(1) Registration weight is established for the following purposes:

Ask a traffic law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified traffic lawyers.
Parking violations, accidents, DUI/DWI, licensing, registration, and more
Protect your vehicle and your rights with expert legal help now
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(a) The registration weight is the weight used in the declaration of weight under ORS § 803.435 to determine the registration fees under ORS § 803.420 for vehicles required to establish registration weight under this section.

(b) A vehicle that is required to establish registration weight by this section is in violation of ORS § 803.315 if the vehicle is operated on a highway of this state at a weight in excess of the registration weight except when carrying a load:

(A) Under the provisions of ORS § 376.305 to 376.390;

(B) Of over 105,500 pounds combined weight or loaded weight under a variance permit issued under ORS § 818.200;

(C) Under a registration weight trip permit issued under ORS § 803.600; or

(D) Consisting of towed motor vehicles required to be registered under the vehicle code.

(2) Registration weight is established at the time of registration and whenever the vehicle has been altered or reconstructed by furnishing a declaration of weight described under ORS § 803.435 that contains a declaration of the maximum combined weight or loaded weight at which the vehicle will be operated on the highways of this state except when carrying loads described under subsection (1)(b) of this section. The maximum registration weight for any vehicle required to establish a registration weight under this section is 105,500 pounds. Vehicles operating at weights above 105,500 pounds will operate under a variance permit issued under ORS § 818.200.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, the following vehicles are required to establish a registration weight under this section:

(a) Any motor truck that will be operated on the highways at a combined weight or loaded weight of more than 10,000 pounds not including the weight of any camper or trailing vehicle described in subsection (5) of this section, or any trailing manufactured structure.

(b) Any truck tractor that will be operated on the highways at a combined weight of more than 8,000 pounds not including the weight of any camper or trailing vehicle described in subsection (5) of this section, or any trailing manufactured structure.

(c) An armored car, tow vehicle, hearse or ambulance.

(d) Any other motor vehicle that will be operated on the highways at a combined weight or loaded weight of more than 10,000 pounds not including the weight of any camper or trailing vehicle as described in subsection (5) of this section, or any trailing manufactured structure.

(e) A self-propelled mobile crane.

(f) Any motor vehicle registered as a farm vehicle under ORS § 805.300.

(4) A vehicle that is being registered under a specific provision of the vehicle code where fees are not based on weight or where registration weight is specifically not required is not required to establish registration weight under this section.

(5) The weight of a camper or the following trailing vehicles may not be included in the registration weight:

(a) Trailers with a loaded weight of 8,000 pounds or less.

(b) Special use trailers, travel trailers and fixed load vehicles.

(c) Towed motor vehicles.

(6) The weight of a trailing manufactured structure may not be included in the registration weight. [1983 c.338 § 230; 1985 c.16 § 87; 1985 c.71 § 3; 1985 c.172 § 6; 1989 c.723 § 9; 1991 c.284 § 18; 1993 c.751 § 24; 2003 c.655 § 113; 2005 c.654 § 17; 2005 c.770 § 2; 2007 c.50 § 2]