Vehicle license or registration - Oregon

Weight-mile tax

Oregon has a mileage tax which is assessed against all carriers, private and for-hire, operating both intrastate and interstate, with vehicles having a combined weight over 26,000 pounds. Vehicles with registration weights of less than 26,000 pounds also may be subject to weight-mile tax if the vehicle's combined weight is 26,001 pounds or more. This would include, for example, a vehicle used exclusively to tow manufactured structures, since the manufactured structure is not included in the registration weight, but is part of the combined weight. If the combined weight of the vehicle is 26,001 pounds or more, registration for the weight-mile tax is required. Contact the Motor Carrier Transportation Division if unsure if vehicles(s) are subject to weight-mile tax.

Agency: Oregon Department of Transportation; Driver and Motor Service Division; see Regulatory Agencies for address(es).

Fees

This state registers the power unit based on the combined gross weight of the tractor and trailer(s).

Heavy Trailers: Trailers with a loaded weight in excess of 8,000 pounds are registered permanently at DMV. The loaded weight of these trailers is included in the registration weight of the power unit that pulls the trailer.

In addition to an annual registration fee, the owner of a vehicle used for tow and recovery purposes must submit an annual, per vehicle business certificate fee to DMV.

Registration weight – tow/recovery and manufactured structure toters: Registration weight for these vehicles is the “fully equipped for service” weight, i.e. the empty weight of a vehicle or all vehicles in a combination (for example a truck and any trailers it may pull) plus the total weight of the load carried on that vehicle or combination of vehicles, minus the weight of a camper or the following trailing vehicles: trailers with a loaded weight of 8,000 pounds or less; special use trailers, travel trailers, manufactured structures, and fixed load vehicles; a towed motor vehicle.

The maximum registration weight per single vehicle or combination of vehicles is 105,500 pounds. Maximum registration weight does not authorize operation in excess of legal weights. For operations in excess of 80,000 pounds or legal size or axle weights, a variance permit from the over-dimension permit unit is required. Unlike registration weight, combined weight includes the weight of any camper, trailing vehicles or their loads.

Heavy Motor Vehicles

Separate fees apply for trucks with a registration weight of more than 10,000 pounds, armored cars, hearses, ambulances, and all self-propelled mobile cranes with a registration weight of more than 8,000 pounds. Vehicles that will be used to tow or haul wrecked or disabled vehicles plus other commodities use this fee schedule.

Registration weight – trucks: Registration weight for these vehicles is the total empty weight of a vehicle or all vehicles in a combination (i.e., a truck and any trailers it may pull) plus the total weight of the load carried on that vehicle or combination of vehicles, minus the weight of a camper or the following trailing units: trailers with a loaded weight of 8,000 pounds or less; special use trailers, travel trailers, manufactured structured and fixed load vehicles; a towed motor vehicle.

Registration weight – self-propelled mobile cranes: Overall weight of the vehicle plus the weight of any cables, pulleys, and the boom.

The maximum registration weight per single vehicle or combination of vehicles is 105,500 pounds. Maximum registration weight does not authorize operation in excess of legal weights. For operations in excess of 80,000 pounds or legal size or axle weights, a variance permit from the over-dimension permit Unit is required. Unlike registration weight, combined weight includes the weight of any camper, trailing vehicles or their loads.

All trucks and other motor vehicles with a registration weight of more than 10,000 pounds may be registered for one, two, or three quarters or for a full year. If the vehicle is registered for less than one year, a processing fee is added to the registration fee.

Trailer registration includes one-time fee plus plate fee for a permanent registration (must be titled in Oregon). All trailer registration is handled by Driver and Motor Service Division.