Problems renewing plates in Texas

[sdfarmer]

I need some assistance. I recently got my renewal for plates on my 5th wheel. Went up to the local state inspection station, paid the $7.00 for the guy to fill out the form on the computer and not look at the camper. Took the renewal and inspection form to the county license bureau. They said the camper was coded as a commercial trailer, therefore had to charge me $22.00 more than the amount on the renewal. Went back to the inspection station. Was told they had no control over what the state computer coded the trailer. Back to the license bureau. They can't do anything because the inspection is coded as commercial. Has anyone ever run into this crazy government problem in Texas. Can't believe I'm the first to run into this. There is a problem, but nobody will own up to fixing it.

[18CrewDually]

Is the problem that it is titled with the state as COMMERCIAL or that the inspector inspected it as a commercial trailer?
It sounds like the state has it on file as COMMERCIAL so the inspector inspected it that way. If that's the case then the state has to correct the issue.

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by sdfarmer

Went back to the inspection station. Was told they had no control over what the state computer coded the trailer.

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Is the problem that it is titled with the state as COMMERCIAL or that the inspector inspected it as a commercial trailer?

Had this exact same thing happen to me last year (or maybe the year before). It's the guy at the inspection place not knowing what he's doing. It wasn't worth the little extra money for me to argue it...I know what to watch for now though.

[HangDiver]

Had the same thing happen on a previous camper. The only difference was the mistake made on the Colorado title saved me money.

[johntaylor]

Originally Posted by sdfarmer

Went up to the local state inspection station, paid the $7.00 for the guy to fill out the form on the computer and not look at the camper.

Why did he not look at the camper? He was supposed to inspect it.

When I registered my trailer in Texas last year, the clerk at the tax office wanted an inspection certificate. She did not know that trailers under 7,000 GVWR do not require inspection.

[mdstudey]

Uggg, don't tell me about Texas registration. I just did a title transfer for my dad's 3/4 ton to me and it took over 3 hours. I am sure there is some way for the person to check and verify that it is a RV on the computer screen if you have registered it in Texas before, even better if you have the old registration or title to take along. I had never applied Good Enough for Government before to humans, but I have now.

[DouglasReid]

Well, we recently purchased a pickup from a Private Party in Texas.

Through a dealer it would have been a 1/2 hour transaction. Because it was a private party and my bank, USAA is in San Antonio while we were in Bryan, it took 4 days, yes 4 days, for the paperwork to be sent back and forth, notarized each time and FINALLY complete the transaction!

I will NEVER do that again in TX!

[W5CI]

I am glad I live in Arkansas, we have no Inspections and Trailer tags are lifetime.

[banda]

I just looked at the registration fees for last year and this year on my travel trailer. Last year the county did not charge me anything for inspection fees. This year they are wanting $22.

According to the DPS website it should be $7.50 per year. Weird!

https://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/VI/CostOfInsp.htm

[banda]

I just looked back at all my inspection reports and sometime between 2014 and 2016 my registration fee code changed from trailer to commercial. Not sure why or how that happened. I did have to replace my license plate during that time due to age. Did you have to do that by chance?

[Roberte52]

Originally Posted by johntaylor

Why did he not look at the camper? He was supposed to inspect it.

When I registered my trailer in Texas last year, the clerk at the tax office wanted an inspection certificate. She did not know that trailers under 7,000 GVWR do not require inspection.

Senate Bill 1001
Effective Sept. 1, 2017
SB 1001 changes the actual gross weight or registered gross weight for a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home from 4,500 pounds or less to 7,500 pounds or less to be exempt from vehicle inspection.

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by banda

I just looked back at all my inspection reports and sometime between 2014 and 2016 my registration fee code changed from trailer to commercial. Not sure why or how that happened. I did have to replace my license plate during that time due to age. Did you have to do that by chance?

This is why you have the $22.00 inspection fee. It is only $7.50 for non-commercial. I want to know what is up with it being changed on people. I think now after seeing this happening to a couple of people I think I would fight it.

[raspivey]

Originally Posted by Roberte52

Senate Bill 1001
Effective Sept. 1, 2017
SB 1001 changes the actual gross weight or registered gross weight for a trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer, or mobile home from 4,500 pounds or less to 7,500 pounds or less to be exempt from vehicle inspection.

Dammit. I'm still about 600 lbs too heavy, lol.

[quicky06]

Who is in charge of the inspection stations? In Missouri they are under the perview of the state police. Call them and tell them that your car is being inspected as a commercial vehicle, and it was not actually inspected and ask who You need to go to in order to fix the classification.

[vmax]

Originally Posted by banda

I just looked back at all my inspection reports and sometime between 2014 and 2016 my registration fee code changed from trailer to commercial. Not sure why or how that happened. I did have to replace my license plate during that time due to age. Did you have to do that by chance?

Texas law just changed anything TT >6600lbs needs state inspection every year. Not sure about commercial category.

[kho6658]

Originally Posted by vmax

Texas law just changed anything TT >6600lbs needs state inspection every year. Not sure about commercial category.

This is the first year that I have not had to get my TT inspected. I was surprised when I received my renewal but it said Inspection Not Required. It has my Gross Weight listed as 7500. I paid the registration fee and all other included taxes and add-ons and was done. Whatever the change in the law works for me.

[Houston Remodeler]

When we registered our new 6800 pound TT, they told us it had to be inspected because the capacity was over 7500 pounds loaded (as stated on the paperwork from the dealer)

Cheap to do, but still a PITA.

[vmax]

Originally Posted by kho6658

This is the first year that I have not had to get my TT inspected. I was surprised when I received my renewal but it said Inspection Not Required. It has my Gross Weight listed as 7500. I paid the registration fee and all other included taxes and add-ons and was done. Whatever the change in the law works for me.

You're right. Its 7500. Hence, my tt was 7700. It had to be inspected. Oh, well. My new trailer on order the 3006v is above that too. I dont mind. I think its a good law.

[Lvn2tvl]

I'm wondering now if this is why I haven't gotten my renewal tabs yet.? Now I've got to check my purchase agreement. Since I am 2X north of 6500 I may be doing some scrambling. Was going to remove the plate this weekend and get the renewal done but maybe not. I hope it's not going to be the MN nightmare for tab renewal that is currently going on. I won't be surprised if they change my title/registration to commercial like the OP is experiencing.

Ironically lowest bidder for a newer/better computerized license system has made anything title or registration related a total nightmare to accomplish. Apparently it's taking months to accomplish title transfers and tab renewals are currently in the same situation.

Guess I'm going to have to find out this week! Can't get it out of the back yard yet so not an issue yet but snow is gonna melt soon.

[vmax]

Atheism is so senseless-

Isaac Newton