Vehicle registration exemptions - Oregon

Vehicles exempted from the requirements to be registered by Oregon are not prohibited from being registered if registration is permitted under ORS 803.310. The following vehicles are fully or partially exempted as described:

• Road rollers, farm tractors, trolleys and traction engines are exempt from registration.
• A vehicle is exempt from registration if it has registration issued for the vehicle by the Armed Forces of the United States where the registration is issued in a foreign country to a vehicle owned by a member of the Armed Forces. The exemption granted by this subsection applies only for a period of 45 days from the time the vehicle is returned to the United States.
• A vehicle is exempt from registration if it is not operated on the highways of this state.
• A trailer is exempt from registration if it is equipped with pneumatic tires made of elastic material and is not operated in Oregon with a loaded weight of more than 1,800 pounds. A trailer for hire, travel trailer or camper is not included in this exemption.
• Vehicles owned and operated by the United States Government are exempt from registration.
• Implements of husbandry, well drilling machinery, emergency fire apparatus providing public fire protection and wheelchairs are exempt from registration.
• Road graders, farm tractors and farm trailers on highways are exempt from registration when the vehicle on the highway is incidental to its use in an agricultural operation.
• Except for road machinery that is operated at the direction of a road authority, fixed load vehicles are exempt from registration while the vehicles are operated:
  • In the construction or reconstruction of state or county roads, highways or city streets; and
  • Within the immediate construction projects, as described in the governmental agency contract under which the work is being performed.
• Motor vehicles designed to operate at a loaded weight over 8,000 pounds, trailers, and equipment are exempt from registration while being used for forest protection and fire suppression under ORS chapter 477 or a similar federal statute. This exemption applies to the vehicles or equipment described while being moved to or from the work area. The exemption only applies to vehicles or equipment owned, leased, contracted for or requisitioned by the State Forester or State Board of Forestry, a contractor of the State Forester or State Board of Forestry under ORS chapter 477 or the United States Government.
• Vehicles being used for the purposes of forest protection and fire suppression are exempt if the vehicles are necessary to comply with ORS 477.615, 477.650, or a similar federal statute. The exemption also applies to the vehicles described being moved to or from the work area.
• Vehicles registered and titled in any other country, state or territory are not required to be registered in Oregon. All of the following apply:
  • This exemption only applies if the vehicle owner satisfactorily shows that he or she is not a resident of Oregon or has been one for less than 30 days. A person is a resident of Oregon if the person meets the residency requirements described in ORS 803.200.
  • The exemption applies to vehicles granted exemptions under ORS 802.500 (reciprocal agreements), 802.520 (privileges or registration exemptions granted) or 826.005 (commercial vehicles).
  • A vehicle operated over the highways of Oregon for compensation or profit must comply with the registration requirements under ORS 803.300 in the same manner as vehicles owned by persons in Oregon. The following vehicles are not subject to this paragraph:
    • Vehicles operated under reciprocal registration exemptions established under ORS 802.500 or 826.005.
    • Vehicles operated under an exemption established under ORS 802.520.
    • Vehicles that are proportionally registered under an agreement established under ORS 826.007 and according to the procedures established under ORS 826.009 and 826.011.
    • Any vehicle if duly registered and titled under the laws of the state or country of which the owner is a bona fide resident to the extent that in the foreign country, state, territory or federal district where the owner resides like exemptions and privileges are granted vehicles duly registered and titled under the laws of Oregon and owned by residents of Oregon.
  • If no exemption from registration requirements is in effect under ORS 802.500, 802.520, 826.005 or 826.007 with respect to another jurisdiction, any vehicle properly registered and titled in such other jurisdiction and for which evidence of compliance is supplied shall receive, when operated in Oregon, the same exemptions, benefits and privileges granted by such other jurisdictions to vehicles properly registered and titled in Oregon. Reciprocity extended under this exemption will apply to commercial vehicles only when engaged exclusively in interstate commerce. Any vehicle operated under dealer registration plates issued by another state, country, province, territory or the District of Columbia.
• Vehicles operated or used by vehicle dealers may be operated or used without registration as provided under ORS 822.040.
• Vehicles towed by towing businesses may be towed without registration as provided under ORS 822.210.
• Vehicles without registration may be transported by vehicle transporters as provided under ORS 822.310.
• Vehicles that are not registered may be operated under trip permits described under ORS 803.600 or under permits described under ORS 803.610 to 803.625.
• If trailers that are part of a fleet of trailers for hire are properly registered in Oregon under an agreement entered into pursuant to ORS 802.500, all trailers that are identified as being a part of the same fleet and that are currently registered in any state, territory, province, country or the District of Columbia shall be permitted to operate in Oregon in both interstate and intrastate commerce without being registered in Oregon.
• Vehicles that are registered by the United States Department of State and that are owned or operated by foreign nationals with diplomatic immunity are exempt from registration.
• Tow dollies and converter dollies are exempt from registration.
• Class I, Class III and Class IV all-terrain vehicles are exempt from registration.
• Road machinery operated at the direction of a road authority is exempt from registration. The exemption also applies when the operation of road machinery upon a highway or an alley is incidental to its use in a highway maintenance operation.