(a) Eligibility. A motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or moped, designed or used primarily for the transportation of property, including any passenger car that has been reconstructed to be used, and is being used, primarily for delivery purposes, with the exception of a passenger car used in the delivery of the United States mail, must be registered as a commercial vehicle.
(b) Commercial vehicle registration classifications.
  (1) Apportioned license plates. Apportioned license plates are issued in lieu of Combination, Motor Bus, or Truck license plates to Texas carriers who proportionally register their fleets in other states, in conformity with §217.56 of this title (relating to Registration Reciprocity Agreements).
  (2) City bus license plates. A street or suburban bus shall be registered with license plates bearing the legend "City Bus."
  (3) Combination license plates.
    (A) Specifications. A truck or truck-tractor with a gross weight in excess of 10,000 pounds used or to be used in combination with a semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 6,000 pounds, may be registered with combination license plates. Such vehicles must be registered for a gross weight equal to the combined gross weight of all the vehicles in the combination, but not less than 18,000 pounds. Only one combination license plate is required and must be displayed on the front of the truck or truck-tractor. When displaying a combination license plate, a truck or truck-tractor is not restricted to pulling a semitrailer licensed with a Token Trailer license plate and may legally pull semitrailers and full trailers displaying other types of Texas license plates or license plates issued out of state. The following vehicles may not be registered in combination:
      (i) trucks or truck-tractors having a gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds or trucks or truck-tractors to be used exclusively in combination with semitrailers having gross weights not exceeding 6,000 pounds;
      (ii) semitrailers with gross weights of 6,000 pounds or less, or semitrailers that are to be operated exclusively with trucks or truck-tractors having gross weight of less than 10,000 pounds;
      (iii) trucks or truck-tractors used exclusively in combination with semitrailer-type vehicles displaying Machinery, Permit, or Farm Trailer license plates;
      (iv) trucks or truck-tractors used exclusively in combination with travel trailers and manufactured housing;
      (v) trucks or truck-tractors to be registered with Farm Truck or Farm Truck Tractor license plates;
      (vi) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with disaster relief license plates;
      (vii) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with Soil Conservation license plates;
      (viii) trucks or truck-tractors and semitrailers to be registered with U.S. Government license plates or Exempt license plates issued by the State of Texas; and
      (ix) vehicles that are to be issued temporary permits, such as 72-Hour Permits, 144-Hour Permits, One Trip Permits, or 30-Day Permits in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.094 and §502.095.
    (B) Converted semitrailers. Semitrailers that are converted to full trailers by means of auxiliary axle assemblies will retain their semitrailer status, and such semitrailers are subject to the combination and token trailer registration requirements.
    (C) Axle assemblies. Various types of axle assemblies that are specially designed for use in conjunction with other vehicles or combinations of vehicles may be used to increase the load capabilities of such vehicles or combinations.
      (i) Auxiliary axle assemblies such as trailer axle converters, jeep axles, and drag axles, which are used in conjunction with truck-tractor and semitrailer combinations, are not required to be registered; however, the additional weight that is acquired by the use of such axle assemblies must be included in the combined gross weight of the combination.
      (ii) Ready-mixed concrete trucks that have an auxiliary axle assembly installed for the purpose of increasing a load capacity of such vehicles must be registered for a weight that includes the axle assembly.
    (D) Exchange of Combination license plates. Combination license plates shall not be exchanged for another type of registration during the registration year, except that:
      (i) if a major permanent reconstruction change occurs, Combination license plates may be exchanged for Truck license plates, provided that a corrected title is applied for;
      (ii) if the department initially issues Combination license plates in error, the plates will be exchanged for license plates of the proper classification;
      (iii) if the department initially issues Truck or Trailer license plates in error to vehicles that should have been registered in combination, such plates will be exchanged for Combination and Token Trailer license plates; or
      (iv) if a Texas apportioned carrier acquires a combination license power unit, the Combination license plates will be exchanged for Apportioned license plates.
  (4) Cotton Vehicle license plates. The department will issue Cotton Vehicle license plates in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.505 and §217.45 of this title (relating to Specialty License Plates, Symbols, Tabs, and Other Devices).
  (5) Forestry Vehicle license plates. The department will issue Forestry Vehicle license plates in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.507 and §217.45 of this title.
  (6) In Transit license plates. The department may issue an In Transit license plate annually to any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the primary business of transporting and delivering by means of the full mount, saddle mount, tow bar, or any other combination, new vehicles and other vehicles from the manufacturer or any other point of origin to any point of destination within the State. Each new vehicle being transported, delivered, or moved under its own power in accordance with this paragraph must display an In Transit license plate in accordance with Transportation Code, §503.035.
  (7) Motor Bus license plates. A motor bus as well as a taxi and other vehicles that transport passengers for compensation or hire, must display Motor Bus license plates when operated outside the limits of a city or town, or adjacent suburb, in which its company is franchised to do business.
  (8) Token Trailer license plates.
    (A) Qualification. The department will issue Token Trailer license plates for semitrailers that are required to be registered in combination.
    (B) Validity. A Token Trailer license plate is valid only when it is displayed on a semitrailer that is being pulled by a truck or a truck-tractor that has been properly registered with Forestry Vehicle (in accordance with Transportation Code, §504.507), Combination (in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.255), or Apportioned (in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.091) license plates for combined gross weights that include the weight of the semitrailer, unless exempted by Transportation Code, §502.094 and §623.011.
    (C) House-moving dollies. House-moving dollies are to be registered with Token Trailer license plates and titled as semitrailers; however, only one such dolly in a combination is required to be registered and titled. The remaining dolly (or dollies) is permitted to operate unregistered, since by the nature of its construction, it is dependent upon another such vehicle in order to function. The pulling unit must display a Combination or Apportioned license plate.
    (D) Full trailers. The department will not issue a Token Trailer license plate for a full trailer.
  (9) Tow Truck license plates. A Tow Truck license plate must be obtained for all tow trucks operating and registered in this state. The department will not issue a Tow Truck license plate unless the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has issued a permit for the tow truck under Occupations Code, Chapter 2308, Subchapter C.
(c) Application for commercial vehicle registration.
  (1) Application form. An applicant shall apply for commercial license plates through the appropriate county tax assessor-collector upon forms prescribed by the director and shall require, at a minimum, the following information:
    (A) owner name and complete address;
    (B) complete description of vehicle, including empty weight; and
    (C) vehicle identification number or serial number.
  (2) Empty weight determination.
    (A) The weight of a Motor Bus shall be the empty weight plus carrying capacity, in accordance with Transportation Code, §502.055.
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