GVW – Gross Vehicle Weight

GVW Plate - Gross Vehicle Weight C.R.S 42-3-306(5)

Issued to: Trucks

May be Personalized: Yes

Number of Plates Allowed: Unlimited

Weight Limit: 16,001 lbs. and over; or Vehicles with an empty weight between 10,001 lbs. and 16,000 lbs., that operate in conjunction with a trailer and have a COMBINED EMPTY VEHICLE WEIGHT of 16,001 lbs. or more (empty weight of the truck plus the empty weight of the trailer).

Special Plate Fees: For personalized, a one-time additional fee and annual fee

HVUT: Yes

Requirements: Equipped with a body designed to carry and transport property over the highways.

Misc. Info: Front/rear plate required C.R.S 42-3-202.

Month and year tabs must be affixed to rear plate.

No other plate may be attached to the vehicle C.R.S 42-3-114.

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) Information

Private Versus Common/Contract:

• Private (Not for Hire): Vehicles used for individual or company use only. These vehicles only haul their own equipment or product.

  • • Example: Every year at Christmas, Santa uses his sleigh, which he owns, to deliver toys manufactured by several elves employed by him. These toys are manufactured in Santa’s privately-owned workshop and delivered in his privately-owned sleigh.

• Common/Contract (For Hire): Vehicles used 51% or more during a 12 month period for hire. The Vehicle Owner is “Paid” to haul a product that is not owned by the Vehicle Owner.

• Example: Ma and Pa Kettle own their own Kenworth Truck, yet every day they head for Fanny’s Fruit Farm to pick up lemons and oranges to be delivered to the local City Market. After they have made their delivery for Fanny they head over to Just Right for Gardens Manure and take their product to other local vegetable farmers. They do this because they have a contract with these companies to make their deliveries for them.

Miles Traveled C.R.S 42-3-306(5)(III)(A)

“Mileage History” is the number of miles operated by a vehicle during the continuous twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the registration of the vehicle.

Vehicles that do not have a continuous 12-month Mileage History should be placed in the Over 10,000 Mile Fee Category for the first year.

Exceptions: C.R.S 42-3-306(5)(III)(C)(D)(E)

These Exceptions pertain to companies and/or individuals whose GVW truck(s) qualify for the Mileage Fee Category for vehicles traveling less

than 10,000 miles per year:

• When a currently registered vehicle is being replaced. The mileage history for the vehicle being replaced may be applied to the new vehicle.

• When an established business with GVW truck(s) is being sold and the new owner will be operating the business and vehicles in the same manner as the previous owner. The previous owner’s mileage may be used.

• When a company or individual purchases an additional GVW truck and all other GVW trucks qualify under the 10,000 Mile Fee Category.

Pre-Renewal Requirements:

60 to 90 days before the registration expiration, pre-renewal notices will be mailed to the customers. The notices list the gross vehicle weight (GVW) and the total miles established for the previous year’s registration information and fee calculation. Space is provided for the registered owner to make any modifications to the previously established GVW, mileage and the method of operation declared as private or common/contract.

Upon receipt of the pre-renewal modifications, the county will enter the changes onto the customer’s record. Renewal fees will be calculated on the updated information. When the pre-renewal notice is not returned to the county, renewal fees will be based on the previous year’s information.

Rule 4. Gross Vehicle Weight Registration

Pre-Renewal Notice

MT CRESTED BUTTE WATER & SANITATION DIST

PO DRAWER E

MT CRESTED BT CO 81225

RETURN TO:

GUNNISON COUNTY MOTOR VEHICLE

200 EAST VIRGINIA AVE

GUNNISON CO 81230

GVW PRE-RENEWAL LETTER

THE RETURN OF THIS PRE-RENEWAL LETTER IS REQUIRED AS A RESULT OF NEW LEGISLATION WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT JANUARY 1,

1996. CALCULATION OF YOUR REGISTRATION RENEWAL FEES FOR THE VEHICLE(S) DESCRIBED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS LETTER WILL

BE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT (GVW), TOTAL MILES TRAVELED DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTH

REGISTRATION CYCLE, AND, WHETHER THE VEHICLE OPERATION IS FOR PRIVATE USE OR AS A COMMON/ CONTRACT CARRIER. A PRIVATE CARRIER WILL QUALIFY AS A COMMON/CONTRACT CARRIER WHEN 51% OR MORE OF THE MILES TRAVELED BY A SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS ON A ‘FOR HIRE’ BASIS. BASIS FOR TAXATION IS A FOLLOWS:

1. TRUCKS WITH AN EMPTY WEIGHT OF 16,001 POUNDS, AND UP, MUST DECLARE THEIR GVW (EMPTY WEIGHT OF TRUCK + HEAVIEST LOAD THAT CAN BE HAULED), AND THE TOTAL MILES TRAVELED DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTH REGISTRATION CYCLE.

2. TRUCKS WITH AN EMPTY WEIGHT BETWEEN 10,000 AND 16,000 POUNDS THAT TRAVEL IN CONJUNCTION WITH A TRAILER MUST DECLARE THEIR GVW (EMPTY WEIGHT OF TRUCK + EMPTY WEIGHT OF TRAILER + HEAVIEST LOAD THAT CAN BE HAULED BY THE COMBINATION), AND THE TOTAL MILES TRAVELED DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTH REGISTRATION CYCLE.

3. ALL TRACTORS MUST DECLARE THEIR GVW (EMPTY WEIGHT OF TRACTOR + EMPTY WEIGHT OF TRAILER + HEAVIEST LOAD THAT CAN BE HAULED BY THE COMBINATION), AND THE TOTAL MILES TRAVELED DURING THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTH REGISTRATION CYCLE.

4. DECLARATION OF VEHICLE USE (PRIVATE – NOT BEING USED AS A COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS/FOR HIRE) OR COMMON/CONTRACT CARRIER. PRIVATE CARRIERS WILL QUALIFY AS COMMON/CONTRACT CARRIERS WHEN 51% OR MORE OF THE MILES TRAVELED BY A SPECIFIC VEHICLE IS ON A ‘FOR HIRE’ BASIS.

THIS INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY YOUR COUNTY MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICE NO LATER THAN OCT 15, 2009. THIS INFORMATION MUST BE RETURNED TO YOUR COUNTY MOTOR VEHICLE OFFICE BEFORE RENEWAL FEES CAN BE CALCULATED. A RENEWAL NOTICE WILL NOT BE MAILED UNLESS THIS FORM IS RETURNED.

SIGNATURE ........................................................................................

DATE ................................................................................................

*NOTE: CWT AND GVW FIGURES ARE IN HUNDRED WEIGHT EX: 200 CWT IS 20,000 LBS.

Ports of Entry and Fines

Ports of Entry have stated that a registration violation will not be issued to an individual that declares a GVW weight in the same range that is listed on the GVW fee chart.

• EXAMPLE: Customer declares GVW of 34,000 lbs. for Registration. GVW Fee chart shows range as 30,001 - 36,000 lbs. At the Port of Entry Vehicle weighs 35,000 lbs.

The 35,000 lbs. weight shown at Port of Entry falls in the range of 30,001 to 36,000 lbs., and does not exceed the top weight of 36,000 lbs. Therefore, a violation for improper registration will not be issued.

If the vehicle weighs 37,000 lbs. at the Port of Entry, a fine may be imposed.

• When a customer knows the vehicle exceeds the weight limit range, a 72-hour trip permit may be purchased at a Port of Entry or through the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). The trip permit will allow the vehicle to have a heavier load than the GVW shown on the registration and should only be used once or twice a year. Otherwise the declared GVW must be changed on the registration.

• Purchases through Ports of Entry may be accomplished by contacting the first port office prior to beginning the trip.

• Purchases through Colorado State Patrol (CSP) must be accomplished before the trip begins.

• The cost of a trip permit is based on the combined weight of the vehicle and load.

• When a vehicle is registered at one GVW weight and begins to run consistently at a higher GVW weight range, re-registration at the proper GVW weight will need to take place. The county may apply credit from any unused months left on the current registration, re-register the vehicle and collect the applicable fees.

Modified GVW Trucks

Units that are designed to be used as trucks but can also be converted to a tractor unit (removal of the truck bed and then used to pull a trailer) should be registered as a GVW Truck. The declared GVW must include the following:

• Empty weight of the truck (power unit + truck bed).

• Plus, the empty weight of the trailer being pulled.

• Plus, the heaviest load that will be hauled.

  • • EXAMPLE: Truck load is 20,000 lbs. and the trailer load are 30,000 lbs. The heaviest load to be hauled (30,000 pounds) should be added to the empty weight of the truck and trailer to equal the declared GVW.

• The placement of the truck plates on the tractor unit should be as follows:

  • • Remove the front plate (no stickers attached) and retain inside the power unit.

    • Remove the rear plate (stickers attached) and display on the front of the power unit.

Legal Versus Registered Weights

When the GVW exceeds the maximum weight limitations allowed by Colorado statute, C.R.S 42-4-508(c), the vehicle should be registered with the legal weight. Legal Colorado weight limitations are as follows:

single unit/3 or more axles GVW 54,000 max.

TRACTOR/TRAILER combination unit GVW 80,000 max.

An Oversize/Overweight permit will need to be purchased for vehicles exceeding the maximum weight allowed by Colorado statute. (See Oversized Permits)

Mileage Refunds Specific to GVW

Refunds will be granted when a vehicle was registered in the Private Carrier (10,000 or more miles traveled), or Common Contract Carrier (10,000 or more miles traveled) Fee Categories and at the time of renewal, have a twelve (12) month Mileage History showing the miles traveled were less than 10,000 miles.

All refund requests must be processed by the Department. The following documentation will be required to process a refund:

• DR 0137 Claim for Refund form (can be obtained in the Tax Forms section at www.colorado.gov/revenue).

• A copy of the vehicle registration.

• Proof of miles traveled for the 12-month period.

When all the submitted documents have been thoroughly reviewed for compliance and support the mileage traveled is less than 10,000 miles for the 12-month period, a refund for the difference in the fees will be processed.

TVW Tractor-Gross Vehicle Weight C.R. S 42-1-102(109)

TVW Tractor Information

All truck-tractors are designed and primarily used to pull a trailer or semi-trailer and its cargo over the public highways. An unladen truck tractor means any motor vehicle not carrying cargo that is generally and commonly designed and used to pull a semi- trailer or trailer and cargo load over the public highways.

Pre-Renewal Requirements

60 to 90 days before the registration expiration, a pre-renewal notice will be mailed to the owner. The notice will list the gross vehicle weight (GVW) and the total miles established for the previous year’s registration information and fee calculation. Space will be provided for the registered owner to make any modifications to the established GVW, mileage and declaration of method of operation (private or common/contract).

Modifications to the GVW, mileage, or method of operation returned to the county will be entered onto the specific vehicle record. Renewal fees will be calculated on the updated information. When the pre-renewal notice is not returned to the county, renewal fees will be based on the previous year’s information.