which is about how much commercial tags cost for 1 year in my state. The way I see it, as long as I get 1 or less tickets per year I am saving money, and I haven't gotten any tickets anyways.

My trucks are commercially insured so I'm not opening myself up to any liability, just the possibility of a ticket.

IMO, either way I think it depends on the cop. You might be able to fight the ticket anyways.
if you use your truck to make any money you are supossed to have commercial tags on it,even if it is part time and not signage. the fine is alot more than $100, plus your truck will be impounded until you make it legal. My wifes uncle is a cop and i was talking to him about this a few weeks ago, he told me that most times you will not get stopped for this but if you are either pulled over for something else or is there were to be an accident then they would be required to cite you for improper registration, also if you get cited for that in an accident your insurance can refuse to cover though one of their many loopholes. This is for Ohio at least.

[jeffmoore]

I live in TN and was wondering if you have magnetic signs on your truck do you have to have commercial tags? A friend of mine told me that he got pulled over because he had signs on his trailer and no commercial tags. In this state you dont normally even have to have tags on the trailer unless you take it out of state. I actually have National Guard tags on the truck and do not have any tags on the trailer. I only put the signs on when I am working. Anyone ever dealt with this?

Yeah here in good ol' Tn. we have to have commercial plates if you use signs on your truck. You will also need trailor tags if you use signs on the truck or trailor. I think it runs about $150 for both but may vary by county. Troopers will get you before local police will and they are a PITA for sure.

[corey4671]

a trailer tag is a one time thing in TN. Tag is good for as long as you own the trailer. And yes, if you are using the truck to make money you need a commercial tag. Like was said above, locals won't really bother you, but the state WILL tear you a new one!! IF they pull you over, you'll WISH you'd just paid the cost of the plates.

[jeffmoore]

a trailer tag is a one time thing in TN. Tag is good for as long as you own the trailer. And yes, if you are using the truck to make money you need a commercial tag. Like was said above, locals won't really bother you, but the state WILL tear you a new one!! IF they pull you over, you'll WISH you'd just paid the cost of the plates.


True on the tailer. Sounds like someone else has had fun with the troopers besides me. :laugh:

[corey4671]

True on the tailer. Sounds like someone else has had fun with the troopers besides me. :laugh:

yeah....six years ago. Didn't see a sign that the speed limit went from 50 to 30. Trooper was sitting behind a garage and chased me down. Had a tail light out, no fire extinguisher and no straps on the mower. Was going to make me drop the trailer right there on the side of the road and go get a tail light. Only thing that saved me was it was drizzling rain and it started thundering and lightning. He let me go. A hole even sat in the car and made me stand out in the rain while he was writing the ticket!! I got the speeding part thrown out. Just know, the troopers WILL pull you over in TN. DON'T give them a reason. Back several years ago, there were some white trooper cars that were dedicated to commercial vehicle enforcement. THOSE guys were nasty. OH...and around here, there's a silver Dodge Charger..unmarked...even has civilian tags on it!! It's a highway patrol so be on the lookout!!

[jeffmoore]

Back several years ago, there were some white trooper cars that were dedicated to commercial vehicle enforcement. THOSE guys were nasty. OH...and around here, there's a silver Dodge Charger..unmarked...even has civilian tags on it!! It's a highway patrol so be on the lookout!!


I remember the white ones all too well they're the ones that got me, I just passed a weigh station and boom there he was. Biggest p rick I ever met. What part of Tn you in? Oak Ridge here.

[Mow Right]

if you use your truck to make any money you are supossed to have commercial tags on it,even if it is part time and not signage. the fine is alot more than $100, plus your truck will be impounded until you make it legal. My wifes uncle is a cop and i was talking to him about this a few weeks ago, he told me that most times you will not get stopped for this but if you are either pulled over for something else or is there were to be an accident then they would be required to cite you for improper registration, also if you get cited for that in an accident your insurance can refuse to cover though one of their many loopholes. This is for Ohio at least.


When I talked to the lady at the BMV she told me that if the vehicle was used for personal use the owner had a part time business you could have personal plates. She could be wrong, that is just what I was told. Since I am full time college student, I could always argue that this is a part time business, I suppose.

Also, I just called my insurance agent, and he said the type of plates you have doesn't have a bearing on whether you are or aren't insured. You can have a commercial vehicle with personal plates and still be insured if it's on a commercial policy.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I figured you guys might want to know what I've found out. I have not read my insurance policy or the laws on license plates, so I don't know for sure. Who knows if the lady at the BMV is right, but I have complete trust in my insurance agent.

[corey4671]

I remember the white ones all too well they're the ones that got me, I just passed a weigh station and boom there he was. Biggest p rick I ever met. What part of Tn you in? Oak Ridge here.

middle tn just south of nashville

[CLARK LAWN]

When I talked to the lady at the BMV she told me that if the vehicle was used for personal use the owner had a part time business you could have personal plates. She could be wrong, that is just what I was told. Since I am full time college student, I could always argue that this is a part time business, I suppose.

Also, I just called my insurance agent, and he said the type of plates you have doesn't have a bearing on whether you are or aren't insured. You can have a commercial vehicle with personal plates and still be insured if it's on a commercial policy.

I'm not trying to start an argument, I figured you guys might want to know what I've found out. I have not read my insurance policy or the laws on license plates, so I don't know for sure. Who knows if the lady at the BMV is right, but I have complete trust in my insurance agent.

i would see if your agent will put that in writing. i know a few biz owners(not LCO) that have had to submit claims on their insurance and the companies always tried to find a way to get out of paying. A few years ago i was rearended by a contractor that had commercial insurance and personal plates, insurance deined the claim due tot he fact that the plates were illegal and i ended up having to sue the owner personally to get compensated for the damage to the car.

[CHAN]

The best way to be sure is to check with the state DOT in your state. Most states use the guidelines of the federal DOT. Most people don't know the laws and don't care to know the laws. I went to a siminar here in Ala. last January and one of the speakers was a state trooper and he was telling the laws for the state of Ala. and they were all federal laws. Most LCO's don't know they have to have a DOT number or anyone else in business car or truck. He stated that all troopers would be trained on the federal laws and would start inforesing them this year. Trucks and trailers have to have commercial tags and when you sign the tag receipt you are saying that you know that this is the right tag. He went on to talk about the inspections, record keeping, log book and crossing the state line in to another state. So for what it is worth the best thing is to read the state DOT manual so that you know and not take someones word that don't have any idea what the laws are. It does not matter if you have signs or not.
Just my two cents
Later

[Mow Right]

i would see if your agent will put that in writing. i know a few biz owners(not LCO) that have had to submit claims on their insurance and the companies always tried to find a way to get out of paying. A few years ago i was rearended by a contractor that had commercial insurance and personal plates, insurance deined the claim due tot he fact that the plates were illegal and i ended up having to sue the owner personally to get compensated for the damage to the car.

Tomorrow I will give the insurance company themselves (not the underwriter) a call and see what they have to say. I appreciate your input.

[CLARK LAWN]

Tomorrow I will give the insurance company themselves (not the underwriter) a call and see what they have to say. I appreciate your input.

why go through all the BS just get the plates and do it right

[dougaustreim]

Here. anytime you have a payload of over 500 lbs for commercial purposes, you have to have commercial tags period. No exceptions other than farm products.

[TXNSLighting]

No commercial tags required here i guess. Ive never had commercial tags and all my vehicles have had permanent lettering on them. Goofy differences between states.

[corey4671]

good ol TN. No state income tax so we find every way in the world to gouge you to death for a dime!

[corey4671]

good ol TN. No state income tax so we find every way in the world to gouge you to death for a dime!

and GOTTA love the 9% sales tax we pay on food!

[CHAN]

Here are a few web pages I found at the tn st web site.http://state.tn.us/revenue/forms/motorcarrier/trailerinspectionrequirements.pdf

http://www.state.tn.us/safety/forms/homemadetrailerapplication.pdf

This for the ones in Tenn.