Personal use truck to leasing on

From what I’ve understood, until that truck is leased on to a company - it is not a commercial vehicle. Especially in the case of driving off after a purchase, a title and a bill of sale got me through AZ scales, NM scales ...

I was told by a dot officer if your not hauling a load, not leased to a motor carrier then don’t stop in the scales. They may try to get you to volunteer commercial status by asking you what your intentions are, best answer I found was “ I just bought the truck and my plans are to take it home and work on it before I think about doing anything with it “ ... it’s a personal vehicle at this point

Bobtail insurance helped, and a one way trip permit from the purchase state-

Can’t help you much about driving around after you get it back to your place

 

There is no commercial title. A title is just proof of ownership.

The difference is in how the truck is registered. You can use a temporary permit to get it home. If you decide to use it then you get a registration and pay all the fun stuff.

 

Ohio has on the books the same thing Michigan has, if it is over 26,001 GVW, then it is considered a commercial vehicle. This is why I had to "convert" my little truck to an RV, it allowed me to sidestep this, and I am happy but that truck will never be used for commercial reasons at all.

 

In Ohio the sign says "All trucks and buses over 5 tons GVW enter scales".

I called ahead to OHP years ago when I was going thru Ohio with a UHaul, to see if I had to pull in the scales. The answer was yes, and I did, and I didn't get immediately green-lighted, either. Ymmv by state....