Hard time with the CA DMV- how to reg as non commercial

Anyone registered/renewed your truck as non-commercial after installing a camper shell/hard Tanneau cover? What is the process? My renewal is due this month and DMV states no service of that sort exists. I will call back in again in hopes of talking to someone that knows more but it's what I heard this afternoon(on phone).
My Ford F 350 is registered as non commercial as it had a hard tonneau cover(since beginning). So, I know Taco "can" be registered as non commercial (exempt of weight fee every year).
Let me know if you know what form to fill out and the process to get this done(inspection??).

 

@DannyBFresco

My DMV first needed the bed covered permanently. I have a shell, figured I was halfway there and stopped in. Then the inspector told me I needed to basically turn it into an RV and have both running water and a sink, maybe a toilet (I don't remember). I asked him the pertinent "are you fucking kidding me?" questions and got nowhere but irritated so I left.

Not worth it for me. I don't want the hassle, and I'd rather park in loading zones when need be than save $80 a year.

 

FYI you only save 40 bucks a year by doing this. $80 for commercial vehicle of our weight vs $40 for a passenger vehicle

Its not worth it.


And the parking in loading zone thing, is it during specific times for specific duration or what?

 

I've actually done this. DMV personnel at the counter didn't really know about this. They had to ask a supervisor. You would need the form #343 application of title and form #256A. The DMV will then inspect your vehicle. The inspector guys are usually lenient and will sign off on the camper shell regardless of how it's attached (clamps, etc). My registration dropped $80, so you do save $80 and not $40 as stated above.

 

Within posted limits.

Mine are usually 15 minute commercial loading zones. Some are longer. Using my truck for work, that's handy and has some value.

 

Unless things have changed, if you convert to a "camper" non commercial, they change your vehicle year to the current year (year it was converted) and there are also severe limits to what you can carry in the back of the truck...looked into this when I had a van converted to a camper and you got screwed doing it so I didn't change it.

 

yes, its 100% illegal if your truck has been converted via a camper shell to run without it or haul stuff in the back that extends outside of the bed.

 

Crazy. Just plain crazy. I have nothing else to add other than my shell didn't change crap as they don't even look at the vehicle for registration here.

 

But 75*f +- 5* and sunny 350 days out of the year..... yeah socal / ventura county life its well worth it.

 

Bikinis.

 

8.75% in my area, but probably for not too much longer.

 

I'm sure I'll see the day. Every tax change makes work stressful and hectic, so hopefully the next increase is during a slow month.

 

Also metric tax rates are communist.

 

This. No way I could live in Kommunist California.

 

definitely have managed to ride the street motorcycle to the local snow ski mtn, snow skied while looking out at the ocean and Catalina island, then rode home, then threw the surfboard in the truck and went surfing all in one day.

#socallife

 

It's official. I have been to DMV multiple times(inspection done etc). ALL PICKUP trucks are now considered commercial in State of California unless you have a camper(not camper shell) with running water(in other words, a living habitat) etc. Apparently this is the new norm...there goes $80 every year for nothing. First is the great wall of SMOG-nonsense and now this... skim money one way or the other.

 

Told you on the last page.

You can have a shell, as long as it has a sink and toilet.

 

what kind of sink or toilet can you actually mount in a camper shell that is 36-40 inch tall inside?

 

Is there a requirement that it has to be useful?

 

That is crazy that they consider ALL pickups commercial vehicles. Who makes these laws in CA and where do they get their info from?? In NY the truck has to be over a certain weight and I think this is crazy as well because most diesels are considered commercial. A lot of guys drive diesels as their personal DD's. It bothers me why any state government cares what a resident drive on a daily basis just as long as it is legally registered and insured for what it is used for.