My 06 2500 MC is for some reason listed as commercial and was $695, haven't had to smog since I bought in Nov '10. Can you change from commercial to private? Read something about throwing a shell on but want to make sure before asking DMV and getting shell.

 

Yes, and no. In CA, it is possible to change your plates to non-commercial, but you have to have a "camper permanently attached", as well as completing a "Certification of Vehicle for Human Habitation". Your camper must have closets, cabinets, kitchen units or fixtures, and bath or toilet rooms. So, no, a shell won't do it by itself.
Back to morning brew. . .
Oh, and your Smog Check is in the mail.

 

My buddy took his truck to the DMV and they inspected it,he filled out the form and got rid of the commercial plates. He's got Callen shell w/nothing inside? The form does state "permanently attached". It's bolted on!

 

thats a good question. i don't know why it is listed as commercial. must have something to do with GVWR. Let me know what you find out with the DMV

 

ALL pick-ups in Ca are considered commercial vehicles even down to the Dodge Rampage/VW Rabbit "truck"/El Camino/Ranchero stuff.

 

Is smog every year or bi annual?

 

I have done it, change from commercial to passenger/standard plate. Commercial has 1 letter on plate passenger has 3, unless personal. I put a nice Vision shell on. The deal is it is just another way for the state (CA) to tax you. I went from a $636 DMV fee to a $370 fee. The kicker is in the weight fee. For my 06' 2500 is was $270, if I left it commercial which I would have to pay each year. DMV said well you can haul a lot of stuff. I said I don't have a busness, they said it doesn't matter all pick-ups are commercial in CA. You have to bring your pink slip with you because they change it from commercial to passenger on the title. If you finance your truck, call your loan people they will mail the pink in , fill out the form, pay a small fee, (of coarse) and get new plates. Loan people don't care if the title is commercial or passenger. Doesn't change the value of the truck.

 

It's every other year, until they need more money from us!

 

To those that have gone thru it already.... My concern is my BHAF and lack of Resonator/Cat. It internally fell apart and was removed but now I run 99% bio diesel so thats just a wasted part on the exhaust anyhow. How about the ATS exhaust manifold? I will demobilize my tuner so thats not an issue. I know I have no codes. Will they hit me for the air filter? Seems I need to buy a resonator/cat eh? I'd bet pinks that my truck has less emissions than most vehicles out there.

 

If you change your plates to non-commercial you better not get caught with building materials or anything else that could be used in a business in the bed like a lawnmower or tool chest. Remember you are telling the state it is now a "house car" or small motor home of sorts or a heavy duty mini van. I have a shell on mine with comm plates but still go to Home Depot now and then for building stuff around the house and don't want to get busted.

 

From what I've seen around here it all depends on the station, some are very lenient some are not at all. I would suggest you find someone near you that's been through it with a diesel friendly station.

 

I have an 01 Dodge 2500 that I got in San Diego and brought back to Wisconsin. It will blow great gobs of black smoke. Driven nicely it does not, but if given the snap test it would not pass. After reading all these posts I do not know how he got it to pass, must have taken all the goodies off. That would suck!!

Here in WI we don't do Smog tests on gas or diesel. YES!!!

 

Man, I'm glad I don't live in Kali-fornia,,,,,,,, although, whatever your fruits do in the legislature, usually gets driven east

 

Yours didn't come with a cat and the missing resonator won't be an issue.

My 98.5 with DTT threw multiple codes as it was a Cali vehicle. I doubt that it would pass now. I don't know how the new owner will get it to smog.