Step 1: Determine the LICENSE PLATE TYPE.
Step 2: Determine your MGVWR.
Step 3: Determine your FUEL TYPE.

Most license plate types are simple to determine. However, if you are not sure what type of plate a vehicle has, the most foolproof way to determine the plate type is to look on your vehicle registration. There is a code on every registration that identifies what type of plate the vehicle has.

Note: Codes "greyed out" are beyond the scope of this page.

• Weight Class 1-9 :: Automobiles
• Passenger car (any normal car plate, including vanity, etc)
• Commuter van
• Municipal government (MG)*
• County government (CG)*
  
• State government (SG)*
• State Police (SP)*


• Registration Code 11 :: Commercial
  
• Commercial (begins with "X", plate says "Commercial")
• Apportioned (begins with "A", plate says "Apportioned")

• Registration Code 12 :: No Fee*
• public entities that are not part of the government: volunteer rescue squads, hospitals, universities, etc*
• Starts with "NF"
  

• Registration Code 13 :: Taxi
  
• plate says "Taxi" or "Omnibus"
  

• Registration Code 14 :: Limousine
  
• plate says "Limousine"

• Registration Code 17 :: School Bus S1

• School Bus with seating capacity of 17 or more
• plate says "school vehicle"
• starts with "S1"

• Registration Code 18 :: School Bus S2
  
• School Bus with seating capacity of 16 or less
  
• plate says "school vehicle"
• starts with "S2"

• Registration Code 22 :: Private Utility or House Semi Trailer

• Registration Code 24 :: Commercial Motorcycle
  
• plate says "Commercial"
• starts with an "X"

• Registration Code 31 :: Farm Truck

• plate says "Farmer"
• begins with "XY" or "XZ"
• exempt from diesel emissions inspection
  

• Registration Code 39 :: Solid Waste Disposal

• plate says "commercial"
• begins with "• X" [note bullet]
  

• Registration Code 41 :: Constructor
  
• plate says "commercial"
• starts with an "X"

• Registration Code 51 :: Farm Use
  
• farm machinery or implements
• plate says "Farm Use"
• starts with "F"
• exempt from diesel emissions inspection
  

• Registration Code 52 :: Agricultural Tractor
  
• plate says "Tractor"
• starts with "T"

• Registration Code 53 :: Motorcycle
• plate says "motorcycle"

• Registration Code 54 :: Omnibus
  
• plate says "Omnibus"
• starts with "O"

• Registration Code 56 :: Contractor Equipment-In-Transit

• plate says "Contractor Equipment In Transit"
• exempt from diesel emissions inspection

• Registration Code 58 :: Migrant farm Worker

• Registration Code 59 :: In-Transit empty

• Registration Code 61 :: Moped
  

• Registration Code 64 :: Historic Vehicle
• plate says "QQ"
• exempt from safety and emissions inspections
  

• Registration Code 81 :: Pleasure Boat
  

• Registration Code 87 :: Snowmobile (resident)
  

• Registration Code 88 :: Snowmobile (non-resident)
  

• Registration Code 89 :: ATV (resident)
  

• Registration Code 90 :: ATV (non-resident)
  

• Registration Code 99 :: Farm Labor Transport
• plate says "Commercial"
• starts with "X"
• must be inspected at state inspection facilty (SIF)

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Basic Definitions

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» Fuel Type:
The type of fuel your vehicle runs on, being the very same fuel type you pump into the fuel tank (in order to get from point "A" to point "B") when fueling up at the fueling station where you get the type of fuel you put in vehicles that take the type of fuel that your vehicle takes...



» MGVWR:
The manufacturer's GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING. This is the amount of weight the manufacturer BUILT the vehicle to safely carry. You can find it on a "sticker", along with other info, on the driver's door jamb (usually) or somewhere near the driver's head (but not affixed to his/her head).

BUT WAIT! DON'T GET CONFUSED! The MGVWR is not the amount of weight you (may or may not have) registered your vehicle for. (The state could care less if you registered a roller skate for 80,000 lbs or a class 8 tractor for 16 lbs... they'll give you a registration for almost any weight you write on the application form...) So, the law applies based upon the weight rating listed on the vehicle itself... and does not go by what the vehicle is registered for.

» CIF:
"Central Inspection Facility" The "Central" facilities are commonly referred to as "the state lanes", those state-operated inspection stations that we all used to go to and sit in line for hours at a time...


» PIF:
"Private Inspection Facility" The independent garages and repair shops that are licensed to perform state inspections.


» SIF:
"Specialty Inspection Facility" Call the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission for more information.
888-NJ Motor
(888) 656-6867


» In Terminal Unit:
A state-run specialized inspection facility for school buses. Call 609-633-9473 for more information.



» Commercial Bus Unit:
A state-run specialized inspection facility for public buses. Call 609-777-4186 for more information.

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Definitions of Inspection Types

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The inspection process for vehicles is really broken up into two separate functions: Safety & Emissions. For regular car owners, they are seamlessly melded together into one "inspection" so that car owners aren't aware that there is a difference.... but larger vehicles may require only one or the other.

» SAFETY:
The part of the inspection that pertains to safety related issues, like brakes, lights, tires, etc. If you watch an inspection being performed, it includes all those items you see get inspected EXCEPT emissions related items.


» EMISSIONS:
The inspection portion that tests emissions coming out your tailpipe, AND THE THINGS THAT MAY AFFECT THOSE EMISSIONS. So in addition to "sniffing" the exhaust, your vehicle may be checked for proper computer operation (readiness monitors), a properly fitting gas cap, etc...


» SELF-INSPECTION:
A certain group of vehicles are classified as "self-inspect"...and as "getting away with murder" as that sounds, it's not exactly true... A vehicle classified as self-inspect is deemed to be in proper operating condition by the REGISTERED OWNER who is then held liable for any defects in mechanical condition (especially during an accident investigation...). Truth is, many owners don't even REALIZE that they have certified the mechanical condition of the vehicle! So when and where did they do it?!?!

It happened when they signed the registration form...

Holy cow! That's a lot of responsibility! Don't fret! We can keep an eye on your equipment and be your guardian against lapses in mechanical condition. One way we do this is to perform a FEDERAL SAFETY INSPECTION (FMCSA) on your "self-inspect" equipment. If if passes inspection, you know you're good to go!

» DEIC:
Diesel Emission Inspection (Center). This is an emissions test on diesel engines. Only trucks with a MGVWR of 18,000 lbs or more require this test. Diesel trucks with a MGVWR of 17,999 lbs or less do not have their emissions tested AT ALL... however, we expect this loophole to close as time marches forward...

New Jersey does not provide these tests at any state-owned facilities. Only independently-owned repair shops like ours may be licensed to perform these tests. However, a diesel truck MAY BE tested at random roadside checkpoints by the state... this is being done as part of a program to generate data for the DEP.