I have a pop up tent trailer that is longer than 16 feet. Currently it is registered and titled as a trailer coach and I have to pay yearly registration fees of $132. Is there some mistake with dmv, I see a lot of people with longer popup that are registered with PTI tags and that's significantly cheaper fees. Section 242 states that any tent trailer is a camp trailer and camp trailer is Not a trailer coach. Anyone fight this with california dmv?
California dmv registration question
- Thread starter nicktr23
- Start date
Well, I'd say go to the DMV and see if you can get it reclassified. But being California, they may charge you per question. Got to pay for that NO-Speed Rail somehow. ![[LOL]](/smileys/smile_lol.gif "Laugh Out Loud [LOL]")
Dingit
Super Active Member
- Mar 8, 2017
- 2,214
You should be able to get PTI stickers.
The DMV isn't so bad these days with appointments.
If you have AAA, try them first. They used to be useful for some of this stuff if you got the right person. It's been years since I've used them for this though. Maybe they don't anymore.
The DMV isn't so bad these days with appointments.
If you have AAA, try them first. They used to be useful for some of this stuff if you got the right person. It's been years since I've used them for this though. Maybe they don't anymore.
Sue Porter
New Member
- Nov 21, 2021
- 8
I am also paying full registration fees but I have a tiny a-frame popup. From what I see on https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/handb...anent-trailer-identification-pti/definitions/, it seems we are both overpaying. I'm going to schedule an appointment with DMV to check. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
McFlyfi
Super Active Member
In my experience, it's going to be up to the individual DMV employee you come in contact with. I asked about mine (Niagara, 14ft box, well over 16ft long) and she said something about how it was originally titled.
we were told by a dealer that if its over 16 ft - NO PT plates.
I just hope it was more clear / or consistent. I see a lot of people with similar trailer that have PTI plates and I just bought this trailer in April 2022, paid 600+ for registration catchup, now, registration is due again in August.
I'll make an attempt to see if "Any tent trailer is a camp trailer" line will work at the DMV.So they didn't fix it? Seems to me that someone didn't title it correctly from the start. Otherwise they should NOT have added NOTE A tent trailer is a camp trailer. A camp trailer is not a trailer coach. Without that line, it's pretty clear, anything 16 ft and more will NOT be camp trailer.
Let me know how it goes.
McFlyfi
Super Active Member
From the CA DMV site for definitions for the PTI program:
"Camp Trailer (CVC §242)—A vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed to be towed on the highway, capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes, that does not exceed 16 feet in overall length from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body and 96 inches in width. Where a trailer telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended.
Note- A tent trailer is a camp trailer. A camp trailer is not a trailer coach."
(The bolding above is from the DMV website- not added by me)
Also note that for trailer that "telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended."
I read this to mean that if you tent trailer is longer than 16 feet from tongue to bumper OR when fully extended, is NOT eligible for the PTI plates. My Niagara wouldn't qualify based on closed length, and nowhere near on extended length.
This why I say that it's probably up to the individual employee and their knowledge (or lack thereof) of the regulations. I could see someone bamboozling an inexperienced employee by showing them selected parts of the above, and leaving out the part that says the length shall apply as fully extended.
OP's trailer is admittedly longer than 16 feet, and by the definition above from the DMV website, is ineligible for a PTI plate based on that alone. Over 16ft = no PTI
California is NOT going to let you easily weasel out of tax money it thinks is due it.
"Camp Trailer (CVC §242)—A vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed to be towed on the highway, capable of human habitation for camping or recreational purposes, that does not exceed 16 feet in overall length from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer body and 96 inches in width. Where a trailer telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended.
Note- A tent trailer is a camp trailer. A camp trailer is not a trailer coach."
(The bolding above is from the DMV website- not added by me)
Also note that for trailer that "telescopes for travel, the size shall apply to the trailer as fully extended."
I read this to mean that if you tent trailer is longer than 16 feet from tongue to bumper OR when fully extended, is NOT eligible for the PTI plates. My Niagara wouldn't qualify based on closed length, and nowhere near on extended length.
This why I say that it's probably up to the individual employee and their knowledge (or lack thereof) of the regulations. I could see someone bamboozling an inexperienced employee by showing them selected parts of the above, and leaving out the part that says the length shall apply as fully extended.
OP's trailer is admittedly longer than 16 feet, and by the definition above from the DMV website, is ineligible for a PTI plate based on that alone. Over 16ft = no PTI
California is NOT going to let you easily weasel out of tax money it thinks is due it.
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Adam H
Active Member
LOL, my Avalon is PTI. They never asked the length and I never told them. If they did ask, I would have told them 15 feet.
Bowman3d
Super Active Member
I would argue that my trailer condenses to travel. Probably won't get you anywhere but worth a try. Mine must to registered right because it only costs me $15 every 5 yrs
I'm happy to report that I finally got my PTI tags. I think it's a matter of which dmv supervisor you get because a body type change involve a vin verification. The DMV supervisor agreed that the camper i have is a camp trailer without need to measure the camper since i pointed out the NOTE section. My situation was further complicated because not all VIN letter was readable so I was referred to CHP for verification and a new VIN plate. CHP verification was an hour long process and the officer was fixated on the BOLD description of camp trailer cannot be over 16ft long 8ft wide. So two different people with two different interpretation. Everything would have went smoothly if I didn't have the vin problem. In the end, I was able to convince the dmv supervisor that the pop up is not a coach.
