....So I spoke the the Indiana BMV Yesterday and Today....

[brasco]

I don't have a CDL yet and I am looking to buy a M923A2. I don't think any of these trucks are 25 years old yet so I don't think I can get Historic plates on the truck. I spoke to a lady yesterday at the BMV and she told me that I had to either get historic plates or regular truck plates. She also said that I did not need a CDL if registered as a historic vehicle but I would need a CDL if registered as a truck.

I spoke to another lady today and inquired about the need for a medical if I wanted a CDL....I was told that I needed a CDL medical even if I did not plan on commercial operation of the vehicle. Does this make sense? I have read on SS that I don't need a medical. I also asked her if I could get truck plates for 23K pounds but she could not answer that for me.... does anyone have experience with this?

I guess I'll just get a CDL and pay truck registration but I would rather not spend the money if I don't need to. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,

Don

 

[05blackduramax]

You dont need a CDl and you can register as historic I have done it with three trucks now in Indiana.Cost about $50.00 for plates.

 

[gungearz]

Don, I am a CDL holder in our state. Although, as long as it's a personal vehicle and you are not using it in any commercial manner... you do not need a CDL. if the truck you decide to get is younger than 25 years... you can get the truck plate for the weight class. as most states, our green iron don't have a classification in their system and the arguments will go on forever. It is rumored that we can get a lifetime registration on our trucks by using the original military markings on the truck as a registration I.D.... the dumbest thing happened to me when I registered my truck... I bought mine out of state, so I had to bring it to the DMV to show them and since the vin was inside the truck, they had to call a state sheriff out to confirm the vin on the title to the vin on the truck... I waited for them to do their thing and when she asked the officer for the type and plate I needed, he said "well, it's a two and a half ton truck. do the math"... she was like... that's 5000 pounds and he said "he's not using it for commercial use, is he", she replied "no, it's a personal vehicle... at the end, the officer told her to give me 7,000lb pickup truck plates.... I told them it was a 14,000 truck and a 10,000lb on road weight rating... they said since I'm using it for play and camping that I'll never exceed the plates.... I'm not going to fight with the cop, so I kept my mouth shut and accepted... I've never had any issues with the decision they made on my plates, so I guess they were right and I was wrong...

 

[DJones]

I was not able to register my 1984 5 ton as historic because they told me that it was to heavy. The heaviest historic plate in Indiana is 11,000#. When I had my Deuce they allowed that truck, they said it was close enough to 11,000#'s. I personally have a CDL but plated my truck at 26,000# so that other people could drive the truck legally. I was able to insure it as an antique.

 

[brasco]

Dave,

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like even the BMV doesn't even have a consistent response to these questoins. I need stop by my local BMV and see if I can find a knowlegable person to talk too. I looked up the price for 26,000 # plates... ouch... Apparently a CDL is required for anything 26,001 and up?

Don

 

[zout]

You should go to the Indiana BMV web site and check.
You should go to the Indiana web site for Code of Regulations as well.

Just a quick look showed a vehicle 25 yrs and older ONLY.
The separate page for weight was under commercial.

Not stating anything here - but what some folks are doing and what is legal are two different entities by themself. I only know this from a Georgia perspective. We have a thread going on getting BMY HARSCO units titled happening down here.

 

[RodUSMC1962]

My buddie registered his 5 ton as historic in Indiana, it depends what dmv you go to, these people are inept at best.

 

[zout]

Still does not make it legally right if its not right - those govt web sites will be your answer to find what you need.

It is ultimately up to the private individual to know the exact law - did not know is not an excuse in front of a judge.

 

[talskinyguy]

Can you legally drive an airbrakes truck without a CDL with airbrakes endorsement? I thought the answer was always no.

 

[doghead]

Folks, an internet forum is no place to get legal answers.

 

[swbradley1]

Yeah, and good luck with your insurance company when they find out it is registered incorrectly. I just had it happen earlier this week. No insurance now on the Deuce because it was registered as a Jeep and too light.